(Photo: High School Girl Participants in Third Batch of STEM Mentorship Program)

New Delhi: IIT Delhi has proudly inaugurated the third batch of its esteemed STEM Mentorship Program tailored for high school girls in Classes 9 and 11.

Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, launched the third phase of this mentorship journey, which is designed to inspire and empower young minds to explore careers in STEM disciplines.

Spearheaded by the guidance of Prof. Narayanan Kurur, Dean Academics, and Prof. Subodh Sharma, Associate Dean, Academic Outreach & New Initiatives, and planning of Prof. Divya Nayar (Program Coordinator) and Prof. Rohit Vaish (Program Coordinator), the Mentorship Program aims to foster a nurturing environment for budding talents.

This year witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 200 nomination applications from various Delhi Government Schools, Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools (Delhi-NCR region), and private schools. Following a rigorous selection process, 100 promising candidates were chosen for the third batch.

Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi, said, “We are keen to enhance gender balance in our Institute. This workshop provides an opportunity for women students to explore opportunities in STEM and make informed career choices based on their interest and passion”.

The STEM Mentorship Program will unfold in three comprehensive phases. The “summer phase”, spanning from May 14 to May 24, 2024, will feature a 9-day workshop. Participants will be immersed in STEM domains through expert lectures, laboratory demonstrations, and hands-on problem-solving sessions. Additionally, a Maker Space workshop at IIT Delhi will provide students with hands-on experience in DIY projects.

In the subsequent “At the School” phase, from July to November 2024, participants will engage in the Sci-Tech Spins lecture series, held monthly on Saturdays. The interaction sessions with IIT Delhi students will enrich their learning experience.

The programme will culminate in the “Winter phase” in January 2025 with lectures on leadership in STEM, entrepreneurship, and interactions with accomplished IIT Delhi alumni.

The inaugural session featured an engaging Q&A session moderated by Prof. Divya Nayar, with insights from Prof. Yama Dixit, Prof. Ekata Saha, and Prof. Tarak Karamakar.

Expert guest Prof. Neeldhara Misra from IIT Gandhinagar delivered a stimulating lecture on using games to understand abstract mathematical concepts.

Following the session, participants enjoyed a campus tour and interactive session with IIT Delhi students serving as mentors.

“The 3^rd batch of the STEM Mentorship Program marks a continuation of IIT Delhi's commitment to fostering gender-inclusive excellence in STEM education. We plan to expand the Program in terms of batch sizes and the number of Schools in future”, said Prof. Divya Nayar, Program Coordinator.

The first cohort of 10 girls was launched in December 2021, followed by the successful completion of the second batch of 32 schoolgirls in June 2023, under the auspices of the Office of Academic Outreach and New Initiatives, IIT Delhi.

ENDS