Background

Research shows that women constitute only 14% of STEM professionals in India, demonstrating an alarming gap in women’s access to education and opportunities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Girls, particularly from underserved and disadvantaged communities, face multiple structural barriers, including gender stereotypes, limited access to resources, and targeted quality STEM education at school. As such, while schoolgoing girls might engage with the basics of physics, biology, and chemistry, they are likely to miss out on early exposure to sciences such as Astrophysics, which are perceived as inaccessible or elite disciplines. Not only does this limit exposure to the various avenues for study in the sciences, but it also ensures that few women go on to pursue professional careers in STEM and technical fields. 

While government schemes and mentorship programs have attempted to increase women’s access to STEM, studies continue to show that women are severely underrepresented. Vyomika was designed in response to precisely this problem. The project aims to increase young girls’ exposure and interest in astrophysics by making it more approachable, engaging, and inclusive. By combining original resources, a workshop series, and hands-on kits, the project aims to offer young girls meaningful engagement with astrophysics.