IBM trains girls to develop PICO satellites and drones

NEW DELHI: IBM in collaboration with American India Foundation launched the Innovation Project to encourage girls to take up STEM subjects as higher education subjects.

The project, which is a part of its STEM for Girls India (SFGI) program, conducted hands-on training with 30 students to develop PICO satellites and drones in Uttarakhand today.

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The event was inaugurated by Banshidhar Tiwari, state project director (SPD), Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, Uttarakhand, in the presence of Manoj Balachandran, Head, corporate social responsibility, IBM, Jasbir Kaur, lead, STEM for girls project and Sanyukta Chaturvedi, Program director, Digital Equalizer, AIF.

The students were given an opportunity to assemble drones, simulation, and design software, and used them to launch PICO satellites. PICO satellites are used to observe wind speed, UV rays, GPS, pressure, and temperature.

Around 5214 students across Uttarakhand participated in the orientation program, 135 students were selected to participate in the training program. The project was designed to impart knowledge about satellites, drones, and space technology and to promote aspirations for higher education in STEM subjects and space technology.

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Speaking about the project, Manoj Balachandran, said, "The SFGI program has been instrumental in breaking myths around STEM subjects and motivate young girls to opt for STEM careers in the future. While the team on the field takes regular sessions with students and teachers, there is a need to expose the students to advanced technology wherein they can participate, learn, and demonstrate their ability to prepare and launch projects which can be showcased at the national level and will thus hugely impact the confidence and curiosity of young students.

STEM for Girls India's (SFGI)aims to prepare 2,00,000 high school girls, across multiple states, through a 3-year program to pursue and understand their potential in new collar careers," informed a press release from IBM. On the basis of performance, 4 students were given golden passes, these students will be travel to Space Zone India headquarter for further training and participation in rocket launch event.