Angels Of Pune: How VigyanShaala Is Breaking Barriers For Girls In Science Through Mentorship And Opportunity

Pune's VigyanShaala International has become an Angel for the city by breaking barriers for girls in science. Co-founded by Dr Vijay Venugopalan and Dr Darshana Joshi, the organization aims to make STEM education accessible to young people, especially girls from underprivileged backgrounds. It achieves this through mentorship, hands-on learning, and career guidance.

Dr Venugopalan, who grew up in Pune and studied physics abroad, was inspired to start the initiative after observing talented girls whose ambitions were constrained by a lack of opportunities. The organization's flagship programs, She for STEM and STEM Champions, help students bridge the gap between academic learning and practical experience.

She for STEM offers career-readiness training to undergraduate women pursuing STEM degrees, connecting them with women scientists and professionals, and providing research opportunities. Meanwhile, STEM Champions focuses on hands-on scientific learning through university-based innovation labs, where students can conduct experiments and apply scientific concepts to real-world problems.

One success story is Muralika, a girl from a Kerala fishing community who is now pursuing fully funded postgraduate studies in physics at Technion, Israel. She credits the Kalpana program under She for STEM for connecting her with mentors and providing exposure to scientific work beyond traditional classrooms. The organization has already reached over 20,000 girls with She for STEM and helped more than 50 students pursue postgraduate studies at prestigious institutions like IITs, NITs, and local universities.

VigyanShaala's goals don't stop there. The organization aims to mentor 100,000 girls by 2030, expanding its programs to underserved regions, strengthening partnerships with schools, and establishing more innovation labs. They are also working on digital mentorship tools, like the CURIE personalized mentoring bot, to make guidance accessible to students regardless of location or financial circumstances.

By connecting young women with mentors, practical learning opportunities, and pathways into research, VigyanShaala International is ensuring that scientific talent is not limited by a lack of exposure. The organization is paving the way for more students to turn their curiosity into a successful career in science.