jmi
Twelve girls from Jammu & Kashmir are among the 25 young women students from minorities and disadvantaged groups are participating in a 4-day workshop in Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI).
the workshop will encourage and inform them about education and professional opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at US institutions of higher learning.
The objective of the workshop, included strengthening of people to people ties between the US and India through exchange of information, experience and expertise; support economic growth and development by creating awareness for girls and young women on higher education opportunities in STEM fields; and encourage more Indian students to consider higher education opportunities in the US by interacting with American university alumni in India.
The group will undergo roadshow workshops in Delhi, Kolkata, Aligarh, Patna and Kurnool under the mentors from Ohio State University. All evaluation and monitoring will be conducted through the Indo-US APJ Kalam STEM Education and Research Centre at the Ohio State University-Aligarh Mulsim University.
Sultana N. Nahar, Program Director, gave an outline of the major Objectives and expectations from the programme and hoped that the programme would encourage more Indian students to consider higher education opportunities in the US by interacting with US university alumni.
Inaugurating the workshop, JMI Chancellor and Governor of Manipur, Najma A. Heptulla said that it was important to promote interest and understanding of science especially among girls.
She spoke about how even the first message of Allah in the Holy Quran is Íqra’ which means read and told the participants about the benefits of science but advised them to use it with caution. Citing the example of the wearing of the pyramids she said that the human activities and scientific aggression had caused more damage to the ecosystem in the last 100 years.
Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, JMI and the guest of honour on the occasion congratulated the participants and said that they should become ambassadors of science in their own families and cities.
He said that indiscriminate human activity was resulting in large-scale devastation of nature, soil erosion, climate change and damaged to the ecosystem at large. Citing the example of the Dal lake in Srinagar, he said that it was becoming shallower due to rampant cutting of trees in the surrounding areas and the resultant soil erosion.
“We have to be mindful of the climate and ecology around us,” he said and quoted Father of the Nation saying that world has enough for everyone’s needs but not enough for everyone’s greed.
Karen Irving and Anil Pradhan both professors at The Ohio State University along with Indian experts will train the students on different aspects of ‘Science for Women’, entrepreneurship, and how to prepare them for a STEM education in the US.
Pradhan, Director Indo-US APJ Abdul Kalam STEM Education and Research Centre, said that research was interdisciplinary and all major problems in the universe including global warming are interdisciplinary and not specific to any science.
Mukesh Ranjan, Coordinator, Office of the International Relations & Outreach Programme and Baran Farooqi, General Secretary, Zakir Husain Memorial Welfare Society, provided all logistical support to the visiting guests from US and participants.
JMI Registrar, A P Siddiqui, Honorary Director, FTK-Centre for Information Technology (CIT), M N Doja, Chief Proctor, Haroon Sajjad, DSW Naved Iqbal, were among the senior faculty members and staff present at the inaugural function.
