Aditi Shankardass facts for kids

Aditi Shankardass (Hindi: अदिती शंकरदास) is a British neuroscientist. A neuroscientist is a scientist who studies the brain and nervous system. She is known for her work on brain development in children, especially those with conditions like dyslexia and autism.

Studying the Brain

Aditi Shankardass has done important research on how children's brains work. She was part of a team at Boston Children's Hospital, which is connected to Harvard Medical School.

Understanding Autism

Her team worked on finding special brain signs, called biomarkers, for autism. Biomarkers are like clues that can help doctors understand a condition better. Their research was even featured in a Time book called Time 100 New Scientific Discoveries. This shows how important their findings were.

Helping with Dyslexia

Before this, Aditi Shankardass used a method called EEG to study the brain. EEG stands for electroencephalography. It's a way to record the electrical activity of the brain, like listening to brainwaves. She used EEG to help find out what causes dyslexia in the brain. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that mainly affects reading. In 2001, she shared her findings at the United Kingdom Parliament during an event for top young scientists.

Sharing Knowledge and Talents

Aditi Shankardass doesn't just do research; she also helps people understand brain conditions.

Public Appearances

She has appeared on TV channels like CNN and ABC News. She has also been featured in newspapers like the Times of India. In 2009, she gave a talk at the famous TED conference, where she discussed developmental disorders in children.

Global Awareness

She is a board member of the Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation. This group works to teach people around the world about brain and mental health conditions. She has also worked as a consultant for the BBC in the UK, sharing her expert knowledge for radio and TV shows.

Beyond Science

Aditi Shankardass has many talents outside of science. She is a trained classical singer and has performed in concerts in India, the UK, and the US. She has even recorded music with famous artists like Amjad Ali Khan. She has also been a TV presenter on Zee TV in the UK and appeared in documentaries. She has acted in plays and on TV in India, and in a US movie called Trafficked.

Her Family Background

Aditi Shankardass was born in London. She grew up and went to school in both New Delhi and London. Today, she lives between Los Angeles and Boston.

Her father, Vijay Shankardass, is a well-known lawyer. Her mother, Rani Dhavan Shankardass, is a social historian. Her grandfather, Shanti Swaroop Dhavan, was a governor and an ambassador for India in the UK. Her great-grandfather, Rai Bahadur Bali Ram Dhavan, was an important figure from the North West Frontier Province.