Aeshwarya Sivakumar, a bright and dynamic Standard 6 student from SJKT Ladang Highlands, Klang, continues to inspire her school and community with her outstanding accomplishments across a diverse range of fields, including STEM, sports, public speaking, and the arts.

Aeshwarya Sivakumar’s interest in STEM was sparked at an early age through her natural curiosity about how science can be applied to solve real-world problems. Her passion continued to flourish as she began exploring scientific concepts beyond the classroom, often watching educational videos on YouTube. Inspired by what she saw, Aeshwarya would creatively replicate and modify these experiments using materials readily available at home. Her eagerness to mix and test new ideas not only fueled her curiosity but also deepened her hands-on understanding of science.

Recognising her enthusiasm, Aeshwarya’s mother regularly enrolled her in science experiment classes that emphasised hands-on learning. These sessions enabled Aeshwarya to refine her critical thinking further, boost her confidence, and apply scientific knowledge in practical and engaging ways.

Her most recent triumph came at the SciFusion Festival Inovasi & STEM Kebangsaan 2025, organised by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), where she secured First Place in the Physical Presentation (Primary School Category). Her winning entry, the Ricinus Healing Stick, showcased a natural healing remedy developed from castor oil (Ricinus communis) and was lauded for its originality, relevance and scientific grounding.

The idea for the Ricinus Healing Stick emerged from her personal experience as an active sports enthusiast. Frequently dealing with muscle aches and minor wounds, she often relied on her mother’s natural remedy—castor oil. While she appreciated its healing benefits, she disliked the sticky texture. This occurrence motivated her to develop a more user-friendly, balm-like solution using castor oil and other natural ingredients, resulting in a portable and mess-free healing stick.

Aeshwarya selected castor oil as the base due to its scientifically proven anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which are known to aid healing, reduce pain, and prevent infection.

The innovation journey came with its share of challenges. Aeshwarya’s prototype was too oily, while the second, which included too much beeswax, was too hard and brittle. Through persistence, experimentation, and problem-solving, she eventually achieved the perfect consistency. The Ricinus Healing Stick is a testament to her creativity, resilience, and ability to apply scientific thinking to develop practical solutions that promote natural, sustainable well-being.

Beyond her achievements in innovation, Aeshwarya is an exemplary student who consistently excels academically. She is also actively involved in co-curricular activities, participating in various tennis and netball tournaments. She will soon represent her school at the Majlis Sukan Sekolah Daerah (MSSD) level for both sports. A testament to her discipline, commitment and sportsmanship.

Her passion for STEM is reflected in her track record of success in science innovation competitions and digital application development challenges, where she has garnered multiple gold awards. Her work demonstrates both creativity and a forward-thinking approach to solving everyday challenges.

Aeshwarya Sivakumar has won several awards for her science innovation project through prestigious platforms, including the World Youth STEM Invention & Innovation (WYSII), International Innovation & Invention Competition (i3C), World Sustainable Development Goals Challenge (WSDG), and K-SEMANIS, among others. Beyond science, she has also demonstrated excellence in a range of fields, earning accolades in the Maths Challenge, World Digital Animation Storytelling, Future Intelligence Student Olympiad (FISO), Techathon, and most recently, the goIT Tech Challenge 2025, organised by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) at Universiti Malaya (UM). Additionally, she participated in a Science Rally focused on natural product innovation to inspire and engage young learners.

Aeshwarya’s talents extend beyond academics and science. She is a trained violinist, well-versed in both classical and contemporary styles, and a gifted visual artist known for her skilled sketching and portrait illustration. Her artwork has earned praise for its detail, expression and emotional depth.

With several more competitions lined up in the coming months, Aeshwarya remains focused and driven. Her energy, curiosity and passion for learning propel her forward in every field she pursues.

Besides her current achievements, Aeshwarya aspires to become an astronaut. This ambition was sparked by the stories her father used to share, explaining the wonders of astronomy in ways that captivated her imagination and encouraged her to explore the subject further. She looks up to space pioneers such as Valentina Tereshkova, Sally Ride, and Sunita Williams as her role models, and she aspires to one day be part of NASA, following in their footsteps.

In addition, Aeshwarya is actively training herself to become a confident and well-informed debater. She closely follows ongoing discussions about Planet 9, diligently collecting facts and theories to inform her understanding of the subject. One day, when she has grown up and the mystery of Planet 9 remains unresolved, she hopes to contribute meaningfully to the scientific debate and help uncover the truth.

A shining example of the potential within Malaysia’s young generation, Aeshwarya Sivakumar embodies excellence, balance, and purpose. Her journey serves as an inspiration not only to her peers but to all who believe in nurturing talent and passion from an early age.