Exploration of Science through STEM for Girls

The active participation seen across India by both genders in the science stream is something that has recently gained momentum. However, the gender ratio in advancing in such a field is still struggling to look promising even on a global scale. The main challenge has been the stigma around science subjects being difficult to grasp. The only way to bust such a myth is by encouraging young students to explore this stream. DEF has been trying to head this way by introducing a STEM for girls program.

Riya Das Gupta is a student of Raha Girls High school, studying in her 10th grade and enrolled in the STEM for girls program. Her facilitator shares her observations that, “Before coming to the STEM project, Riya used to show very little interest in science. She thought that science was a very difficult subject for her.

Through the programme, her interest in science was tested out by verbal explanation about the subjects and the career opportunities around it. To make the environment a bit more receptive, her parents were also told about the benefits of taking up science. Apart from sharing videos and images related to the science field, a role model interaction was organised with a female doctor along with hands-on science experimentation sessions. 

With such an exposure, Riya has become very interested in science and has decided to pursue her career in science stream with an ambition to become a doctor one day.