8 September2022Women in Engineering, Science & Technology (WEST) were introduced by Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India. WEST is a new I-STEM (Indian Science Technology & Engineering facilities Map) initiative.The WEST initiative will support women with STEM backgrounds and give them the tools they need to participate in the ecosystem of science, technology & innovation. I-STEM is a national web portal for sharing research resources, and it serves as the hub for numerous initiatives aimed at fostering R&D and technological innovation partnerships between academia & industry, particularly start-ups.I-STEM will give scientifically inclined women researchers, scientists & technologists, a separate platform through the WEST initiative to pursue research in fundamental or applied sciences in cutting-edge fields of science and engineering. Women who participate in the WEST programme can explore opportunities to become active participants in various industries and to pursue careers in R&D at various levels, including those of technicians, technologists, scientists & entrepreneurs. Opportunities range from operating scientific equipment and maintaining them, to designing and manufacturing them.By solving critical holes in the nation's R&D infrastructure, the WEST initiative's skill development programmes will enable women with S&T backgrounds to brush up on their skills and work `in the field' as lab technicians & maintenance engineers. This initiative will also help to bring women back into S&T domains after a career break. With this knowledge, women can start their own businesses and work as consultants on the I-STEM platform for the upkeep and operation of complex machinery. This would help close a `skills gap' and make proper use of equipment that was purchased with public money.The current assistance that I-STEM offers to female entrepreneurs starting S&T businesses will be improved as a result of the WEST initiative. Women in S&T will have strong support networks owing to the access to R&D facilities and R&D software platforms (COMSOL, MATLAB, LABVIEW & AUTOCAD) made possible through the I-STEM portal.I-STEM will give female researchers a place to discuss their accomplishments, difficulties, and strategies for moving the nation forward through innovation, science & technology. Additionally, through the I-STEM WhatsApp & Telegram platforms, a digital consortium called `Connect Quickly' for online conversation & immediate help has also been developed. The WEST programme will be implemented successfully by a dedicated team of women. IN FOCUSGOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NEW I-STEM INITIATIVE CALLED `WOMEN IN ENGINEERING, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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