More women in science, tech, engg fields due to govt schemes, says VC
Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Forum Kurukshetra University organised Women in STEM (WIS) Forum Award ceremony, in the Senate Hall of the university. The WIS Forum, KUK, was established in 2019 to create awareness regarding career, opportunity and funding schemes in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, especially for women students, researchers and faculty.
The chief guest Vice-Chancellor Kurukshetra University, Prof Som Nath Sachdeva, said the participation of women in STEM had increased with the implementation of government schemes and policies. Prof Sachdeva further said that government policy on new science and technology facilitated inclusion of women in research areas and in the coming times, knowledge creation should be encouraged to make India a global knowledge superpower.
The keynote speaker of the event, Prof Anubha Kaushik of Indraprastha University, in her address, talked about the ‘challenges and opportunities for women in science’. Prof Kaushik asserted that women in science face several challenges, including gender bias, less representation in leadership roles, and a lack of visible role models and implicit prejudice, that could lead to unequal opportunities for funding, promotions, and recognition.
Dr Neera Raghav, Department of Chemistry won WIS Forum Award in Category I, for Highest Impact Research Paper in the Faculty of Sciences, Dr Anita Yadav Department of Biotechnology won WIS Forum Award for Highest Impact Research Paper in the Faculty of Life Sciences and Dr Reeta Devi, University Institute of Engineering and Technology won WIS Forum Award for Highest Impact Research Paper in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology. Dr Suman Mahendia, Department of Physics won WIS Forum Award in Category II for Maximum Number of Citations in the Faculty of Sciences, Dr Anita Bhatnagar, Department of Zoology won WIS Forum Award for Maximum Number of Citations in the Faculty of Life Sciences.
Dr Suman Mahendia Department of Physics won WIS Forum Award in Category II for Maximum Research Grant in the Faculty of Sciences, Kiran Siwach, Department of Chemistry bagged WIS FORUM AWARD in Category IV for Best Female Research Scholar (Based on highest number of publications) in the Faculty of Sciences and Prerna, Department of Zoology won this award in the faculty of Life Sciences. A letter of appreciation was also conferred to Prof Pawan K Sharma Department of Chemistry and Dr Jitender Bhardwaj Department of Zoology.
