For Carroll Senior High School student Yash Pamnani, data science is more than a future college major. It is a way to help students see real-world problems differently.
Yash is the founder of Aethel, a student-led platform designed to make research, STEM skills and complex problem-solving more approachable for high school students. Since launching in October 2024, Aethel has focused on helping students identify local or real-world issues, research them effectively and use data tools to better understand possible solutions.
“I believe the most effective learning occurs when students engage with problems that have a direct impact on those around them,” Yash says.
Through Aethel, Yash recently taught a cohort of around 68 students from across DFW and virtually, including students from Carroll High School, Flower Mound High School, Marcus High School, Coppell High School, Westlake Academy, Grapevine High School, Keller High School and Lewisville High School.
One of the group’s most meaningful projects came through a collaboration with a Marcus High School student, where data modeling helped examine a cafeteria food distribution issue involving waste and uneven food allocation.
“That project showed students how data science can connect to something very real in the school setting, and not just a textbook example,” Yash says.
Aethel’s work has continued to grow beyond instruction. Its publication division now includes more than 120 student-written articles, with additional submissions under review by student editors. Yash is also exploring projects involving AI, space weather forecasting, material synthesis and consumer scam prevention.
A rising senior, Yash hopes to study data science in college and is preparing to apply to schools this year. Until then, he is continuing to build Aethel with a simple goal: helping students turn curiosity into something useful.
“I want to make education more significant,” Yash says, “and build a foundation of future-ready skills.”