When Abhinav Agarwal, a high school student from Rajasthan, India, received a full scholarship to the AFS Global STEM Academies in Egypt in 2019, he never imagined how profoundly it would shape his future. That experience became the catalyst for everything that followed. It ignited his passion for STEM and intercultural learning, leading him to earn two degrees at Stanford University, and ultimately driving his work developing AI-powered health solutions worldwide.
The AFS Global STEM Academies introduced Abhinav and his global peers to much more than just science and technology. The program challenged him to think and collaborate across cultures and different perspectives, and to use critical thinking and teamwork as tools for solving real-world problems. In his own words, “The program placed me in a room with students from across the globe: different languages, different lived experiences, but all animated by the same hunger to understand and to build. For the first time, I saw what it looked like when STEM wasn’t just a subject, but a lens for solving real problems.”
After the Academies, Abhinav returned home with new technical skills and newfound confidence to believe that he, a student from a region in India with economic vulnerability and deep-rooted social issues, could meaningfully contribute to the world’s biggest challenges. This confidence became the foundation for every opportunity that followed.
In 2020, Abhinav won the Space Challenge at the New York Academy of Sciences, a digital hackathon-style challenge designed for multicultural teams to test their design and problem-solving skills while collaborating asynchronously. Throughout this project, he had the opportunity to work alongside peers from the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Moldova, India, and the United States, practicing the intercultural skills he developed during the Global STEM Academies just a year prior.
Abhinav then pursued a Bachelor’s and then a Master’s degree in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at Stanford University. He contributed to machine learning research and took on leadership roles developing technology at the intersection of AI and human health and well-being.
Becoming part of the AFS Global STEM Alumni Community opened the door for Abhinav to attend the 2022 AFS Youth Assembly and Changemakers Academy at the University of Pennsylvania Center for Social Impact Strategy. Both of these experiences expanded his global perspective and deepened his commitment to using technology for social impact.
Today, Abhinav serves as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Clair Health, where he leads the development of AI-powered tools designed to make healthcare more accessible and personalized for women around the world.
“When I think about what it means to lead a technical team solving a problem that affects millions of people,” he reflects, “I trace a direct line back to that summer in Egypt, to the moment I first understood that STEM is not just about what you can compute, but what you choose to do with that power.”
The 10-year partnership between AFS and bp is something Abhinav mentions with gratitude. “You invested in the belief that a kid with curiosity and drive, regardless of where they came from, deserves a seat at the global table. That investment compounded in ways I don’t think any spreadsheet can capture.” Years later, the #AFSEffect continues to shape the way Abhinav leads, innovates, and mentors other young students.
“The AFS community taught me that the most powerful kind of learning happens at the intersection of cultures, disciplines, and ideas. I carry that with me into every product decision, every team I build, and every problem I choose to take on.”
While Abhinav’s story is still being written, his experience in the AFS Global STEM Academies did more than introduce him to STEM innovation. It launched a journey that continues to improve lives through technology, innovation, cultural awareness, and a commitment to making a positive impact.
If you wish to share your story with AFS to be featured in a future blog, submit your story here. Read more Global STEM Alumni stories here!