Indian-American student wins UK's prestigious 2024 Marshall Scholarship

London 13 Dec: An Indian-origin student is among the 51 winners of the prestigious 2024 Marshall Scholarship. This scholarship selects American scholars to pursue their undergraduate education at any UK university.

Bengaluru-born Hari Chaudhary, a student of international politics majoring in history and German at Georgetown University, will begin his graduate studies under the program, which received 1,006 applications from across the US this year.

As a Marshall Scholar, he will study conflict transformation and social justice at Queen's University Belfast, followed by an MSc in Global Leadership and Peacebuilding at King's College London.

“I am very proud that this year’s group of Marshall Scholars represents the diversity and richness of our region,” Emma Wade Smith, Trade Commissioner for North America and British Consul General in New York, said in announcing the scholarships.

Smith said: “From science and maths, to artificial intelligence, energy and sustainability, to migration studies, these young leaders have already impressed with their strong academic training and have demonstrated real promise in terms of their career trajectories. "

Currently, Hari has been involved in several internships during his college career, including the Center for Cross-Border Studies in Northern Ireland and the Meridian International Center.

She is currently a Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) intern with the Political Section at the U.S. Consulate General in Munich, Germany and will be interning in Congress with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs next semester.

His research on German security policy was published by the American-German Institute.

“It is clear that throughout his graduate career, Hari is shaping himself as a future expert on conflict and peacekeeping,” said Lauren Takle, director of Georgetown University's Center for Research and Fellowships.

“At every turn, they have seized opportunities to further understand the complexities of the conflict, both in and out of the classroom.”

Georgetown University said in a statement that through the Marshall Scholarship, Hari will learn from fellow UK scholars as they prioritize grassroots peacebuilding and prepare themselves for careers in policymaking.

This year's Marshall Scholarship class includes aspiring diplomats, doctors, fighter pilots and scientists.

Half of the Class of 2024 will pursue STEM-related degrees, with many studying issues related to the ethics and advancement of artificial intelligence.

The UK government said in a statement that the focus on attracting top young scientific minds to the US reflects its effort to transform Britain into a science and technology superpower by 2030.

The Class of 2024 will begin their studies next September at 18 different institutions across the UK, ranging from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine to Loughborough University in Leicestershire.

With more than 2,200 scholarships awarded to date, the program began in 1953 as a thank you to the American people for their assistance to Britain after World War II under the Marshall Plan.