Chinmoy Paul

Chinmoy Paul (16), is from Bangladesh. Growing up in rural Kachua, Bangladesh, in a lower-middle-class family of six, Chinmoy had big curiosity and few resources. His fascination with the night sky turned into a mission when he saw how expensive specialized education could be — and decided no student should be locked out because of cost.

He founded Dhulikona, turning astronomy and citizen science from pricey hobbies into free, rights-based learning for over 150 students. He personally taught them asteroid hunting and real research skills, making global science feel within reach for rural youth. He then co-founded the Bangladesh United Astronomical Forum, building a national community for young scientists, and brought the International Brain Bee to Bangladesh, connecting neuroscience with mental health awareness for his peers.

The impact: over 150 students gained free access to science education they’d never have afforded otherwise, and his first workshop alone reached 133 participants learning to contribute to international research. He’s now building an open-source digital library for university admissions and extracurricular resources, working to make educational opportunity a right, not a privilege.