Empowering Young Minds: IIT Jammu hosts Vigyan Jyoti and Tribal Community Students

Jammu: IIT Jammu continues its commitment as a knowledge partner for the Vigyan Jyoti Programme, a visionary initiative aimed at ushering in gender equality within the realm of STEM. At its core, this program strives to foster active participation of young girls in diverse fields of Science and Technology right from their formative years. The Outreach Section of IIT Jammu has been wholeheartedly embracing this noble cause since 2021.
In the latest chapter, the Outreach Section had the privilege of hosting 175 bright young minds on the 21st and 22nd of September 2023. Amongst these budding enthusiasts, 150 were participants of the Vigyan Jyoti Programme, while 25 hailed from the ST Community (Gujjar) of Mahore village in Reasi. These dynamic students represented various esteemed institutions, including: Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Udhampur; Kendriya Vidyalaya Udhampur; Government Higher Secondary School Rakh Jaganoo, Udhampur; Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Reasi; Government Higher Secondary School Reasi; Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Samba; Government Higher Secondary School Samba and the diligent students from the Tribal community in Mahore.
The visitation requests from these schools were diligently coordinated through email communications with their respective Principals. The Outreach team at the institute, under the leadership of Prof Rakesh Singhai, the Dean and Dr Riya Bhowmik, the Associate Dean, always accords priority to these requests, taking into account lab accessibility and the availability of faculty resources.
The students’ visit provided them with invaluable insights into the academic calendar of IITs, the pathways to gain admission to prestigious institutions like NITs and IITs, and the intricacies of the admission process itself. Dr Vijay Pal conducted enlightening practical sessions at the ATAL Lab, while Prof Singhai graced the occasion with an informative presentation and engaging interactions with the students, shedding light on potential career trajectories over the next decade.
Before delving into these enriching sessions, the students were organized into groups and accompanied by the Outreach/UBA team to explore the wonders of the Tinkerer’s Lab, Central Workshop, and Physics Lab. The dedicated lab staff at IIT Jammu elucidated the inner workings, utility of equipment, and the significance of each machine within the lab. The curious students eagerly posed questions in every lab, demonstrating their thirst for knowledge. The visit concluded with a delightful refreshment session.
Furthermore, the UBA and Outreach teams orchestrated an engaging Art and Craft workshop tailored for the ST students from Mahore in Reasi. This creative endeavor focused on crafting small-scale engineering models, fostering a spirit of innovation and hands-on learning.
The visit of these young minds to IIT Jammu serves as a testament to the institute’s unwavering commitment to nurturing the future leaders of the STEM world, regardless of their background, gender, or community. The collaborative efforts of the Outreach Section, Vigyan Jyoti Programme and the ST Community exemplify the transformative power of education and inclusivity in shaping a brighter tomorrow.