The Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, launched the “Science for Women-A Technology & Innovation (SWATI)” Portal. This initiative aims to represent Indian women and girls in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) fields through a single online platform.
Launch Event
The portal was inaugurated on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science at the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) in New Delhi. Prof. Sood highlighted the importance of the SWATI Portal in addressing gender gap challenges through its database.
Development and Leadership
- The portal is developed, hosted, and maintained by the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) in New Delhi under the leadership of Dr. Subhra Chakraborty.
- Dr. Chakraborty emphasized the uniqueness of the portal as the world’s first interactive platform of its kind, citing statistics from the 2021 UN Report on the underrepresentation of women in various sectors.
Keynote Address
- Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim, President of TWAS, stressed the ongoing need for gender parity across all sectors, highlighting education as a crucial tool for achieving this goal.
Objectives
- The SWATI Portal aims to include all Indian women in science across different career stages and subjects, spanning academia and industry.
- It seeks to enable long-term research on issues of equality, diversity, and inclusivity in India.
Portal Sections
- The portal includes sections for different categories such as icons, faculty, research fellows, students, entrepreneurs, and professionals in alternate careers.
- Currently, it incorporates data from 3000 ‘WiS Data Cards’.
Event Participants
- The event was attended by distinguished scientists, including Prof. CNR Rao, Prof. P N Tandon, and Presidents of various science academies.
- Eminent speakers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and start-ups from across India shared their expertise during the event.
Empowering Women in Science
- Empowering women in science is crucial for societal progress.
- Science education plays a vital role in enhancing awareness and building a mindset to address societal challenges.
- The Inter-Academy Panel (IAP) of the three Science Academies in India has been working towards promoting gender sensitization, mentorship, and creating skilled human resources in science and technology.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- Who launched the “Science for Women-A Technology & Innovation (SWATI)” Portal?
- A) Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim
- B) Dr. Subhra Chakraborty
- C) Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood
- D) Prof. CNR Rao
- Answer: C) Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood
- Where was the portal launched?
- A) Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore
- B) Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi
- C) National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi
- D) Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi
- Answer: B) Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi
- Who emphasized the need for gender parity and highlighted education as a means to achieve it?
- A) Prof. CNR Rao
- B) Dr. Subhra Chakraborty
- C) Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim
- D) Prof. Ashutosh Sharma
- Answer: C) Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim
- Which section of the SWATI Portal includes categories like icons, faculty, research fellows, and students?
- A) Icons
- B) Research Fellows
- C) Faculty
- D) Students
- Answer: C) Faculty
- What is the goal of the Inter-Academy Panel (IAP) of the three Science Academies in India?
- A) To promote gender sensitization and mentorship
- B) To encourage international collaborations in science
- C) To provide funding for scientific research projects
- D) To organize scientific conferences and workshops
- Answer: A) To promote gender sensitization and mentorship