Plenaries, AI Ethics, Paint Night, and Backpacking

Letter? I Hardly Know Her! - October/November 2023

Welcome, WELCOME to Letter? I Hardly Know Her! I’m Apoorva (the her in question), an 18 y/o researcher, keynote speaker, artist, writer, and advocate for youth and gender minorities in STEAM. This newsletter is a means for me to keep track of my personal & professional growth, and to share the stuff I’m working on! First-timers: it’s great to meet you, I’m so glad you’re here! For my regular hardly-knowers, here’s your promised, extra special greeting: welcome you hot cup of cocoa—you manage to warm my heart every time.

If you too want an extra greeting, you better subscribe:

As a heads up, I publish newsletters on each MONTH/MONTH, i.e. 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, … , 12/12. Is it the most efficient system? Frankly, no. But is it the most funky fresh? Absolutely it is.

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Happy Thanksgiving, Hardly-Knowers!

…I suppose I should address the elephant in the room, it is in fact not 11/11 and it has indeed been quite some time since our last letter. Oopsies! Everyone makes mistakes, please forgive me. <3

Let’s keep calm, carry on, and get into it!

Moderator at the 1point8 Global Forum for Adolescents

In mid-October, I had the best time moderating a plenary featuring some incredible changemakers during the 2-day 1point8 Global Forum for Adolescents. We talked about how young people can and should be properly included in the decisions that impact our health and well-being.

It was inspiring to talk to incredible changemakers doing important work all around the world: Helena Branco spoke about creating the Free to Menstruate program addressing period poverty in Brazil and the resilience it takes to make change, Régis Bamba talked about co-founding Djamo which helps young people manage their finances, Enrique Anarte Lazo spoke about his global work in journalism and LGBTQIA+ rights, and Daniela Ligiero shared her story of co-founding the BRAVE movement and work to end violence against children and adolescents. A common thread that came up throughout our conversation was the importance of sharing your story and the crucial role of allies and community support.

Beginning with a discussion on what the key to success for our health and well-being to talking about how to be actively involved in the decisions around it, the four panelists left everyone energized and excited to go out and create the change they wish to see. Thank you so much to the Global Forum, our panelists, and the PMNCH team for making this wonderful event happen!

Speaker on AI Panel at CEE’s 40th at MIT

During the Center for Excellence in Education's 40th Anniversary Celebration at MIT, it was a joy to be a speaker on the "Keeping an Eye on AI" panel with CEO of EXEDEC Sean Kanuck, Michael Huang (a fellow RSI ‘22 alum), and Founder & CEO of CYGNVS Arvind Parthasarathi.

We spoke about the technical and ethical challenges across broad areas of AI, from autonomous vehicles to healthcare to ownership & copyright in generative AI, while bridging generational perspectives from both the panel and the audience. Huge thank you to CEE, Research Science Institute (RSI), and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard for hosting all of us, it was a reunion to remember.

It was also so nice to see so many of my lovely friends again, including many of my fellow counselors and a few Apoorcas from my counselor group!

Me with my dear Megmeg <3

I also got to reunite with some of my dearest friends from Mathcamp! We’ve known each other for so long now, and I’m always so happy when I get to see them.

2023 In-Person GLAM Event with eBay

A few weekends ago, we wrapped our 2023 In-Person GLAM Event with eBay!

I had such an amazing time talking to the girls about my journey in research, art, and entrepreneurship, and leading them through creating their own beautiful vision boards. Throughout the event, we also heard from some incredible speakers who are powerful women leaders at eBay—thank you all for your sharing your stories and setting a powerful example for the change you can make when you use your voice.

A tremendous thank you to the eBay team who helped make this event happen and the volunteers who took the time to share their valuable insights and expertise on a weekend! And, as always, I’m so thankful for our Team Girls Leadership Academy Meetup (GLAM Ready To Lead)’s hard work to make this event happen and to Chelsey for sharing her wisdom and coaching with the girls. Thank you all, I can’t wait for the next ones!

!! ARTWORK ALERT !!

I did a new funky portrait with acrylic paints this time! This is a fun lil product of Friday night painting with friends from my dorm.

Moving into Stanford

Since the last letter, I’ve officially moved into Stanford! And boy oh boy, has it been a whirlwind of fun. I’ve gotten to try so many new things while meeting the most wonderful people.

From learning how to play the tenor tax (badly) to social dancing (badly), from joining Stanford’s Wushu club to the incredibly fun Dragon Boat team, from trying out everything from rugby to bhangra and climbing to pickleball, almost every day comes the opportunity to learn something new.

Here’s us in the dragon boat!

I’ve now officially joined the Cardinal Policy Group (CPG), Data and Mapping for Society (as a part of the ClimateAi team), and Arbitrary Ink (an arts collective), and I can’t wait to work on projects for all three.

I’m also part of ITALIC, the arts dorm, and I’m so grateful for it. I love the people I live with, they are some of the coolest, kindest, goofiest, and most brilliant people I’ve ever met, and I’m lucky I get to call them both my friends and dorm mates.

Here’s a few of us with our tenor saxes!

Backpacking in Henry W. Coe State Park

As a part of my OUTDOOR 103 class at Stanford, I got to go backpacking for the first time! It was an insanely fun experience. Even though it was just a weekend, I was glad to be able to escape the bubble and go out into nature. We got to practice the skills we learned in class, from tying knots to setting up a tarp tent to camp cooking and layering up to keep out the cold.

It was beautiful to fall asleep under so many stars with great company. Here’s to doing it again during winter quarter!

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The Fun, the Fresh, & the Funky

As always, we can’t let there be a shortage of the fun, fresh, and funky.

Before Stanford kicked off, I got to go a short camping trip with 12 amazing people.

A few flicks from the frosh formal!

Halloween ft. Bob the Tomato & Larry the Cucumber

Seeing a play!

The cutest baby bulldog (now named Bowlin) courtesy of Black Friday!

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Coming up next on Keeping Up With (K)Apoorva…

• CPG: Mining and Indigenous Rights

  I’ll be working in a policy group with about 10 other analysts on a project on mining and Indigenous rights, researching mining permits and company policies and potential alternatives to mining.

• Data Science Intern at ClimateAi

  I’m currently working on a project with DAMS x ClimateAi to leverage remote sensing to monitor reservoir levels.

• Arbitrary Ink Photoshoot

  Next weekend we’re having an absurd photoshoot on campus with props! Details TBD.

• Finals :( then winter break!

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A Quarter for Your Quote?

“Live courageously, fail constantly, and have faith in yourself.”

Speaker at Stanford’s Faces of Community

This quote has been a bit of a guiding light during my time at Stanford so far, so much so that it now hangs on my wall. I think it’s opened me up to new experiences that I would’ve never thought to be a part of.

Alrighty, that’s a wrap, Hardly-Knowers! Thanks for sticking around, this Thanksgiving season I am so very grateful for all of you. Wishing you a lovely start to winter and a the happiest of holidays!

Sincerely,

Her (Apoorva)

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Feel free to contact me about speaker events, comments, and anything else at apoorvapanidapu@gmail.com! You can also connect with me on LinkedIn, follow me on Medium, and check out my art gallery, personal website, speaker website, or Instagram.

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