Dow India Inaugurates STEM Centre in Lote, with Partner, Agastya

0
364

Mumbai: Dow India recently inaugurated a science centre with mini-innovation hub at an educational premise of Jijamata Shikshan Prasarak Mandal in Lote, Ratnagiri district. The objective is to increase science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) literacy and prepare tomorrow’s workforce to develop innovative solutions. This centre will enable students to learn the process of design thinking which will include ideation and prototype development.

The facility has been created via its marquee CSR partners, Agastya International Foundation and Freedom For You. Every year, it will aim to benefit 5,000 students spread across more than 50 schools. It will also provide training for more than 100 teachers and become a hub for science fairs and competitions in the region.

Dow India CEO and Country President, Chandrakant Nayak, inaugurated the facility recently. He commented, “It is essential to encourage curiosity, aid adoption of technology and multi-disciplinary learning experience for facilitators, teachers and students. As a company, we are committed to help build the workforce of tomorrow by getting students excited about STEM subjects and supporting our educators. Engaging our employees and volunteerism is a vital part of that strategy and the centre’s success.”

The centre will also act as a training centre for teachers. It will train more than 100 teachers on the importance of experiential learning which is aligned to the New Education Policy (NEP).

Spread over 3,000 square feet, the centre will provide students with enriched and evolved learning. It will be equipped with more than 200 scientific models, chemicals, glassware and even modern tools and instruments like a 3D printer. It will act as a learning space where schools from Khed and Chiplun Taluka will be invited to participate in hands-on experiential learning, which is aligned to their curriculum, whereby students will go through a series of sessions focused on design thinking processes.