We followed up with Arjun to find out more about his experience at Brown Pre-College and how it has inspired the trajectory of his studies.
Why did you choose Brown Pre-College?
Firstly, the broad range of courses offered made me feel that I have a chance to interact with students across domains ranging from arts to pure science. Secondly, the offered course had a strong emphasis on hands-on lab work beyond theory. It gave me the right opportunity to test myself while exploring the academic interests I had been developing back home. Thirdly, it gave me a glimpse into living independently in the US, managing my own time, and immersing myself in an environment built around intellectual curiosity. Overall, the school offered me a safe space to meet people of different cultures and a completely new environment while I furthered my academic cause.
What is a brief overview of the course you took on Nanotechnology?
The course gave me a foundational understanding of how particles behave differently when measured at the nanometer scale. What fascinated me most was discovering that the same material can have entirely different properties depending on its size, something that seems almost counterintuitive at first. Beyond the theory, I actively engaged in discussions and hands-on projects. This helped me build both my conceptual understanding and research skills, giving me a real sense of what scientific inquiry looks like in practice.
What is a brief overview of your research project and published research?
My published paper, "OxiGen: Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to O2 Using BiVO4-Based Nanomaterials under Visible Light Irradiation," explores a visible-light-driven system that draws inspiration from photosynthesis. Using a BiVO4–MOF nanomaterial hybrid, the research investigates how carbon dioxide can be converted into oxygen — a potential step forward in developing sustainable nanotechnology solutions for carbon capture and environmental remediation. The paper has been published in the Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology.
How did your time with Brown Pre-College impact your passions and where you see yourself heading?
Scientific temperament! It sharpened my first principle thinking, approach to problems and ability to think at a fundamental level. My natural curiosity about how materials work and what happens to their intrinsic properties when scaled down to the nanometer grew stronger through this experience. The most exciting part was the making of nanoparticle all by ourselves. Right from the research of the types of materials to the results of the experiment. This experience drives me to pursue materials science and engineering in college.
