The summer phase of the fifth batch of the Manasvi: STEM Mentorship Program for High School Girls at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has successfully concluded. This initiative, organized by the institute's Office of Academic Outreach and New Initiatives, saw participation from 120 girls studying in classes 9 to 12 from government schools across the Delhi-NCR region. The program aims to encourage young women to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Program Structure and Activities
During the summer phase, students were brought into IIT Delhi’s laboratories and lecture halls for academic sessions, leadership interactions, and practical learning activities. According to the institute, the fifth cohort differed from earlier batches as all participants were from government schools in the region. The program will continue throughout the year with monthly STS-Spins lectures, while the winter phase for the same cohort is scheduled for January 2027.
Director Highlights Focus on STEM Participation
The inaugural session began with an address by IIT Delhi Director Prof. Rangan Banerjee, who spoke about improving female representation in STEM careers and the institute’s initiatives in this area. He told participants that women could contribute across various fields, including engineering, artificial intelligence, healthcare, construction, and space technology. Prof. Banerjee also explained the structure of the mentorship program, which included interactions with alumni, lectures on different domains, and hands-on laboratory activities designed to help students understand engineering and science disciplines.
Hands-On Sessions Formed Key Part of Program
Each day began with informal interactions followed by academic or leadership sessions conducted by IIT Delhi faculty members and women leaders working in STEM fields. Afternoon makerspace sessions introduced students to electric circuits and solar lamp construction under the guidance of Prof. Jay Dhariwal and his team. Academic sessions were conducted by Prof. Svetha Venkatachari, Prof. Maya Ramanath, and Prof. Sushma Santapuri. Prof. Preeti Srivastava and her students organized laboratory sessions at the Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, where students carried out molecular biology experiments.
Students Attend Leadership and Mentoring Sessions
The program included keynote sessions by Surabhi Yadav, Founder and CEO of SajheSapne, and Anu Meena, Founder and CEO of Kind Fertility. Additional sessions were led by Asha Duggi and the STEMtheGap team, including Abhilasha Sinha and Sri Harini Kuppa, under the guidance of Prof. Ravinder Kaur. The summer phase concluded with a session by Squadron Leader Neha Devi, who shared her experiences with the students. The program is partially sponsored by the Bharti Airtel Foundation for the second consecutive edition.
