Emma Smith Overseas Scholarship Takes Budding Astrophysicist to Arkansas

Emma Smith Overseas Scholarship Takes Budding Astrophysicist to Arkansas

Ms Yukta Harilal is one of three top-performing female UKZN students from eThekwini whose stellar academic performance has earned her the Emma Smith Overseas Scholarship – funded by the family of Mrs CG Smith in her memory – and has already touched down at the University of Arkansas in the United States of America to begin her PhD in Astrophysics.

Harilal found herself enrolling at UKZN after her father took her to the Open Day at the Pietermaritzburg campus while she was still a scholar at Howick High School. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) exhibits grabbed Harilal’s interest and she struck up a conversation with a photographer about photon energy from the sun. ‘The photographer took my email and said, ‘I want you in my Astrophysics department. See you next year.’ It turned out that was Dr Vincent Couling of UKZN’s Physics research faculty. So, in a way, UKZN chose me,’ she said.

Harilal continued her studies at UKZN up to master’s level where she investigated quantum chaos theory under the supervision of Dr Mervlyn Moodley, who she said was instrumental in the process that resulted in her being granted this scholarship and heading Stateside. ‘His advice is a guiding force in my life and the sincerity in which he looks out for his students is incredible. If my experience at UKZN can be summed up in the sole characteristic of being Dr Moodley’s student, it would surpass all my accolades of top achiever.’

Entering a coursework-based graduate programme for the first two years of her PhD suits Harilal perfectly, as she aims to spend time exploring what research topics pique her interest and not limiting herself while there is still so much to learn about her field.

Astrophysics is another area that found Harilal rather than the reverse, and one that she had to learn to appreciate. ‘It is such a beautiful stubborn subject that learning to love it was easy to do. Having been challenged by a wide variety of topics, I felt inspired to excel and achieve the best I possibly could,’ she said.

Raised in a religiously observant home where Harilal found regular visits to the community ashram a grounding experience, she adopts her father’s view of there being a right time and place for everything and is prepared to make the most of opportunities as they emerge to progress in her career. She dreams of being able to work for a space agency and perhaps even venture into space and plans to spend the four years of her degree making strong decisions that will form the foundation for her future.

Receiving the Emma Smith Overseas Scholarship is a step in enabling Harilal to be independent and pursue studies in the USA that she would otherwise not be able to do.

Her stable family base has provided invaluable support to Harilal, and she credits her family and friends with helping her maintain a good work-life balance, saying the interaction and conversation with people and delicious family lunches were things to look forward to when she was feeling under pressure during her senior years of study.

‘There is a famous Hindi song which translates to, ‘It is true that God exists, yet He is still unknown to us. On this Earth, the identity of that Being is our parents’,’ said Harilal.

Her mother’s company, sister’s support, father’s encouragement, and 98-year-old grandfather’s love have been key to her success.

The martial art of karate has also played a major role in Harilal’s life; she holds a senior brown belt in Kimura Shukokai International karate and this pursuit has helped her focus on her overall health during her studies.

She called her parents, sister, and brother-in-law her ‘solid rocks in space,’ and said her wider family has been extremely supportive and encouraging. She also expressed gratitude to her supervisor for his belief in her, and her schoolteachers who encouraged her towards STEM and the lifelong friends she made along the way.

Words: Christine Cuenod

Photograph: Supplied