Brillio National STEM Challenge 2024 Concludes with a Spe – Yurika.R

Bengaluru, August 28, 2024 ─ The winners of the 2024 Brillio National STEM Challenge, a one-of-its-kind educational initiative in India, were announced today in Bengaluru at the grand finale of a national competition that showcased the incredible talent and innovation of young minds from across the country. This marked the fourth edition of the competition, organized by Brillio, a leader in digital transformation services, in partnership with STEM Learning, a social enterprise focused on driving STEM education among school children.

The grand finale was conducted with the support of the National Education Foundation under their “We Care, We Share” initiative, and National Hill View Public School, Banashankari, Bengaluru.

Brillio National STEM Challenge 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. It is designed to foster and celebrate creativity, ingenuity, design thinking, and problem-solving skills among students from grades 6 through 10, regardless of their background.

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 60 students and 25 teachers from 12 states.

Over the last year, more than 2,000 students from 20 states were trained in new-age technologies by volunteers from Brillio and STEM Learning. These students competed in over 90 cluster and zonal rounds. The top 27 teams from 12 states ─ Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Odisha, Punjab, and Goa ─ made it to the national finale.

Esteemed Chief Guests

• Mr. D. K. Shivakumar, Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka
• Mr. Madhu Bangarappa, Honorable Education Minister of Karnataka

Esteemed Guests of Honor

• Ms. B. B. Cauvery, I.A.S., Commissioner for Public Instruction, Government of Karnataka
• Ms. Aisshwarya DKS Hegde, Trustee-Secretary, Schools of National Education Foundation (NEF)
• Dr. B. R. Guruprasad, Director, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bengaluru
• Mr. Ashutosh Pandit, CEO, STEM Learning
• Mr. Siva Perubotla, MD and CIO, Brillio
• Ms. Kusuma H, Social Leader
• Mr. Abhishek Ranjan, Global Head of Sustainability, Brillio

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. Ashok Pamidi, Former CEO, NASSCOM Foundation
• Ms. Sudeepta Banerjee, Head of Resource Mobilization, Concern India Foundation
• Ms. Kathleen Ulrich, MD and Global Head of Marketing, Brillio
• Dr. Sarnam Singh, Senior Scientist, Former Dean, Nalanda University
• Mr. Alexandre Besnard, Digital Admin, LP4Y
• Dr. G. N. Dayananda, Outstanding Scientist (retired), Technology Management Directorate, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
• Ms. Anupama Ramachandra, Founder Principal, Delhi Public School Electronic City, Bengaluru
• Mr. Vishwottam Kandikere, PhD, Assistant Vice President and Head ─ DMPK, Syngene International Limited
• Ms. Sunita Sharaf, Director, EDUscope

Ms. Aisshwarya DKS Hegde,Trustee-Secretary, National Education Foundation, said: “At National Education Foundation under We Care We Share initiative, we are deeply committed to nurturing STEM skills as the cornerstone of a brighter, more equitable future. Partnering with Brillio and STEM Learning in hosting the exciting finale of the National STEM Challenge has been a profoundly fulfilling experience. Witnessing students from diverse backgrounds showcase their creativity and problem-solving abilities with commendable originality, passion, and ingenuity has reaffirmed our belief in the transformative power of education. This initiative not only celebrates their creativity and achievements but also underscores the immense potential of technology to tackle complex global challenges and inspire the change-makers of tomorrow.”

Mr. Ashok Pamidi, Former CEO, NASSCOM Foundation, said: “The National STEM Challenge is more than just a competition — it is a movement towards democratizing STEM skills and empowering the next generation of thinkers and innovators. Unlocking the full potential of every individual is vital to making sure that talent and innovation are not confined by privilege but are harnessed from every corner of society. It is by enabling access to these critical skills that we can build a future where diverse ideas drive positive change.”

Dr. Sarnam Singh, Senior Scientist, said: “In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, STEM skills are indispensable. The National STEM Challenge is a testament to the potential of every student, regardless of their background, to rise to the challenge and showcase their creativity and ingenuity. These young minds are the future architects of India’s global competitiveness. By empowering underprivileged youth, we can tap into a rich vein of talent from rural and urban areas, bringing innovative ideas, setting the stage for future innovations, and making India the global hub of a skilled and versatile workforce.”

Mr. Abhishek Ranjan, Global Head of Sustainability at Brillio, said: “The creativity and ingenuity displayed by these students are truly remarkable. The National STEM Challenge highlights the problem-solving abilities of our youth. Given the right opportunities, they can achieve wonderful things. Providing these opportunities is an investment in a future where diverse perspectives are necessary to solve complex problems, and shape a more inclusive world. It is a moral and strategic imperative of our times to create a world where everyone has the chance to contribute to and benefit from progress.”

Mr. Ashutosh Pandit, Founder of STEM Learning, said: “We are pleased that the fourth edition of the National STEM Challenge has successfully fulfilled our objective of igniting a passion for science and technology among students from all corners of India. It is about empowering a generation to dream beyond boundaries. When we inspire curiosity, we plant the seeds of innovation. We are proud of our collaboration with Brillio in enabling students to pursue and imbibe highly sought-after STEM skills to foster individual and societal progress.”

Ms. Bhakti Varekar, a student at S.V.P.M. Secondary School, Kalwa, Thane, said: “Taking part in the National STEM Challenge has been an amazing adventure for me and my friends. It has convinced us that with curiosity and hard work, we can turn our ideas into real impact. We now believe that we have the power to bring about change, no matter where we come from. This competition has expanded our perspectives and sparked a lasting enthusiasm for creativity and learning. We are immensely thankful to Brillio, STEM Learning, and our mentors for this opportunity. We’ve learned that our background doesn’t define our future—our passion for science and technology does.”

Winners of National STEM Challenge 2024

Here’s a list of winners:

National Science & Math Model Making Awards:

• 1st: Deepak Kumar, (Basic School, Chota Govindpur, Jamshedpur), and Sunny Kumar, Basic School, Chota Govindpur, Jamshedpur)
• 2nd: Jishan Baidya (Bishnupur Sir Ramesh Institution) and SK. Farhan Uddin (Bishnupur Sir Ramesh Institution)

National Tech & Engineering Tinkering Awards:

• 1st: Dhrubajyothi Paik (Jadavpur Vidyapith, Kolkata) and Aditya Mondal (Jadavpur Vidyapith, Kolkata)
• 2nd: Maroju Harsha Vardhan Chary (ZPHS Nagol, Hyderabad) and Srikar Savanth (ZPHS Nagol, Hyderabad

National STEM Master Maker 2024 Awards:

• Dhrubajyothi Paik (Jadavpur Vidyapith, Kolkata)
• Jishan Baidya (Bishnupur Sir Ramesh Institution)

National STEM Teacher’s Award:

• Dattatray Raskar, Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Naigaon (Pune)