NovaSci x Leidos – Tech Duels 2025
June 26, 2025 — Leidos HQ
45 student debaters face off in 3 intense rounds on AI, ethics, and security.
Debate Rounds
Round 1 (4v4)
Is Generative AI Enhancing the Storytelling and User Experience in Game Development?
Pro: Amara Orakwue, Leena Masrour, Mariam Kodad, Venkata Srikakolapu
Con: Hashmita Nittala, Samridh Mankala, Shirdi Palle, Srivatsa Ganapuram
Round 2 (3v3)
Can You Remove the Human Bias Built Into Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning?
Pro: Ben Carey, Robel Mesaye, Vivian Lee
Con: Harun Khan, Mina Troung, Sarya Farouk Mirghani
Round 3 (4v4)
Would AI-Driven Surveillance Increase Passenger Safety at Airports?
Pro: Aaryav Paul Walter, Losritha Nallamala, Rohan Soma, Sherlyn Phillip
Con: Daniyal Ahmad, Jennifer Contreras Pena, Jakub Porada, Nisarg Desai
Moderator
Gary Crum
Founder & President, LHT Ventures, LLC & Board Member Emeritus, Children’s Science Center Lab
Judges
Pritha Mehra
Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President, USPS
Liza Wilson Durant, Ph.D.
Associate Provost, Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement, George Mason University & Director, Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, Nova Node
Tom Benedien
Chief Executive Officer, GT Edge AI & CCI Industry Partner Host
Obed Diaz-Rodriguez
Marketing Director, Synectics for Management Decisions & STEM Advisory Council Member, Children’s Science Center Lab
Robert "Bob" Van Hoecke
Chief Executive Officer & Principal, Regulatory Economics Group, LLC & Board Member, Children’s Science Center Lab
Mike Snodgrass
Customer Engineer: Applied AI, Google
Student Participants
Aaryav Paul Walter
Loudoun County
Freedom High School (LCPS)
Zaara Mulla
Loudoun County
Freedom High School (LCPS)
Samay Mahal
Prince William County
Battlefield High School
Agrani Shahi
Fairfax County
Centreville High School
Amara Orakwue
Fairfax County
Centreville High School
Vivian Lee
Fairfax County
Centreville High School
Venkata Srikakolapu
Fairfax County
Westfield High School
Vishnu Ravi
Loudoun County
Briar Woods High School
Ben Carey
Fairfax County
Westfield High School
Nisarg Desai
Loudoun County
Lightridge High School
Zachary Milne
Prince William County
Woodbridge Senior High School
Srivatsa Ganapuram
Fairfax County
John Champe High School
Leena Masrour
Fairfax County
West Potomac High School
Robel Mesaye
Fairfax County
West Springfield High School
Harun Khan
Fairfax County
Woodson High School
Hashmita Nittala
Fairfax County
Fairfax High School
Omar Mysorewala
Loudoun County
CD Hylton High School
Harini Natarajan
Loudoun County
Broad Run High School
Anay Bansal
Fairfax County
Fairfax High School
Mariam Kodad
Fairfax County
Thomas Edison High School
Rohan Soma
Fairfax County
Fairfax High School
Taha Rawjani
Loudoun County
Academies of Loudoun
Rohan Matta
Loudoun County
Rock Ridge High School
Brian Ho
Fairfax County
Thomas Jefferson High School
Kadhir Palani
Loudoun County
Independence High School
Saatvik Kesarwani
Fairfax County
Thomas Jefferson High School
Daniel Mayer
Loudoun County
Garfield High School
Jakub Porada
Loudoun County
Briar Woods High School
Manvita Kancharla
Loudoun County
John Champe High School
Samridh Mankala
Loudoun County
John Champe High School
Ria Singh
Loudoun County
Stone Bridge High School
Lavanya Joshi
Loudoun County
Riverside High School
Shirdi Palle
Fairfax County
Thomas Jefferson High School
Srirama Kammula
Fairfax County
Woodson High School
Vindhya Marri
Loudoun County
Independence High School
Daniyal Ahmad
Fairfax County
Fairfax High School
Jennifer Contreras Pena
Fairfax County
Thomas Edison High School
Mina Truong
Prince William County
Woodbridge Senior High School
Sherlyn Philip
Prince William County
Patriot High School
Wehbe El Hadj Sidi
Fairfax County
Justice High School
Saumit Ramagiri
Loudoun County
Independence High School
Pranjali Sanwal
Loudoun County
Briar Woods High School
Losritha Nallamala
Loudoun County
Independence High School
Sarya Farouk Mirghani
Fairfax County
Rock Ridge High School
Stephanie Frimpong
Fairfax County
West Potomac High School