Garhwal Post Bureau
Ranikhet, 2 Oct: Five students of Government P.G. College, Ranikhet, have been selected for the Accelerator Phase of ‘Kalpana: She for STEM’, a mentoring initiative by VigyanShaala aimed at creating greater access to research exposure, professional mentorship and STEM career pathways for young women. The selection marks an encouraging achievement for the college, with five students from the same institution earning a place in the Accelerator Phase. The selected students -Ritu Mehra, Jyoti, Tanisha Arya, Harshita Phartiyal and Bhawana Bisht – represent diverse areas of science, including Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, and Physics & Space Science. The programme will connect the students with experienced mentors from different parts of the world, giving them an opportunity to gain exposure to research-oriented learning and understanding the wider possibilities available in science and technology.
Ritu Mehra, pursuing Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, has been selected to work with Yashashree Joshi, Senior Marketing Manager at Roche Diagnostics in the United States. Chemistry students Jyoti and Tanisha Arya will receive mentorship from Maria Panoukidou of Community Lifelong Learning and Employability (CLLE), Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Harshita Phartiyal, also from Chemistry, will be mentored by Shivani Verma, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Bhawana Bisht, pursuing Physics & Space Science, will be mentored by Atiya Badar, an independent researcher associated with IIT Bombay and based in the United Arab Emirates. The international composition of the mentor network gives the students an opportunity to look beyond conventional academic pathways and learn about research, innovation, higher education and professional opportunities in STEM. For young women studying in a government college in Uttarakhand’s hill region, such exposure can be particularly valuable in helping them understand how their academic interests can translate into future careers.
Dr Bharat Pandey, Coordinator, SHE for STEM, Government P.G. College, Ranikhet, and District Coordinator, UCOST, Almora, has been a close mentor and a key guiding force for the five students throughout their engagement with STEM opportunities. Through his close interaction with the students, guidance and encouragement, he has helped them navigate opportunities for academic and professional growth and pursue pathways beyond their immediate classroom environment.
At the broader institutional level, Prof. Durgesh Pant, Director, Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology (UCOST), has played an important role in strengthening the STEM ecosystem in the state and encouraging students to engage with scientific and innovation-oriented opportunities. The initiative is also strengthened through the work of Darshana Joshi, CEO of VigyanShaala, whose organisation is working to create structured mentorship and professional development opportunities for women pursuing STEM. Through Kalpana: She for STEM, students are provided opportunities to interact with mentors and professionals and gain a broader understanding of STEM careers and research pathways.
At Government P.G. College, Ranikhet, Prof. Pushpesh Pandey, Principal, has provided continued institutional support for students to participate in academic, research and STEM-focused programmes. Dr. Nidhi Sharma, Member/Mentor, SHE for STEM, Government P.G. College, Ranikhet, and Darshana Joshi have also contributed to the continued support and encouragement of students. For other students at Ranikhet and across Uttarakhand, the achievement of Ritu, Jyoti, Tanisha, Harshita and Bhawana can serve as an encouraging example of the opportunities that can emerge through active participation in STEM programmes.
