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From classroom curiosity to scientific conference, Siddarth Bhat’s passion for astronomy has led to an impressive research achievement.

Grade 9 student Siddarth Bhat has co-authored original astronomy research that was selected for presentation at the Symposium of the Society for Astronomical Sciences, one of the leading conferences for amateur astronomers worldwide.

Working with fellow students Audrey Tan, Delia Acosta, William O’Donnell, and Siri Borgerson from Stanford Online High School, along with instructor Kalee Tock, Siddarth helped investigate how starspots can affect observations of exoplanets, planets that orbit stars beyond our solar system.

“The research has been selected to be presented at the Symposium of the Society for Astronomical Sciences, one of the premier events for amateur astronomers,” Siddarth said.

As part of the project, the team analysed 26 exoplanet light curves and explored how stellar activity can influence scientists’ understanding of distant planets. They also examined how these effects could impact future observations from the PANDORA satellite mission.

The experience gave Siddarth the opportunity to participate in authentic scientific research and collaborate with students from around the world.

“Our end goal is for this paper to be published in the Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers,” he shared.

At Copenhagen International School, we are proud to see students pursue their passions beyond the classroom and engage with real-world challenges. Siddarth’s achievement reflects the curiosity, dedication and ambition that we encourage in all our learners.

Congratulations, Siddarth, on this outstanding accomplishment. We look forward to seeing where your love of science and discovery takes you next.

In April, my parents and I had the incredible opportunity to visit the NGO the Talented Women’s Club, a group of ambitious, intelligent, and very kind women from Accra and the surrounding area in Ghana.

For more than 20 years, CIS Charity Club has supported this group of women. The women are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of their communities and have committed to sharing practical nutrition knowledge with families, friends, local health experts, and community leaders, who then bring that information back to people in their own neighborhoods.

During our visit, we were welcomed with genuine warmth and hospitality and had the chance to see the work we had previously just read and heard about at CIS. We toured the local nutrition clinic and learned about the educational manual they had recently completed on healthy foods, healthy habits, and how these choices affect the body. The manual was developed by researchers at University of Ghana and funded by the Charity Club and is a great step forward.

Coordinator Anas and local architect Joe also showed us the site of the club’s future community center on a farm about an hour outside of Accra, where they hope to host events and create a communal place for sharing nutrition education and supporting community development. The land has already been purchased which, alongside other initiatives and projects in the past, has been made possible through fundraising efforts of CIS Charity Club members.

Now they are working to get the funding needed to begin construction. Throughout the trip, we were inspired by the passion, determination, and generosity of everyone we met. Seeing their vision, hard work, and commitment in person made a lasting impression on us, and we hope that our support will help bring them one step closer to achieving their goals.