Mechanical Engineering Draws Women to Top Institutions Worldwide, Including IITs: IIT Zanzibar Director

In an exclusive conversation with Shiksha.com, Preeti Aghalayam, Dean of School of Science & Engineering & Director-in-charge, Zanzibar campus, IIT Madras shared her insights about the women in STEM, challenges faced by women in the fields of Science and Engineering and more…

IITs stand at the forefront of academic excellence, research, and technology innovation, constantly broadening their impact with an increasing number of faculty, students, research scholars, and project staff. As they lead by example in promoting diversity, significant strides are being made. However, women pursuing careers in science and engineering face numerous challenges, from practical issues like working hours, safety, commuting, and childcare, to societal perceptions of their roles.

Below are the excerpts from Shiksha’s interview with Preeti Aghalayam, Dean of School of Science & Engineering & Director-in-charge, Zanzibar campus, IIT Madras.

Question: In your perspective, what are the most significant challenges women face in the fields of Science and Engineering today? Moreover, what opportunities do you believe the future holds for women in these fields?
Answer: Opportunities in Science and Engineering are immense. Across the board, in domains spanning from Artificial Intelligence to Sustainable Materials, the role of well-trained scientists and engineers in shaping the world will be enormous. Women being an integral part of this work-force is critical, as the experiences and perspectives they bring are important.
There are numerous challenges and barriers faced by women who aspire for a long, fulfilling and successful career in science and engineering. Some of them are practical aspects related to working hours, safety, commuting in crowded cities (or remote pockets), childcare and so on. But several have to do with the societal perceptions of roles women should play. It is time for all of us to take a stand and provide a template by which smart, motivated young men and women can together contribute to the betterment of the world.  

Question: What steps should be taken to attract women in STEM?
Answer: While it is presumptuous to speak on behalf of all women, I would say that we are attracted to STEM already! Children are natural scientists with curiosity and an adventurous and exploring spirit, irrespective of gender. Providing clear messaging to the society at large that when interest and aspiration come together, nothing can stand in the way of success, may help. And perhaps highlighting the stories of women that young people may consider role models, may be useful.  

Question: How do you look at the role of IITs in improving gender diversity in engineering institutions?
Answer: The IITs today stand at the forefront of excellence in academics, research and technology development. The number of faculty, students and research scholars, not to mention project staff who are training at the IITs, are increasing. Several of these research scholars & project staff from the IITs go on to positions in other engineering institutions in India, while the professors are routinely involved in shaping curricula, in faculty recruitment, and as administrative leads in other engineering institutions in India. We are in a position to lead by example in terms of enhancing & embracing diversity in these institutions, and certainly, several inroads have been made already.

Question: How do the journeys influence current and prospective female students in pursuing their careers in these traditionally male-dominated fields?
Answer: The Mechanical Engineering programs at the top institutions across the world (including the IITs) are attracting a lot of women, of late. The notions of certain jobs and careers being the exclusive domains of men or women are changing rapidly. While there are several challenges that remain as yet, it is possible now more than ever to imagine a world where these barriers are not relevant, and each of us can contribute our might.

Question: What specific programs or initiatives has IIT Zanzibar implemented or plans to implement to support and encourage women's participation and success in Science and Engineering?

Answer: At IITM Zanzibar, we work very closely with several members of our stakeholder community. We have been visiting schools across India and Africa and meeting with teachers, counsellors, and of course students. Our current population of students has a healthy 40% women, these women students routinely interact with the media and with college aspirants, and talk about their own experiences on our international campus. The gender ratio among faculty and staff is very balanced, and the students also see how all of us work together.

Question: Looking forward, how does IIT Zanzibar envision the role of women in shaping the future of Science and Engineering?
Answer: We try to be as aware as possible of the privileges we enjoy, and the challenges ahead of us. As a top-ranked institution from India, with a long tradition and history of academic excellence, we bring an innate confidence in our academic abilities and research potential. On the other hand, locating ourselves in a region completely new to us, with several cultural differences, was a momentous decision. We constantly try to demonstrate our respectfulness to the community around us, and share the values of hard work, dedication, perseverance and excellence that is at our core. This is a campus that thrives on an unprecedented amount of diversity, and gender diversity is a component of it. We hope that the role of this institution in shaping the course of Science and Engineering education and research in this region, and the world, will be phenomenally positive.   

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