IIT Delhi Inaugurates Third Batch Of STEM Mentorship Program For High School Girls

IIT Delhi has 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 the mentorship program designed to inspire and empower young minds to explore careers in STEM disciplines.

As per the IIT Delhi, this year over 200 nominations were received and after a rigorous selection process, 100 promising candidates were chosen for the third batch.

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.

The mentorship program is developed under the guidance of Prof. Narayanan Kurur, Dean of 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.

Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, of 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”.

IIT Delhi STEM Mentorship Program: Key highlights

The STEM Mentorship Program will unfold in three comprehensive phases.

• Summer phase: It spans from May 14 to May 24, 2024. This features 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.
• At the School phase: This will commence from July to November 2024 and 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.
• Winter phase: This will be held in January 2025 with lectures on leadership in STEM, entrepreneurship, and interactions with accomplished IIT Delhi alumni.

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