A brilliant Iranian teenager, hailed as a science prodigy for his revolutionary research on lizard behaviour, has become an unexpected casualty of Donald Trump's controversial travel ban, finding himself stranded in Britain and unable to pursue his dream studies at Harvard University.
Seventeen-year-old Mohammad-Hassan Asadi, whose extraordinary work has captivated the scientific community, now faces an uncertain future as he remains trapped in legal limbo due to the former US president's immigration restrictions targeting several Muslim-majority countries.
Sleeping With Lizards: The Making of a Genius
The young scientist's remarkable journey began with an unconventional approach to research. "I literally slept with lizards for two months to study their nocturnal behaviours," Asadi revealed, describing his intensive observation methods that led to breakthrough discoveries in reptile psychology.
His pioneering work, which examines the cognitive abilities and social structures of lizards, has been praised by academics as potentially transformative for our understanding of animal intelligence.
The American Dream Denied
Despite earning a coveted place at Harvard University to further his research, Asadi's aspirations have been crushed by Trump's Executive Order 13769, which severely restricts entry for citizens from Iran and several other nations.
"This ban isn't just preventing me from studying—it's preventing science from progressing," the teenager stated, his voice tinged with frustration. "Research knows no borders, no nationalities. It should be about humanity's collective knowledge."
Life in Limbo: Britain's Unexpected Host
Currently residing in the UK while his immigration status remains unresolved, Asadi spends his days continuing his research remotely and advocating for scientific collaboration beyond political boundaries.
The situation highlights the often-overlooked human cost of immigration policies that affect not just individuals but the global scientific community's ability to collaborate and innovate freely.
As the legal battles over Trump's travel ban continue in US courts, promising young minds like Asadi remain in professional purgatory, their contributions to science indefinitely postponed by geopolitical tensions beyond their control.
