New Portal Launched to Boost Indian Women's Career in Science and Technology

A pioneering online portal aimed at empowering women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics & medicine (STEMM) was launched on February 11, 2024, by the Inter Academy Panel (IAP) of India's science academies. The 'Science for Women - A Technology & Innovation' (SWATI) portal is designed to be a dynamic database highlighting all Indian women in STEM fields.

Developed and maintained by the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), the portal is an interactive database that aims to foster policy decisions supportive of gender equality in science. According to NIPGR Director Subhra Chakraborty, the portal is available at a click, providing access to a comprehensive list of Indian women scientists.

The portal was inaugurated by Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government, Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, with the primary goal of raising awareness about the significance of 'Science for Women and Women in Science'. The event also aimed to highlight emerging opportunities for women in science and technology, promoting inclusivity within STEM fields.

Key objectives of SWATI include accelerating efforts to include every Indian woman in science across all career stages and subjects. By focusing on the under-representation of women in STEM fields highlighted by the 2021 UN report, the portal seeks to motivate young women to pursue careers in science.

The platform serves as a major gateway for connecting with women engaged in various roles in STEM - from scientists and teachers postdoctoral researchers staff to PhD students, interns, entrepreneurs, science communicators, and clinicians.