Women in Science and Technology - Role & Scope

Women have significantly contributed to the domain of science and technology in India for years now and have played a prominent share in the country’s advancement. The contribution of India’s talented women in the field of science and technological advancements has been immense. Women in India over decades have been breaking stereotypes to pave the way for young generations to follow their passion to work toward scientific discoveries and cutting-edge technologies.

In this post, let's discuss the role of Indian women in science and technology as well as the scope that females in India receive in this field in today’s time.    

Prominent Women in India in the field of Science and Technology 

Here are some prominent female scientists in India are:

1. Anna Mani (1918–2001): She was known as an Indian physicist and meteorologist. She served as the former Deputy Director General of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The recipient of the K.R. Ramanathan Medal, she is one of the renowned women scientists in India, known for her contribution to the study of radiation, ozone, and atmospheric electricity.

2. Dr. N Kalaiselvi (1967): This great woman in India is a lithium-ion battery scientist working on projects to enhance electric mobility in the country. She was the first woman Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and stayed in that position for two years. She also worked as a Nodal Scientist for Multifunctional Electrodes and Electrolytes for Futuristic Technologies. 

3. Tessy Thomas (1963): She is the first woman scientist in India to head a missile project. She was the project director for DRDO’s Agni-IV missile. She is a famous woman in India labeled as India’s 'Missile Woman' for her contributions in designing the guidance scheme for Agni’s long-range missile systems. She was also the recipient of the Agni Self-Reliance Award in 2001. She retired as the Director General of Aeronautical Systems at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in April 2023. 

Initiatives Taken by Government to Promote Science Among Women in India

The government has started programs to help women access education and training in STEM or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields and support their career growth.

Here are some initiatives taken by the government to promote the role of women in science and technology:

1. Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM: This initiative encourages women to be a part of global research collaborations under STEMM or Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine at prestigious US universities. 

2. Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN): This initiative uses different gender-enabling programs to ensure the participation of women in STEM. The Women Scientists Scheme is a program that offers women scientists in India wide opportunities.

3. Vigyan Jyoti: This is a program started by the Department of Science and Technology of India to encourage meritorious girl children of India in classes 9-12 to pursue a career in the areas of science and technology where women's representation is less.

4. Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI): This initiative aims to make institutions more inclusive and gender-sensitive to improve gender equity in science and technology.

5. National Award for Woman Scientist: This yearly award was started by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in 2018 for women scientists in India.

Contribution of Women in Science and Technology in India

As discussed, women’s contribution to India’s science and technology has been immense. As per reports by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the participation of women in extramural R&D projects doubled in the last 10 years. The government has received over 11500 applications as of FY 2020-21, under different programs of the WISE-KIRAN Scheme. 

Besides, women constitute over 43% of enrolment in the STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) stream at the Higher Education level in India in 2024. The number of women scientists in India at present is 18.6%, whereas it is 25% for the R&D projects run by Women in the country. 

The percentage of women primary investigators in research and development as well as the overall female researchers in India has also seen a considerable increase over the years.

Besides the above, the participation of women in space programs has also grown over the years. Women played a pivotal role in India's maiden mission to Mars launched by ISRO in 2013 and are still playing significant roles in prestigious science projects like the Aditya L1 mission, Chandrayaan3, etc. 

Conclusion

Promoting women in science and technology is essential to establish unbiasedness in the society. By encouraging women’s participation and recognizing their achievements, the growth of the country can be ensured. 

There are many degree and diploma programs in science and technology that women can pursue to have a rewarding future in this field. If you are looking for online degree courses in STEM, Amity University Online offers several lucrative online programs to explore and consider. Visit the portal to learn more. 

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