· A week-long campaign will celebrate the World Science Day for Peace and Development as well as educate and encourage girls to pursue STEM education
· Global STEM education organization, greenlight for girls (g4g), reaches the city of Mumbai for the first time
Covestro, the global manufacturer of high-performance polymer materials, has partnered with Nehru Science Centre (Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India), and Greenlight For Girls and Chandramohan Foundation to organize a week-long STEM Learning Workshop for girl students in the age group 11 to 15 years in Mumbai. November 10 is celebrated as World Science Day for Peace and Development as well as International Science Centre and Science Museum Day. It is also the anniversary day of Nehru Science Centre. The #STEM4Girls workshop aims to educate around 1,500 girl students in the age group 11 to 15 years about STEM at Nehru Science Center, Mumbai.
In continuance with its efforts to promote science education in India, these workshops will aim to enhance awareness among teachers and students about the value of learning, with a special focus on science and mathematics. Every day approximately 200 girl students from public aided schools will be taught about various STEM based concepts through demonstrations while highlighting the colorful & innovative material science for which Covestro is renowned. Our current generation’s learning skills and design-based learning to spur curiosity, innovation and thirst for knowledge towards STEM in kids can be encouraged with an early exposure to hands-on learning and practical knowledge in a more engaging and fun learning environment.
Speaking to the media at the sidelines of the workshop, Ajay Durrani, MD, Covestro India says that the world is currently facing a dearth of women in the STEM related fields. The situation is not very different in our country too. Along with business ambitions, Covestro has always aligned its corporate social responsibility activities towards promoting overall wellbeing of the society and support of educational programs like g4g. He continued by saying that “the campaign #STEM4Girls is our contribution to support government’s ambitious Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao initiative. We, at Covestro, believe such workshops will be able to help the schools, teachers and students to regain the lost affinity towards STEM subjects and professions. Without a strong base in STEM, we believe the dream of becoming an innovation based economy will remain elusive.”
“STEM is a powerful approach to help students enjoy learning and hook them to see the practical application of reading, writing as well as science and mathematics. The education system should make earnest attempts to strengthen the understanding of science at school level curriculum to foster a tomorrow that is filled with innovative minds,” said Dr. Shivprasad Khened, Director, Nehru Science Center, Mumbai. A recent study by Belong.co reveals that there is one woman engineer for three men engineers, leading to the fact that the Indian technology industry has just 26% women in engineering roles. This reinforces the assumption that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs attract fewer women.
In addition, Kelly Global Workforce Insights (KGWI) survey on Women in STEM showed that 81% of women in STEM fields in India perceived a gender bias in performance evaluation. Such hostile work culture, coupled with the pressures of home is making women leave STEM professions. This is also the first time that global STEM education organization, greenlight for girls (g4g), will be holding a workshop in Mumbai. As an international organization headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, greenlight for girls (g4g) introduces girls of all ages and backgrounds to STEM studies and careers through fun, interactive, hands-on workshops delivered by STEM mentors.
Together, Covestro and g4g share a common mission to expose more girls to STEM subjects and role models and increase their participation in STEM careers. Commenting on the initiative, Melissa Rancourt, Engineer, Entrepreneur and Founder of greenlight for girls said “Around the world and across the United States, wherever g4g goes, we see how profoundly interested girls are in science. Our goal is to capture that interest and get girls thinking about the possibilities of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in order to build a future talent pipeline of female STEM leaders worldwide.” Since 2015, Covestro has been a strong partner and supporter of g4g and together have launched events in various cities across the world.
Just last year Covestro and g4g launched in New Delhi, India, where 200 girls were welcomed in person by CEO, Patrick Thomas. Workshops like these help build great thinkers, innovators, engineers and scientists which are critically needed for the development of our society. This one-week long initiative marks the first ever g4g event in Mumbai. Dr Juergen Morhard, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany along with Guest of Honor Dr. Pheroza J. Godrej, Godrej Group delivered keynote address to the students at the workshop which is being conducted at Nehru Science Centre, Worli, Mumbai from 8th November 2017 to 15th November 2017.
