The grand finale of the 2023 Brillio National STEM Challenge in Pune witnessed the crowning of this year’s champions. The event, marking the third successful edition of the national STEM competition, was a collaborative effort between Brillio, a renowned provider of digital transformation services, and STEM Learning, a social enterprise dedicated to fostering STEM education among students.
The culmination of this year-long journey in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) saw more than 2,500 students from 20 states across India participating in this unique initiative. The program was specifically designed to provide a platform for underserved students in government and government-aided schools, encouraging curiosity, innovation, and design thinking skills among students ranging from grades 6 to 10.
In the lead-up to the grand finale, these emerging scientists and engineers received training in cutting-edge technologies, generously provided by volunteers from Brillio and STEM Learning. The competition comprised an extensive series of over 70 clusters, zonal, and state-level rounds, ultimately culminating in the selection of the top 50 teams, consisting of over 100 students, representing 13 different states.
The grand finale event was attended by a remarkable gathering of over 130 students and 40 educators, representing 20 schools from across 13 states. It provided a platform for these young talents to shine as they showcased their skills in various STEM activities, including science and mathematics models, technology quizzes, and engineering tinkering.
Distinguished figures from the realms of science, education, and technology were present as judges and had the privilege of presenting awards to the accomplished winners. Among these esteemed individuals were 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 ISRO; Mr. Pravin Chordia, Scientist at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA); Dr. Parag Kalkar, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University; Mr. Anil Rao Paila, Pro Vice Chancellor of Vijaybhoomi University; Dr. Jitendra Sangwai, Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras; and Ms. Anupama Ramachandra, Fulbright Scholar and Principal of Delhi Public School, Electronic City, Bangalore.
Anant Vishwanath Patki, former Deputy Director of ISRO, conveyed his congratulations to the winners and underscored the importance of providing STEM opportunities to underprivileged youth, recognizing their limitless potential to foster critical thinking and problem-solving.
Dr. Parag Kalkar, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University, highlighted the significance of nurturing the potential of underprivileged youth, as they contribute fresh perspectives and ideas to the STEM fields, ultimately enhancing India’s competitiveness on the global stage.
Sandeep Rane, Global Head of Delivery at Brillio, praised the innovative solutions crafted by the students, emphasizing the importance of bridging the digital divide and providing opportunities for all young people to thrive in a technology-driven future.
Ashutosh Pandit, Founder of STEM Learning, celebrated the successful completion of the third edition of the National STEM Challenge, which aims to address challenges in government schools and equip students with sought-after STEM skills.
Suchitra K, a student at Government High School, Konappana Agrahara, Karnataka, shared her excitement about participating in the National STEM Challenge and how it broadened her horizons and ignited a lifelong passion for innovation and learning.
Winners and Recognitions: The following awards were presented:
National Science Model Making Awards: 1st Place: Pratik Narhari Jagdhane (Smt. S. D. Ganage Prashala Triveni Nagar, Pune) and Ashrivada Apppuni Patil, GMHPS Navage, Pune 2nd Place: Narayan Manjrekar (Malgaon English School, Mumbai) and Rudra Gaurav (Kalsuli English School, Mumbai)
National Tinkering and Engineering Awards: 1st Place: Tanishq Sachin Chavan (Navonmesh Vidyamandir, Chakan) and Ganesh Babu Kamathe (Punarutthan Samarsata Gurukulam, Pune) 2nd Place: Amrutha (Rani Sarala Devi High School, Bangalore) and Chetan D (Rani Sarala Devi High School, Bangalore)
National Math & Tech Quiz Awards: 1st Place: Kanishk Tandel (Gurukul English Medium School, Walkhad, Mumbai) and Hardika Patil (S.E Rave, Mumbai) 2nd Place: Manohar Mukund (Navonmesh Vidyamandir, Chakan, Pune) and Anup Mahadev Waghire
National STEM Master Maker 2023 Award: 1st Place: Narayan Manjrekar (Malgaon English School, Mumbai) 2nd Place: Tanishk Chavan (Navonmesh Vidyamandir, Chakan, Pune)
Additionally, several teachers were recognized for their contributions:
- C Padmavathi, GHS Konnappa Agrahara, Bangalore (Karnataka)
- Mr. Ananta Sarkar, Jyangra Adarsha Vidyalaya, Kolkata (West Bengal)
- Md. Yasin Ansari, Netaji Hindi Vidyapeeth, Bongaiga
