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2019 Essay Competition Winner – Indigo (13-15 category)

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The winner of Immerse Education’s annual essay competition in the 13-15 year old category was Indigo Hennig. Indigo, a student from Australia, is the second winner to be announced, following Abhayjeet Sachal taking the prize for the 16-18 year old category.
Well done to Indigo Hennig!
Indigo fought off fierce competition in her category, competing against hundreds of submissions for the Immerse Education’s 2019 essay competition. She has been awarded a 100% paid scholarship to one of Immerse Education’s academic programmes this summer.
So what is the scholarship award?
Every year Immerse Education offers scholarships to a handful of bright and aspiring students from around the world. Through its essay competition, students have the opportunity to receive a 100% paid scholarship to one of our academic programmes held within Cambridge University colleges this summer.
This is a fantastic opportunity for secondary school students to impress with their research and writing skills, whilst demonstrating a passion for their chosen subject.
What did Indigo write about?
Indigo wrote a fantastic essay about how engineering, with particular reference to AI technologies, can help create more ‘predictive’ healthcare models to minimise the impacts of autoimmune and viral conditions. She also outlines that her own country, Australia, and many others, currently rely on reactive medicine. Consequently these countries face huge financial and human costs, and Indigo’s passion for them to change was inspiring to the panel of judges at Immerse Education.
Indigo has chosen to enrol on Immerse Education’s Engineering summer course for 13-15 year olds this summer. She will have the opportunity to develop her passion for engineering within the inspiring grounds of Cambridge University in August. Keep scrolling to have a look at an overview of her insightful essay below.
A quote from Indigo’s essay
“A reactive medical system is flawed with human and financial cost as it treats problems as they arise rather than preventing the complications from
manifesting”
An overview of Indigo’s work
Indigo begins her essay by addressing the pressing issue of outdated ‘reactive’ medical systems and makes a particular reference to her own country, Australia. Indigo explains that a reactive medical system focusses on responding to symptoms and behaviours of a patient, rather than using ‘predictive medicine’ and prevention techniques to stop an illness manifesting to begin with. Citing her own experience with type one diabetes, Indigo demonstrates the huge human and financial consequences that reactive medicine is having on such countries.
After outlining the necessity for countries to shift towards more ‘predictive’ medicine, Indigo details how engineering can play its part. She argues artificial intelligence could monitor body systems and enhance people’s own health management. Indigo continues this exciting idea by highlighting how everyday household items could harness AI to detect the early symptoms of autoimmune diseases or even viral conditions. From toothbrushes determining antibody levels and predicting viral infections, to smart watches detecting cardiac anomalies or breathing difficulties.
The panel of judges at Immerse Education explained that they were thoroughly impressed by Indigo’s knowledge of health care models, and were excited by her pioneering ideas. Congratulations Indigo, the Immerse Education team will see you in Cambridge!
Why Apply To The Immerse Education Essay Competition?
Are you a highly motivated student aged 13-18? Have you ever wanted to experience studying in Cambridge or Oxford?
The Immerse Education essay competition allows you the chance to submit an essay for the chance to be awarded a scholarship to the award-winning Cambridge summer school.
How To Apply To The Immerse Education Essay Competition?
The Immerse Education annual essay competition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win a scholarship to a Cambridge or Oxford summer school.
If you’re aged 13-18 and you’re interested in applying to the Immerse Education essay competition then please visit our essay competition page for more details.
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