PUNE: Not many girls in the country pick research as a career. Moreover, compared to boys, the number of girls entering the streams of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education is also less. To encourage and aware girls about STEM education, #STEM4GirlsFestival2018 has been launched in Mumbai on Monday. The fest aims to reach as many as 3,000 girls across the country.
In 2012-13, MHRD had revealed in a report that only 8.52 per cent girls enrolled in bachelor degrees in engineering or technology. In accordance to this, the organisers have stated that while on one hand year after year, in school exams, girls have outshone boys, but when it comes to those who take up research, the number of women is minuscule.
The programme will focus on teaching girls in the age group of 11 -15 years with various STEM-based concepts through demonstrations while highlighting the colourful and innovative material science. Covestro, along with Greenlight for Girls and Chandra Mohan Foundation inaugurated #STEM4GirlsFestival2018 at the Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai. The third edition of the STEM workshop will be conducted in six cities - Mumbai, Calicut, Dharampur, Panjim, Nagpur and Greater Noida, with the first workshop being held in Mumbai from October 8–13.
Ajay Durrani, Managing Director (MD) of Covestro (India), said, “Science is the key to finding sustainable solutions in every industry and in various economic and social challenges faced by the world. Hence, our target is to popularise STEM4Girls to potentially create a platform to build a career for young girls. We want all these students to be curious, courageous and colourful while they take this leap in life.”
Shivaprasad Khened, Director at Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai and National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, said, “We will succeed in life if the next generation achieves the limitless possibilities in the field of science and technology. We need to encourage young girls to pursue their career in STEM education and become one of the biggest scientists and researchers in the world.”
