The Vigyan-Vidushi program for 2023 has commenced at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) in Mumbai. This initiative aims to address the gender imbalance in the field of Physics at the doctoral level. Forty women students from different institutes across India, who have just completed their first year of MSc in Physics, are participating in the program. The three-week summer program, organized by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) through HBCSE, will provide these students with exposure to advanced physics courses and encourage them to conduct innovative experiments.
The program is being held in a residential mode at HBCSE from June 12 to July 1, 2023. During the program, the students will learn about the successful careers of women scientists in physics through presentations by Center Director Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya. Prof. Savita Ladage, Dean of HBCSE, highlighted the positive impact of the program on previous batches and urged the current students to be ambassadors of the program and inspire other girls to pursue physics.
Prof. Vandana Nanal, Convenor of Vigyan Vidushi – 2023, introduced the students to the concept of Vigyan Vidushi, emphasizing the gender gap in STEM fields globally and particularly in India. She stressed the need for mentoring, networking, and gender sensitization in science education. Vigyan Vidushi is a dedicated program for postgraduate-level female students and is a step towards addressing the under-representation of women in science in India.
The program includes interactive sessions on research careers in physics, lectures by eminent women scientists, group discussions, and sessions on problem-solving and career guidance. The students will also visit research laboratories at TIFR and the Giant Metrowave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune, where they will be mentored by successful women scientists.
Out of 500 applications received from across the country, including the North-Eastern regions, 40 students were selected based on their academic profiles and recommendation letters. The program is expected to expand in the coming years, benefiting a larger number of girls and promoting gender diversity in the field of physics.
