India’s women scientists are breaking barriers in space exploration.Women scientists in the team of Mission Chandrayaan 2 have shown that times are changing for the space-loving little girls who want to leave their footprints in space. ManyIndian women shooting for the skies as successful space scientists, engineers, satellite launchers, missile developers and project heads of complex interstellar missions. Broadening the horizons of science on Earth and beyond, they are shattering the glass ceiling while inspiring millions.
The first National Space Science Exhibition – hosted by the Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India, IISER Kolkata in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organization, the S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Science City, Birla Industrial and Technological Museum along with city based partner organizations including the Presidency University, University of Calcutta and St. Xavier’s College – is being organized this week across Kolkata.
As part of the event, the Birla Industrial and Technological Museum (BITM), a Unit of National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, presented a Public Lecture and Panel Discussion – hosting several women space scientists and entrepreneurs in a free flowing discussion about challenges and opportunities in space sciences. Shyama Narendranath (ISRO), Nandini Harinath (ISRO), S. Seetha (Raman Research Institute), Devleena Bhatacharjee (Numer8 Analytics), Nikhitha C (Genex Space) and Avyarthana Ghosh (TCS Research) shared their thoughts.
It’s important to celebrate the accomplishments of these pioneering women. By telling their stories, we can inspire a new generation of girls to pursue careers in STEM.According to the National Science Foundation, the future of work is technological; around 80% of the jobs in the next decade will require STEM skills. And while around 12 million people are added to the country’s working population every year, we are already facing a shortage of STEM workers. Without more women in STEM jobs, India has no hope of reaching Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25.
The need to provide girls full and equal access and participation in STEM is crucial for India’s economy and science itself. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is essential to fostering reliable, representative and meaningful science. Women bring their unique perspectives to research and scientific conversation – and ultimately make science richer, broader, and more accurate when gender is considered.
