Imagine watching a film about how Shakespeare brought Romeo and Juliet to life and how Newton came up with his laws of motion. Both stories are about the joy of creation, but Shakespeare's tale would likely capture our hearts. Why? Because, in India and across the world, while the arts and humanities are all about personal expression and storytelling, science often gets stuck in the world of memorization and career goals. We celebrate writing poetry, but when it comes to inventions, we often tell those stories in a much drier, less exciting way.
Well, India is celebrating Science Day today to honor CV Raman’s discovery of the Raman Effect. The 2025 theme focuses on empowering youth in science and innovation, and now we must learn about people who are striving hard to make science education reach marginalized students.
In Pune, there is a group of people striving hard to bring the charm of science out to help students. One such initiative is VigyanShaala. VigyanShaala is trying to democratize STEM education and opportunities in India.
For Darshan Joshi, who is the co-founder and chief executive officer of VigyanShaala, it embodies the vision of shaping the future with high-quality science and technology education for all, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds.
What does VigyanShaala do?
VigyanShaala's work spans mentorship, hands-on STEM learning and skilling, systemic reforms rooted in deep data insights, and large-scale thinking. Our programs—Kalpana: She for STEM and Rural STEM Champions—are tackling gender and geographical inequities in STEM education.
"Being a first-generation learner, I have deep unquestionable faith in the transformative power of education. Through VigyanShaala, we are working to ensure that no talent goes untapped due to lack of access or opportunity. Seeing students from the remotest corners of India step into the world of research and innovation with confidence is what drives me every day," Darshana added.
As a first-generation learner, Darshana was fortunate to be supported by Udayan Care, a Delhi-based NGO supporting aspiring girls through their Udayan Shalini Fellowship. Her journey in STEM began with curiosity and mentorship from Prof. Shobhana Narasimhan, leading her to earn a PhD in experimental physics from the University of Cambridge, where she researched nanotechnology and materials science.
Later, she and her husband Vijay, along with a few other friends from top global universities, started VigyanShaala as a volunteer movement to bring advanced science to Indian classrooms. They engaged close to 10,000 students with hands-on STEM between 2015-19.
"Our experiences in the field gave us insights into stark inequities and issues in STEM education, wherein many bright young minds, particularly girls from marginalized backgrounds, are disadvantaged despite their passion for science," she added.
Flying mentees of VigyanShaala
One of the mentees of VigyanShaala, Diksha from Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, with VigyanShaala's mentorship, completed an internship with an environmental policy think tank in the UK and secured admission to a prestigious postgraduate program at ATREE Bangalore. She now advocates for her community's environmental concerns.
Similarly, Shramana Guchhait from Kolkata, mentored by Dr. Bharati Singal, won the inaugural Quad Fellowship from Schmidt Futures and is studying at Johns Hopkins University, USA. Additionally, Isha Kabra from Fergusson College secured the Erasmus Mundus Fellowship for a postgraduate program in the Netherlands.
"I am grateful for the mentorship and support I received in my academic pursuits, and through VigyanShaala, I hope to pay it forward, creating a ripple effect of positive change for generations to come," she added.
Speaking about the underrepresentation of women in many scientific fields, she said, "Our efforts have received global recognition, but more importantly, they are changing lives by helping young women break into traditionally male-dominated fields."
"When students see how science connects to their lives, communities, and even artistic expression, they develop a passion for it beyond just job prospects," she added as she spoke passionately about the field she cares so much for.
State of R&D in India
Speaking about the state of R&D in India, she noted that India has made significant strides in research and innovation, but there is still a funding and infrastructure gap. "While we are producing a large number of STEM graduates, the transition from academia to industry-driven research remains weak. We need to prepare our PhDs to solve the challenges of the future, helping them acquire critical skills and networks rather than confining them to labs 24x7," she added.
Pune, she noted, has emerged as a thriving education and research hub, with premier institutions fostering scientific research and has a strong innovation ecosystem with tech startups, incubators, and a vibrant student community passionate about STEM. However, she highlighted there is a need for greater industry-academia collaboration to provide students with practical research opportunities and career pathways.
"More cross-disciplinary programs, startup funding, and networking platforms can further strengthen Pune’s role as a research and innovation powerhouse," she added.
As Darshana wrapped up her thoughts on everything from bridging the gender gap to making science more fun and engaging, she highlighted that VigyanShaala is on a mission to transform STEM education into a more accessible, exciting, and impactful experience for all, breaking barriers and inspiring the next generation of innovators.
And, when asked where she sees VigyanShaala in the near future, Darshana added that their vision is to scale VigyanShaala’s impact to reach over 1 lakh students across India over the next five years.
