IIT Delhi successfully concludes STEM mentorship program "Manasvi" for high school girls

New Delhi [India], December 9 (ANI): The fourth edition of 'Manasvi: STEM Mentorship Program for High School Girls', the flagship initiative of the Office of Academic Outreach & New Initiatives at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, concluded successfully with a cohort of nearly 100 high school girls (Manasvi) completing an intensive, multi-phase learning journey from May to December 2025.
According to a statement from IIT Delhi, the final day ceremony, held on December 5, was graced by Professor and Dean (Planning) of IIT Delhi, Somnath Baidya Roy who inspired the girls with a message saying, "Talent is never the barrier, belief is. You have the ability to build, innovate, and lead in STEM. With confidence and perseverance, there is no limit to how far you can go. IIT Delhi will always support your journey."

The program spanned across three phases: Summer, Autumn, and Winter, and the Manasvis were offered mentorship and exposure to the STEM resources available at IIT Delhi.
"The Summer phase was academically oriented and included lectures by faculty members, researchers, and women leaders. This phase also focused on hands-on work through the makerspace at IIT Delhi, where students learned to make solar lamps with their own hands," the statement added.

The Autumn and Winter phases were primarily hands-on, featuring activities ranging from chemistry experiments and physics DIY projects to drone demonstrations and student-mentor interactions.
In the final phase, the girls also presented innovative ideas aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), proposing solutions to real-world challenges. This was a guided activity in which IIT Delhi students mentored the participants, offering direction to help shape and give voice to their ideas.
Laxmi, a student of Class 9th from KV Paschim Vihar, said, "This program opened up Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Maths for me. IIT Delhi faculty showed me what higher studies really look like. Most importantly, it gave me the confidence that I belong in STEM."
Another class 11th student, Priyankshi from KV Sector 5 Dwarka, stated, "The program has helped me see a side of science & technology that I could never have explored if this opportunity had not been given to me. The ecstatic feeling of making solar lamps and doing things with our hands cannot be described in words."
The final phase concluded with Manasvis being awarded the certificate of completion by Prof. Shilpi Sharma, Associate Dean, Academics (Outreach and New Initiatives).
With four successful editions completed, applications for the upcoming edition of Manasvi will open in February-March 2026
The upcoming edition will onboard an entirely government-school cohort, after the fourth edition recorded over 80% participation from government schools, as per the statement. (ANI)