Mayank Chaudhary

Task: Please write a short essay 500 to 1,000 words about yourself and your interest in
science. You do not need to write about astronomy or space, and you are encouraged to
be creative. If you wish, you can say something about topics in astronomy that are of
particular interest to you. Your essay is an important part of your application and will be
read carefully.
In my family there is a tradition of interest in science: my grandmother was
college professor in chemistry and physics, and both my parents were trained as
mechanical engineers in college. When I was a kid, my mom showed me a box full of
extremely tiny gears – those that table clocks are made out of – and told me what each
part was for, and I remember thinking ―this is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!‖ I have
been interested in mechanical structures and the inner working of human made and
natural things ever since.
My interest in natural structures and systems began with photography. I find it an
almost magical technique