A month-long STEM Immersion at IIT Mandi Inspires Curiosity Among School Students as PRAYAS 3.0 Concludes

 

A month-long STEM Immersion at IIT Mandi Inspires Curiosity Among School Students as PRAYAS 3.0 Concludes

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi concluded the third edition of its flagship outreach initiative, PRAYAS 3.0, with a formal valedictory ceremony held on campus. The program, aimed at fostering curiosity and scientific temperament among school students across the nation, provided an immersive a month long exposure to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The event brought together students from diverse schools across the region, offering them a unique opportunity to reside and learn at one of India’s premier technical institutes. Throughout the program, participants engaged in a dynamic mix of workshops, lectures, lab visits, and team projects all meticulously designed to make STEM education engaging and accessible.

Among the highlights of the program were the introductory computer programming classes, hands-on circuit design, mechanical prototyping activities, and problem-solving exercises. One of the highlights was the Robo Soccer competition, where students developed, programmed and controlled robotic systems to play a friendly soccer match among them. This was the first hands-on experience with robotics for most of the participants, and it created a deep sense of excitement and fulfillment. Reflecting on the success of the program, a student mentor remarked, “The excitement on their faces as they controlled their robots on the soccer field was priceless, most students had never done anything even remotely close to this before.”

In his address, Dr Tushar Jain, Head CCE, IIT Mandi, emphasized the importance of early STEM exposure and applauded the students for their enthusiasm and adaptability. “PRAYAS is about planting seeds of curiosity, we hope this experience stays with these young minds for a lifetime and shapes the way they think about learning and the world. Through our interactive workshops, hands-on robotics, coding, and engineering design classes and exposure to cutting-edge research facilities at IIT Mandi, we aim to demystify science and technology for school students. We hope the learning and confidence they have gained here will leave an indelible mark, motivating them to become scientists, engineers, and innovators.” The valedictory session concluded with certificate distribution.

About IIT Mandi:

IIT Mandi is one of the top second- generation IITs located in Kamand Valley, Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is one of eight new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, and recognized as one of Institutes of National Importance. IIT Mandi's permanent campus about 14 km (8.7 mi) from Mandi consists of the South and North campuses connected by a narrow neck. The South campus is on the left bank of the Uhl River below Kamand village. The North campus is along the Kataula Khad opposite Salgi village. A transit campus at Government Post graduate College, Mandi was handed over by the Himachal Pradesh Government on 16 November 2009. The Kamand campus ground-breaking ceremony, to mark the start of construction, was held on 13 April 2012. On 25 April 2015, IIT Mandi became the first of all the new IITs to completely shift B. Tech students to its permanent campus in Kamand. Since its inception the institute has been involved with more than 275 Research and Development (R&D) projects worth more than ₹120 crore. In the past 10 years, the institute has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with as many as 11 international and 12 national universities.

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