Mangaluru: Swastik Padma, a II PUC (Science) student of Vivekananda PU College has achieved a rare with a minor planet named after him in recognition of his achievements in the International level Science and Engineering Fair -2018 (ISEF-2018).

He received this honour from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory and International Astronomical Union.

He will now be participating in the Google Science Fair scheduled to be held in May next year.

He will present a research paper titled ’Desal: development of a novel land feasible desalination device’ on the occasion.

Swastik who had also participated in the ISEF-2017 had won a special award for his discovery of a product made using slag and non-re-usable plastic which was as much as 24 times stronger than iron. This year he had presented a paper slip which can diagnose malnutrition in children six months in advance. He has also invented a paper slip that can detect oral cancer and won Second Grand Award for his achievements.

He is also the winner of the NCSC Young Scientist Award, International Plastic Icon Award.

He hails from Bantwal and is the son of Kedila Murgaje Sriram Bhat M and Mallika.