Other links:
Other links:
Explore Cutting Edge Research and Future Forward Perspectives
YSP Innovators in Science & Tech (IST) is a 10-day certified residential programme for students entering grades 9 to 12. Designed to ignite scientific curiosity and prepare future pioneers, the programme emphasizes interdisciplinarity, cutting-edge research, and innovation to equip students for the evolving landscape of 21st-century sciences.
What You Will Explore
Guided by Industry-Leading Experts and World-Class Faculty
YSP IST delves into emerging fields such as environmental chemistry, neuroscience, archaeology and biology, physiology, genetic engineering and epidemiology, bioinformatics, quantum computing, astrophysics, medicinal and forensic chemistry, and so on. Students participate in research showcases, lab sessions, and innovation modules, gaining hands-on experience in solving real-world problems while thinking like scientists.
The programme has been shaped by industry-leading experts and world-class faculty who have inspired young minds in previous editions. Professor Anurag Agrawal led a session on Digital Transformation for Health: AI and Beyond, exploring the future of AI in medicine. Professor Simi Ghosh has introduced students to the complexities of human behavior through her talk on Behavioral Genetics, while Professor Dipankar Bhattacharya has taken students on a cosmic journey with his session on The Universe: An Evolving Story. In the past, YSP students have interacted with leading scholars and scientists such as Prof Jack Szostak (a Nobel prize winner in Medicine) and Prof Yamuna Krishnan from University of Chicago and have learnt about the nuances of innovation and research in the sciences. This two-week experience offers students a unique chance to experience science beyond textbooks, through a rigorous and interactive curriculum that unfolds across the full duration of the programme.
Learning Science in the Tech and Information Era
In today’s tech-driven world, learning science is about mastering not just information but innovation. At YSP IST, students navigate this dynamic landscape by exploring fields like:
This programme empowers students to go beyond passive learning, solving real-world problems and collaborating with experts to bring their ideas to life.
Interdisciplinary Science for a Changing World
The 21st century demands scientific thinkers who can transcend traditional boundaries. YSP IST prepares ambitious and interested high schoolers for the future of sciences and for the 21st century. With the rise of big data & computational tools, the face of science is constantly changing. Today, science is about using critical thinking and design thinking skills to build solutions that are sustainable and scalable and to be at the forefront of innovation and new discoveries.
The programme sessions will exemplify how solving the world’s most pressing scientific challenges—such as climate change, health innovation, sustainable energy, and ethical AI—requires transcending conventional academic boundaries.
For instance, tackling cancer involves integrating nanotechnology, which delivers precision-targeted drugs; CRISPR gene editing, offering personalised therapies by correcting genetic mutations; optogenetics, controlling cells with light for precise treatments; and biophysics, revealing how cancer cells spread and how to stop them. YSP IST encourages students to explore intersections like these through hands-on projects and labs, applying innovative concepts to real-world problems.
Hands-On Learning in State-of-the-Art Labs
At YSP IST, science comes alive through exploration and experimentation. Students might:
Working in small, collaborative groups, students conduct experiments, analyze results, and present their findings to peers and mentors, fostering teamwork, critical thinking, and effective communication.
Career Pathways
Studying the sciences today spans discovery, technology, and societal impact, bridging research with real-world applications. YSP IST prepares students with the foundations, skills, and interdisciplinary mindset needed to navigate these dynamic futures.
By engaging with both fundamental inquiry and applied innovation, YSP IST enables students to envision diverse career trajectories and contribute meaningfully to the scientific challenges of the future.
Innovation Meets Entrepreneurship
Through Innovation Modules, students design solutions to pressing global challenges, guided by Ashoka’s expert faculty and industry mentors. These sessions blend scientific inquiry with entrepreneurial thinking, preparing students to lead in STEM fields.
A Holistic College Experience
Beyond academics, YSP IST offers a glimpse into student life at Ashoka University. Students reside in dormitories, enjoy diverse dining options, and participate in activities like Talent Night, Networking Night, and debates. They connect with like-minded peers from across India and the globe, forging lasting friendships and expanding their horizons.
Applications for YSP 2026 will open on December 1, 2025. Register Interest for the upcoming cycle by clicking on the button below.
Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming cycle, follow us on social media and check our website for announcements.
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Knowledge:
Skills:
Attitude:
Applications:
The YSP IST curriculum provides students with a novel way of looking at various scientific disciplines, highlighting the power of an interdisciplinary approach to science, while encouraging active student participation in break out discussion sessions, lab rotations and practical applications of their learning in state-of-the-art lab & research facilities. In a session on Astrophysics, students get to explore how the elements that make up everything around us—such as carbon, oxygen, and iron—were forged in the hearts of stars and spread across space by cataclysmic events. In the same fashion, students will learn chemical pathways that convert food into energy, and how biological systems rely on these reactions to power essential functions. They will also explore how genetic information flows from DNA to RNA and, finally, to proteins, uncovering the molecular basis of traits, health, and diseases.
A typical day at YSP IST starts with exploring the frontiers of science, across disciplines, through Faculty Lectures & Plenary Talks by Ashoka’s Sciences faculty, recognized globally for their pioneering work in their fields of study. Students then get to put theory to practice, in interactive break-out discussions & lab rotations at our state-of-art lab facilities. The second half of the day provides opportunities for students to further widen their horizons through engaging interactions with Industry leaders, academicians and counselors. The day winds down with fun & recreational activities including sports and the performing arts.
A sample schedule for YSP IST is given below. (tentative schedule, subject to change)
YSP IST Programme Schedule1) What is the Young Scholars Programme: Innovators in Science & Tech (YSP IST)?
The Young Scholars Programme Innovators in Science & Tech (IST) is a 10-day residential programme that introduces high schoolers to the world of cutting-edge science and technology. Emphasizing transdisciplinarity and applications of research, the programme equips students to navigate the evolving landscape of 21st-century sciences. Participants engage with future-forward disciplines such as neuroscience, biotechnology, astrophysics, robotics, and AI, while also exploring applied areas like genetic engineering, environmental chemistry, and digital health, cultivating advanced scientific perspectives.
2) Is YSP IST an online or offline programme?
YSP Innovators in Science & Tech (IST) is an offline, residential programme and will be held in person at Ashoka University Campus in Sonipat, Haryana.
3) What is liberal arts and sciences education?
Liberal Arts & Sciences education celebrates discussion and debate in the classroom. A Liberal Arts & Science education focuses on providing critical thinking skills and multiple perspectives to students, which is considered an essential part of leading an ethical and purposeful life. Essentially, it incorporates breadth and depth across multiple disciplines.
4) Do we get a certificate for attending The Young Scholars Programme?
Yes, students will be given a certificate on successful completion of the programme, provided all sessions are attended and there has been desirable participation by the student. Upon receipt of your certificate, please save it securely for your use later on. However, if you happen to lose it, a second copy of the certificate will be provided which will be chargeable for a sum of Rs. 500/-
5) Will attending the programme increase my chances of getting admission to the undergraduate programme at Ashoka University?
Attending the programme will give you an insight on liberal arts & sciences education and the Ashoka pedagogy. This will surely help you with your undergraduate application form at Ashoka University. However, this does not guarantee admission to the Ashoka UG programme.
YSP has been a memorable experience. Last year, I became interested in getting into an Ivy League university and discovered summer school programs. I applied to several and chose YSP because I thought it would be good – but it’s way better than my expectations and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve even made a lot of friends even though I’m usually shy and don’t talk to anyone easily – but I’ve started to socialize here a lot. YSP has made me learn how to make great contacts, how to make good friends easily, so I am not that introvert or shy person like I was before. It has taught me a lot of things, and I even met a Nobel laureate and it was such a good experience.
YSP has really helped me figure out what I want to do, thanks to the kind of interdisciplinary courses we’ve had. Exploring subjects like astrophysics and biochemistry helped me narrow down my career path. When I chanced upon YSP during my boards, it felt like the best Science and Tech course I could pursue in India. I already knew I preferred pure sciences over computer sciences, which helped me focus on IST. We’ve had so many decorated professors from amazing colleges, but my favourite moment was the session with a Nobel prize winner.
My experience at YSP has been intriguing, interesting, and eye opening. The labs were especially memorable – I got to do experiments with lava lamps, esterification, and elephant toothpaste, which we never get to do in school. The program really offered the chance to have fun and experiment with chemicals in ways that were completely new for me.
