STEM Career and Women:

Situations from Kashmir valley

DR SEEMIN RUBABAP, PHYSICS

NIT SRINAGAR.

Outline of presentation

� In this presentation I summarize the situation for women in Physics and Maths in Kashmir valley based on survey and anecdotal evidences. I am giving some statistics, analysis and suggesting few interventions which may help in improving the skewed analysis and suggesting few interventions which may help in improving the skewed situation.

� The objective sciences (Mathematics and Physics) are dubbed as hard sciences with the applied connotation of being masculine.

� The more subjective branch of knowledge such as psychology, sociology are dubbed as such as psychology, sociology are dubbed as soft sciences implying that they are more relevant for women.

� The stereotype they generate are self-fulfilling.

� Far fewer women opt for mathematics and Physics than they do for other subjects.

Issues

� Just like all over the world, scientific and technological training is too often just not available to women.

� Less women than men have scientific careers � Less women than men have scientific careers � Professional progress is slower for women� Women rarely hold high – level scientific

decisional posts� A lot of women start at many level and then

tend to fade away

Gender backlog in literacy

Subject-wise enrolment of women in

Higher Education

Subject-wise enrolment of women

Indian Scenario

� In the last 50 yrs the percentage of girl students in university has increased fourfold. and women now constitute slightly more than 40 % of univ students. In Science, medicine 40 % of univ students. In Science, medicine & engineering women comprise 39, 44, and 22 percent respectively.

Challanges

� Discrimination� Stereotype� De-recognition� Marginalization� Marginalization� Career break for family rearing� Fewer role model to emulate� Fewer network for support and counseling� Lack of info among women in Kashmir about

such iniatives

Discrimination

� Women and girls are denied full and equal opportunities for education

� Literacy rate of women is significantly lower than that of menSocial & ideological pressures have considerably � Social & ideological pressures have considerably reduced overt discrimination against woman

� However covert discrimination still exists

Stereotype

� Science & Technology have continued to be male dominated spheres in kashmir. The absence of women at theoretical & decision making levels continues to generate a science that views the world from a male perspectiveworld from a male perspective

� Few women who make it to the top are often co-opted into following the existing rule of the game

Ratio of Women in PCM stream in

Kashmir at Highest level

� No female scientist in J&KCST.� No female faculty in P,C, M & Stat at Kashmir Univ� At NIT Srinagar 1 female faculty in Phy n Math each

and 3 in Chem� No female faculty in Electrical, Mechanical,

Chemical & Metallurgy department at NIT Srinagar� Recently several women are heading various

departments in NIT Srinagar� I female HOD in Mathematics at Islamic univ of

science & technology which is a state univ

Statistics of students in KU (Maths)

� Percent of Female M. Phil & Ph.D since 1981= 20%

� Percent of Female enrolled for M.Phil & Ph.D currently = 20%currently = 20%

� Percent of Female enrolled for M. Sc=28%

Stat of female students (PCM) in Co-

ed degree colleges� In 2013, it was 15-20% in SP College� Since 2014 they were refused admission and

sent to women’s college instead

UG programme in Actuarial and Financial

mathematics (IUST)

Batch Female Total Female%

2009 6 23 26

2010 5 21 242010 5 21 24

2011 14 32 44

2012 10 17 59

2013 15 26 57

Higher Secondary

� Co-ed Srinagar

Total Girl% of

Girl

%

of

Girl

in

% of

Girl inGirl

in

Bio

Math

2012 39 16 41 75 25

2013 29 16 55 75 25

Girls Higher secondary

� Talking with the principal of oldest and most prestigious govt girls higher secondary, I was pleasantly surprised to know that the percentage of girls in PCM has steadily percentage of girls in PCM has steadily increased in recent years and presently it is at 50%. Situation is not so good in higher secondaries in other districts like Anantnag, Baramulla and Kulgam etc. Percentage of girls in PCM varies from 5-40%.

Inspire science camps

� Since 2012 we organized five Inspire science camps of about 300 students at +2 level. The participation of girls increased from 34 to 44 percent. 44 percent.

� We made it a point to invite substantial no of female Mentors specially in Physics and Maths.

� There were lectures about career in basic scienses

Inspire science camps at NIT

Inspire science camps

Inspire science camps

Inspire science camps

Topics covered in Maths

� Mathematics through Origami by VSSSastry� Thinking outside four dimensional Box by

Prof F. Qazi� How does one imagine the infinite by Prof F. � How does one imagine the infinite by Prof F.

Qazi� Mathematics as Art of Explanation by Prof

MA Sofi

Impact of female Mentors

� Presense of female cordinators/conveners do make a difference (Participation of girl candidates from far flung area increased)

� The participants of Inspire science camps are in regular touch of mentors. Several of whom are joining NIT Srinagar.

Interventions to change status quo

� Provision of Fellowships and awards (There should be State Level award from JKCST)

� Popular articles and serials on Indian women in STEM careers

� Recently Vigyan Prasar & CSIR -NISCAIR � Recently Vigyan Prasar & CSIR -NISCAIR developed inspirational video serial titled 'Scientifically yours' on Indian women scientists

� Among 13 scientists only 2 Physicists & 1 mathematician is featured.

Interventions

� Be vocal in protest when contribution of women scientist is ignored or underrepresented

� Take initiatives like YWM to all states and small towns.small towns.

� In all women conf, an entire session should be earmarked for motivating secondary & higher secondary girls to pursue Maths

� There should be exhibition of math lab products and session on hands on math

� Make popular books on Math available throughout country.

� Few people write popular articles on maths

Success Stories

� Fifty percent girls qualified RMO in J&K in 2013.

� Since 2012 J&K Women science congress is being organized annually.being organized annually.

� SAM workshop for 'Women managers in Higher Education' is regularly organized in KU

� As an outcome first time a female DSW was appointed in KU.

Concluding remarks

� As we can see from slide 15, the impact of female HOD in Mathematics is tremendous. The percentage of girls increased from 26 to 59 percent at IUST. Similarly the impact of female resource � Similarly the impact of female resource person was wonderful during Inspire, the girls asked lots of questions.

� All practicing Mathematician & Physicists should take the role of Maths & science popularizer.

Refrences

� Nutan Chandra et el (2008) Women in Physics in India-2008, The 3rd IUPAP Intnl conf on Women in Physics

Refrences

� Seemin Rubab (2008) Women in Science, Engineering and Technology: Challenges and Opportunities’ Proceedings of National conference on socio-economic development: conference on socio-economic development: Challenges before Women scientists, Technologists and Engineers held during Feb 13-15, 2009 at NIT Rourkela.

References continued

� Sugra Chunawala et al (2002) The roots of reason: Science and Technology in the ancient world, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, MumbaiScience Education, Mumbai

� Sugra Chunawala (2003) Gender and Science, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai

Thanks for patient listening

� Direct your suggestions to drseeminrubab@gmail.comdrseeminrubab.blogspot.com