Nepali student wins 'Bright Spark Award' at University of Adelaide

KATHMANDU: The University of Adelaide has presented the "Bright Spark Award" to a Nepali student for developing a communication tool that assists mining operations using artificial intelligence.

Shyamsundar Shrestha, 22, of Kathmandu, an undergraduate student, was presented with the award at a special programme marking the university’s silver jubilee.

The university said the award was conferred on Shrestha and his team in recognition of their development of an AI module for the mining industry. At the final pitch, attended by about 300 industrialists and entrepreneurs, Shrestha presented a technical demo while wearing mining safety gear.

The tool enables conversations between workers in the JDA tunnel and an AI agent via walkie‑talkie. The university said the technology can promptly provide technical data, safety protocols and other vital information to workers without requiring new infrastructure.

After being honoured, Shrestha said that coming to Australia, studying hard and being able to enhance the honour and reputation of Nepal and Nepali people had been a proud moment for him.

The university has been rewarding young students engaged in invention with the aim of making creative work related to innovation and entrepreneurship, including start‑ups, simple and accessible. The programme, which began in 2001, has helped launch more than 1,100 startups.

(With inputs from RSS)