From Arctic science expeditions to reviving 24,000-year-old frozen animals, the field of science is progressing faster than ever before. Sunjum Sanghari (12) knows the ins and outs of these recent advances in scientific research, and more.

Several years ago, Sunjum and close friend Vishnu Veeravalli (12) founded Socratic Studios, a science communication program for which they interview authors of recent scientific articles. Through each interview, Sunjum learned the story behind a new researcher. Listening to these immersive experiences drove him to continue hosting podcasts to shed light on novel research advancements.

“I really felt that I was touring the lab with them or hiking through the jungles of a specific national park that they were studying chimpanzees in,” Sunjum said. “Now that we’ve built up more of a following, we have an easier time getting access to researchers, and we were even able to bring some to the school for a live presentation, so that was really awesome.”

Throughout his years working alongside Sunjum in leading Socratic Studios, Vishnu has observed how Sunjum creates a comfortable environment for the researchers they interview.

“Sunjum’s greatest character strength is the aura of openness that he brings, which allows an individual to be completely honest with him,” Vishnu said. “As it relates to Socratic Studios, he is able to make interviewees feel at home without ever having met them before and ease information out of them in a congenial manner.”

Discussing the diverse research of numerous scientists has shaped Sunjum’s open-mindedness. As with the meticulous approach he takes to his work with Socratic Studios, Sunjum also brings his attention to detail to his classes, often offering unique perspectives to group discussions. Upper school English teacher Dr. Pauline Paskali, who taught him in ninth and eleventh grade, emphasized the personal growth she witnessed over the two years.

“What Sunjum brings to the classroom is that attention to nuance, this profound desire to understand the situation of other people from their perspectives, whether they be fictional characters or other people in the room,” Dr. Paskali said.

Throughout the journey of creating and continuing his podcast, Sunjum conversed with people of various backgrounds and, as a result, cultivated new knowledge within the medical research field. The science he’s learned through Socratic Studios encouraged him to pursue a medical-related career in the future.

“We can learn a lot about some really fascinating new topics [through this podcast],” Sunjum said. “Everyone was really excited to hop on board with this, and we’ve really gotten a lot of amazing people so far.”

Sunjum furthers his interest in medicine by volunteering at Kaiser Permanente, where he partakes in clinical shadowing in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The work Sunjum performs for his community incorporates the traditional Sikh value of “seva,” or selfless service. Through volunteering at a hospital, he weaves together his curiosity about science and his love for serving society.

“My biggest connection with the activities that I do comes from my love for volunteering,” Sunjum said. “One of the biggest parts of selfless service is the willingness to help other people as much as possible, whether or not it benefits you at all.”

Close friend Saahil Thoppay (12), who met Sunjum in sixth grade, grew to know him on a personal level from playing video games and tutoring younger students together. He commended Sunjum’s genuine desire to support his community and his work ethic, which Saahil believes will take Sunjum to great heights in life.

“Sunjum really wants to help people,” Saahil said. “He’s going into [a medical career], and there are a lot of years ahead of him in pre-med and medical school. Once he becomes a doctor, there will be long hours, but he wants to help people. He’s willing to go through all of that just to pursue his dream.”

From his medical podcast to his hospital work, Sunjum selflessly devotes himself to his community through medicine. As he progresses through his journey towards becoming a doctor, Sunjum will carry the experiences of podcasting and volunteering with him, making a lifelong impact on the lives of others.

“Being able to help people who are extremely vulnerable and make a massive difference in their lives is something that you can’t really forget, and something that I still cherish to this day,” Sunjum said. “Continuing that into a career in medicine and building on the principles and values of ‘seva’ is something that has been pretty definitive of my life, especially when you combine it with the science studies that I’m really passionate about.”