About Me

"We can always kind of be average and do what’s normal.
I’m not in this to do what’s normal."
~ Kobe Bryant

Ashwat Chidambaram

Born and raised a California native, I'm currently a Masters student at UC Berkeley studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) as a Regents' and Chancellor's Scholar. I'm constantly exploring new ways to learn anything and everything I can, and how I can apply those skills to build cool and purposeful things to use. I have a deep interest in pursuing a path which allows me to combine my passions for both software and hardware together, particularly delving into the field of autonomous systems in order to build safe, reliable, and innovative robotics in the future which will empower humanity. In addition, I have a lot of interests far beyond the field of tech, which you can read about below!

Organizations

Being a key part of something bigger than myself has always been one of the important things in my life. Here are a few organizations I am extremely fortunate to be a part of during my time at UC Berkeley, due to the amazing experiences I have in them and the truly phenomenal people I get to meet along the way.

Berkeley Model United Nations (BMUN)

The oldest Model UN conference in the world, BMUN was founded in 1952 by a small group of students at UC Berkeley. For the better part of a century, BMUN has upheld their legacy through thick and thin. Today, the BMUN secretariat continues to orchestrate one of the largest Model United Nations conferences in the world, bolstered by our educational mission and outreach initiatives. My roles in BMUN include serving as Vice Chair (x4) leading crisis and general committees, serving as Head Chair (x2) for our Fall Conference leading a novel committee on AI ethics and safety, Deputy of Merchandise in Publications Staff, and Founding Member/Director of Data Analytics in External Staff.

BMUN Website


Machine Learning at Berkeley (ML@B)

Machine Learning at Berkeley (ML@B) is a student-run organization based at the UC Berkeley dedicated to building and fostering a vibrant machine learning community on campus while contributing to the greater ML community beyond. We are an impassioned community of undergraduate and graduate students working on industry consulting projects, cutting-edge academic research, and educational initiatives to make machine learning more accessible to everyone. My roles in ML@B include being an officer of External & Internal Relations, serving as an industry project member, and leading educational initiatives through workshops and personal 1:1 mentorship to help students break into the field of ML.

ML@B Website

My Passions

As much as I love building and innovating, my passions extend farther than the eye can see.
Here are a few things that I take pride in and enjoy doing in my freetime.

  • Flying

    Ever since a young age, I've always been interested in the field of aviation. Starting from the fun and simple wind-up balsawood planes back in 3th grade, I eventually grew into flying Cessna 172s during high school, and am currently a solo-certified student pilot. I also enjoy flying quadcopters, and even taught quadcopter piloting lessons to various audiences ranging throughout all ages at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, CA.

  • Drumming

    From the moment I took my first drum lesson in 2nd grade, I knew I was getting into something I'd truly enjoy. Drumming has become one of my favorite lifetime hobbies, and I've performed percussion/drum set in Jazz Bands, Symphonic Bands, and Wind Ensembles for about 10 years. Nowadays you can find me casually jamming out on an electronic drum kit back at home, recording drum covers to the latest pop songs which catch my attention on the radio.

  • Basketball

    Basketball has become a classic sport that I began playing with my friends since we were little 5th graders, and it never gets old to this day even as college students. Besides playing recreationally, I also play Intramural Basketball at Cal representing the Berkeley Model United Nations (BMUN) club, and we had a near-perfect season this past semester (until it was unfortunately cut short due to the pandemic).

  • Origami

    When you start to get bored with writing on paper, you begin to fiddle with it. This is pretty much the story of my life. From simple boats and flapping cranes, to intricate animals and modular planes, origami has become a way for me to escape the extremely analytical and quantitative lifestyle of tech and engineering, allowing me to openly express a more creative and free-thinking aspect of my character and mind.

  • United Nations

    Learning about global issues and international affairs has always been of great interest to me, ever since I started competing in Model United Nations in high school. It allows me to represent different countries, research their history and resources, and learn about how to compromise and work together with other nations while putting our differences aside. I'm also passionate about getting directly involved, and have previously served as a Delegate at the United Nations Youth Assembly, flying over and attending a conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

  • Boy Scouts of America

    From the bottom of my heart, I can genuinely say that nothing has shaped my mindset, personality, and character as much as the Boy Scouts of America. The ideals of teamwork, leadership, and responsibility have been deeply instilled within me during my 8 years as a Scout. I earned my Eagle Scout rank along with my Bronze, Gold, and Silver Eagle Palms, was inducted into the Order of the Arrow (Boy Scout's Honor Society), and served in over six different leadership roles in my Troop. As the popular saying goes: once a Scout, always a Scout.