Brillio National STEM Challenge 2023 winners announced in Pune

The 3^rd edition of the Brillio National STEM Challenge 2023 came to a rewarded end on Sep 9 as the winners were announced in Pune. The finale marked the culmination of year-long STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) activities, including science and mathematics model competitions, technology quizzes, and engineering tinkering. The finale was attended by more than 130 students and 40 teachers from 20 schools across 13 states.

Winners

Here’s a list of winners:

National Science Model Making Awards:

1^st: Pratik Narhari Jagdhane (Smt. S. D. Ganage Prashala Triveni Nagar, Pune) and Ashrivada Apppuni Patil, GMHPS Navage, Pune

2^nd: Narayan Manjrekar (Malgaon English School, Mumbai) and Rudra Gurav (Kalsuli English School, Mumbai)

National Tinkering and Engineering Awards:

1^st: Tanishq Sachin Chavan (Navonmesh Vidyamandir, Chakan) and Ganesh Babu Kamathe (Punarutthan Samarsata Gurukulam, Pune)

2^nd: Amrutha (Rani Sarala Devi High School, Bangalore) and Chetan D (Rani Sarala Devi High School, Bangalore)

National Math & Tech Quiz Awards

1^st: Kanishk Tandel (Gurukul English Medium School, Walkhad, Mumbai) and Hardika Patil (S.E Rave, Mumbai )

2^nd: Manohar Mukund (Navonmesh Vidyamandir, Chakan, Pune) and Anup Mahadev Waghire

National STEM Master Maker 2023 Award

1^st: Narayan Manjrekar (Malgaon English School, Mumbai)

2^nd: Tanishk Chavan (Navonmesh Vidyamandir, Chakan, Pune)

The following teachers were awarded

• C Padmavathi, GHS Konnappa Agrahara, Bangalore (Karnataka)
• Ananta Sarkar, Jyangra Adarsha Vidyalaya, Kolkata (West Bengal)
• Yasin Ansari, Netaji Hindi Vidyapeeth, Bongaingaon (Assam)
• Rameet Singh, Om Foundation School, Delhi
• Anikl Kumar Panika, Govenment Middle School, Kanai (Madhya Pradesh)

Oganized by Brillio, a leading digital transformation services and solutions provider, in collaboration with STEM Learning, a social enterprise focused on driving STEM education among school children. The National STEM Challenge is designed to foster curiosity, innovation, and design thinking skills among students from grades 6 through 10, regardless of their background.

In the run-up to the finale, more than 2,500 students from 20 states were trained in new-age technologies by volunteers from Brillio and STEM Learning. These students competed in over 70 cluster, zonal, and state-level rounds. The top 50 teams comprising more than 100 students from 13 states ─ Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Assam, Delhi, UP, Haryana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, MP, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nādu ─ made it to the national finale.

The contestants were judged, and the winners felicitated by eminent personalities from the worlds of science, education, and technology. Anant Vishwanath Patki, former Deputy Director of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and party of jury, congratulated the winners, stating: “It’s inspiring to witness the outstanding achievements of these young minds. Their ingenious solutions showcase the limitless potential that lies within our future STEM leaders. This competition exemplifies how offering STEM opportunities to underprivileged youth helps level the playing field and drive critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. By helping transcend social and financial barriers, such initiatives can unlock a new future for those who are passionate, driven, and innovative ─ qualities that connect our teams at ISRO with these dedicated young students.”

Sandeep Rane, Global Head of Delivery at Brillio, said: “I am truly impressed by the innovative solutions these students have envisioned. The National STEM Challenge underscores the remarkable resourcefulness of our talented young minds. All they need is an opportunity. This initiative is key to our efforts to help bridge the digital divide and ensure that all young people have the chance to develop the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the technology-driven world of the future. What we’ve witnessed year after year has been nothing short of inspiring. We are both delighted and honoured by the opportunity to motivate the next generation of STEM leaders.”

Suchitra K, a student at Government High School, Konappana Agrahara, Karnataka, said: “Participating in the National STEM Challenge has been an incredible journey for me and my friends. It has shown us that no dream is too big when it comes to solving real-world problems. This competition has not only broadened our horizons but also ignited a lifelong passion for innovation and learning. We are deeply grateful to Brillio, STEM Learning, and our mentors for this experience. With the skills and knowledge gained here, we feel ready to take on the world and contribute to the ever-evolving field of science and technology.”