Winners of the 2023 Brillio National STEM Challenge Announced in Pune

Pune ─ September 9, 2023 ─ Winners of the 2023 Brillio National STEM Challenge were announced at the grand finale held in Pune today. This was the third edition of the National STEM Challenge organized by Brillio, a leading digital transformation services and solutions provider, in collaboration with STEM Learning, a social enterprise focused on driving STEM education among school children.

The finale marked the culmination of year-long STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) activities, including science and mathematics model competitions, technology quizzes, and engineering tinkering. The finale was attended by more than 130 students and 40 teachers from 20 schools across 13 states.

Brillio National STEM Challenge is a one-of-its-kind national competition that provides a unique STEM learning platform to underserved students of government and government-aided schools across India as part of Brillio’s ongoing focus on skills development. The National STEM Challenge is designed to foster curiosity, innovation, and design thinking skills among students from grades 6 through 10, regardless of their background.

In the run-up to the finale, more than 2,500 students from 20 states were trained in new-age technologies by volunteers from Brillio and STEM Learning. These students competed in over 70 cluster, zonal, and state-level rounds. The top 50 teams comprising more than 100 students from 13 states ─ Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Assam, Delhi, UP, Haryana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, MP, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nādu ─ made it to the national finale.

Celebrated Mentors, Speakers and Jury Members

The contestants were judged and the winners felicitated by eminent personalities from the worlds of science, education, and technology. They included:

Mr. Anant Vishwanath Patki, former Deputy Director of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Mr. M. C. Uttam, former Deputy Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Thiruvananthapuram
Mr. Pravin Chordia, Scientist at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)
Dr. Parag Kalkar, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Savitribai Phule Pune University
Mr. Anil Rao Paila, Pro Vice Chancellor, Vijaybhoomi University
Dr. Jitendra Sangwai, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras
Ms. Anupama Ramachandra, Fulbright Scholar and Principal of Delhi Public School, Electronic City, Bangalore

Quotes

Anant Vishwanath Patki, former Deputy Director of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), congratulated the winners, stating: “It’s inspiring to witness the outstanding achievements of these young minds. Their ingenious solutions showcase the limitless potential that lies within our future STEM leaders. This competition exemplifies how offering STEM opportunities to underprivileged youth helps level the playing field and drive critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. By helping transcend social and financial barriers, such initiatives can unlock a new future for those who are passionate, driven, and innovative ─ qualities that connect our teams at ISRO with these dedicated young students.”

Dr. Parag Kalkar, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Savitribai Phule Pune University, said: “A strong STEM workforce is crucial for driving innovation and economic growth. By nurturing the potential of underprivileged youth, Brillio and STEM Learning are helping tap into a diverse pool of talent that can contribute fresh perspectives and ideas to the STEM fields, setting the tone for discoveries and advancements of tomorrow. Providing STEM exposure to underprivileged students is also key to boosting India’s competitiveness on the international stage by ensuring a skilled and adaptable workforce.”

Sandeep Rane, Global Head of Delivery at Brillio, said: “I am truly impressed by the innovative solutions these students have envisioned. The National STEM Challenge underscores the remarkable resourcefulness of our talented young minds. All they need is an opportunity. This initiative is key to our efforts to help bridge the digital divide and ensure that all young people have the chance to develop the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the technology-driven world of the future. What we’ve witnessed year after year has been nothing short of inspiring. We are both delighted and honoured by the opportunity to motivate the next generation of STEM leaders.”

Ashutosh Pandit, Founder of STEM Learning, said: “I am thrilled that the National STEM Challenge has successfully completed its third edition, providing a fillip and a platform to the passion for science and technology among students from the far reaches of India. Studies suggest that 80% of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of mathematics and science skills. Together with Brillio, we are committed to addressing the most significant challenges in government schools, offering guidance, providing the infrastructure, and extending the necessary support to help students explore and nurture their interest in STEM subjects and equip them with some of the most sought-after skills in today’s job market.”

Suchitra K, a student at Government High School, Konappana Agrahara, Karnataka, said: “Participating in the National STEM Challenge has been an incredible journey for me and my friends. It has shown us that no dream is too big when it comes to solving real-world problems. This competition has not only broadened our horizons but also ignited a lifelong passion for innovation and learning. We are deeply grateful to Brillio, STEM Learning, and our mentors for this experience. With the skills and knowledge gained here, we feel ready to take on the world and contribute to the ever-evolving field of science and technology.”

Winners

Here’s a list of winners:

National Science Model Making Awards:

1st: Pratik Narhari Jagdhane (Smt. S. D. Ganage Prashala Triveni Nagar, Pune) and Ashrivada Apppuni Patil, GMHPS Navage, Pune

2nd: Narayan Manjrekar (Malgaon English School, Mumbai) and Rudra Gurav (Kalsuli English School, Mumbai)

National Tinkering and Engineering Awards:

1st: Tanishq Sachin Chavan (Navonmesh Vidyamandir, Chakan) and Ganesh Babu Kamathe (Punarutthan Samarsata Gurukulam, Pune)

2nd: Amrutha (Rani Sarala Devi High School, Bangalore) and Chetan D (Rani Sarala Devi High School, Bangalore)

National Math & Tech Quiz Awards

1st: Kanishk Tandel (Gurukul English Medium School, Walkhad, Mumbai) and Hardika Patil (S.E Rave, Mumbai )

2nd: Manohar Mukund (Navonmesh Vidyamandir, Chakan, Pune) and Anup Mahadev Waghire

National STEM Master Maker 2023 Award

1st: Narayan Manjrekar (Malgaon English School, Mumbai)

2nd: Tanishk Chavan (Navonmesh Vidyamandir, Chakan, Pune)

The following teachers were awarded

C Padmavathi, GHS Konnappa Agrahara, Bangalore (Karnataka)
Mr. Ananta Sarkar, Jyangra Adarsha Vidyalaya, Kolkata (West Bengal)
Md. Yasin Ansari, Netaji Hindi Vidyapeeth, Bongaingaon (Assam)
Mr. Rameet Singh, Om Foundation School, Delhi
Anikl Kumar Panika, Govenment Middle School, Kanai (Madhya Pradesh)

About the National STEM Challenge

Launched by Brillio and STEM Learning in 2019, the National STEM Challenge encompasses year-long activities, culminating with a national competition, where students tackle on-the-spot challenges, showcasing their problem-solving abilities within a limited timeframe. Outstanding projects are recognised in various categories.

The competition aims to ignite a passion for STEM fields among young minds, providing dynamic learning experiences, nurturing critical skills, exposing students to STEM careers, and inspiring further education and innovation in these fields. Brillio and STEM Learning have set up science labs and provided science kits for experiments and model-making in the schools that participated in the competition.

The engagement activities over the year consist of weekly interaction sessions, where STEM ambassadors share their passion for STEM subjects, give practical tips and ideas, and demonstrate their value to make a difference. Experts from a vast range of STEM-related disciplines and careers are invited for these sessions. This year’s speakers included Prof. Abhishek Mani, Director, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS); Simmi Anderson, STEM Ambassador, UK; Abha Dogra, Chief Information Officer at Schneider Electric; and Dr. Anupama Kulkarni, senior scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

In addition, more than 100 Brillio volunteers engaged with the participants weekly through online sessions on tech-related news, stories, and quizzes, while guiding students to build STEM models. The students also made science models such as laser security alarms, vacuum cleaners, and hydraulic bridges using Brillio Science DIY kits.

The challenge has led to improved school attendance, active classroom and co-curricular participation, enhanced learning outcomes, digital literacy, and conceptual clarity in grade-specific subjects.