What is one thing you wish more people knew about research?

Vatsal: Research is for everyone, not just for scientists and experts. Anyone can do meaningful research, even if they’re simply curious about an interesting topic. A lot of people think that research has to be complicated, but intro programs like Incognito Blueprints help students get started with topics they find interesting such as Computer Science, general STEM or humanities. It also helps teach collaboration and group work, as you are working with other people who have also never done formal research before. Working with these like-minded people can help you gain interest in other topics too, and these important skills become useful later in college and when working on projects at work.

Tell us what you specifically loved about the Research Bootcamp.

Vatsal: The Incognito Research Program was one of the best research programs I’ve participated in. The pricing was around $100 USD with early bird which was substantially less compared to other programs, and there was help each step of the way, from the commitment mentors helping out whenever we had questions, to the weekly meetings we had with them to clarify any doubts. The weekly assignments provided regular pacing, making the big challenge of writing a research paper in 2 months seem attainable and easy. The video lessons also helped me to learn about unique terminology when writing research, especially for later use in college or professionally. The feedback on assignments was also helpful, as it pointed out weak points to help strengthen our paper and provided support. Overall, the Research Bootcamp was a great resource that helped enhance my college application while providing me with important skills such as time management and clear communication with others.

When you think about the future of research and where it’s headed in the next decade, what role do you hope to play in shaping that future?

Vatsal: I believe that by making research more open than it currently is and reducing financial barriers, we can see significant progress in the next couple of years in research. Current research opportunities nowadays are expensive and hard to participate in because of high school students’ busy schedules and limited budgets. By removing these barriers, more students would be able to access these programs and contribute new ideas and discoveries. We could have more research published with greater impacts, allowing more people to join in and improve industries and society. My role would be to help advocate for affordable programs and reduce the inaccessibility of current research, allowing for new ideas to be introduced and for knowledge to be shared freely.

Is the program ideal for young high school students considering research is a very vast and advanced field?

Vatsal: The pace of the Incognito Blueprints program is great for high schoolers. It helps them ease into more advanced research and how to publish a great, impactful article later in their careers. It also gives valuable experience in the field they are majoring in. The speed of the weekly assignments and videos provide much needed guidance and the availability of the commitment mentors give them an expert’s opinion on what to improve or add to their research. For my groups’ research paper, we received a lot of help with formatting and what to include in our final revision, which was very helpful. Everything included in the program would help me make a more advanced research paper in the future since it is an introductory level course.

What song is the soundtrack to your life?

Vatsal: The song “Go Easy” from Mac DeMarco is one of my favorites. The soft melody and vocals make it a listen no matter what mood I’m in, and the lyrics about starting fresh and moving to a new place create a sense of hope and change, making it an enjoyable listen. The artist grows from his previous experiences, and it makes it easy to relate to how he feels. It makes the listener feel that change isn’t all bad, and there doesn’t need to be a constant rush in order to enjoy life.

What individual inspires you?

Vatsal: One of the most inspiring people in my life is my brother. Although he constantly annoys me whenever I’m working or studying, he's funny and good to be around, always making me laugh even if I’m in a bad mood. No matter what, he motivates me to follow my passions and helps me with classes and homework, supporting and helping whenever I ask. He will always be one of my biggest supporters and I am grateful for that.