SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Sept 4: The experts of IIT Indian School of Mines (ISM) Dhanbad made school girls aware of the advantages of Science Technology Engineering mathematics (STEM) education.
Altogether 61 girl students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Dhanbad including, 31 of Class X and 30 of Class XII visited IIT ISM under the Vigyan Jyoti Scheme and interacted with faculty members and research scholars.
Vigyan Jyoti Program
Prof Madulika Gupta, nodal officer for the Vigyan Jyoti Program of IIT (ISM) apprised the visiting students about the advantages and benefits of girls pursuing STEM education.
Prof Gupta while addressing said that out of over 30% of girls/women who graduate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in India, only 14% of them become scientists, engineers and technologists and this mismatch narrows the course of perspective, approaches and techniques for problem-solving.
Need to promote gender equality
“Thus, there is a direct need for joint and focused effort to promote gender equality and advanced diversity and the Vigyan Jyoti Program has been planned in this regard,” said Prof Gupta.
Prof Sukha Ranjan Samadder, associate dean (Research & Development) who delivered the keynote address during the session, said that those pursuing education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics have a greater chance of getting jobs compared to other subjects.
He shared his own story of his school days in a rural school at his native place and later his studies at NIT Suratkal, where he pursued his engineering studies.
Encouraging the female students to pursue STEM education he said, “You have potential and you can help in the community and nation development in the better way by pursuing STEM education”.
