GUWAHATI: To amplify the critical role that women can and do play in science and technology, the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) on Saturday organized a capacity-building workshop on "Gender Mainstreaming in Science and Innovative Policymaking" as part of the celebration of the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2023 and UNESCO International Day of Light 2023. Dr. Hashima Hasan, a Program Scientist and Astrophysicist at NASA in the United States, was the workshop's chief guest. She and Professor Arvinder A. Ansari from Jamia Millia Islamia and Professor Zahid H. Khan from New Delhi were two of the other speakers.The workshop was organized by the Sociology and Physics departments of USTM in collaboration with CSSEIP and Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. The workshop began with a welcome address delivered by Professor GD Sharma, Vice Chancellor of USTM. Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of USTM, also addressed the participants and mentioned that USTM has always emphasised girls' education. "Our dream of USTM students working at NASA will be realized,", he added. Dr. Hashima Hasan from NASA made an online presence and shared her journey with NASA's Hubble and JWST observatories. Dr. Hasan, an AMU alumnus with a PhD from the University of Oxford, has worked directly with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (launched in 1990) and the James Webb Space Telescope (launched in 2021). During her presentation, she stated that she was first introduced to the space age when she saw Sputnik disappear like a shooting star in the sky of Lucknow. "It was after Independence." "At a time when schools did not offer science as a subject for girl students, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to study science as we were the first batch in Loreto Convent Girls' High School at Lucknow to take science, which helped me to pursue my passion and do my bachelor's degree from Lucknow University in 1968 and MSc in Physics from AMU in 1970 before doing my PhD from the University of Oxford with a scholarship,", she added. According to a press release, the astrophysicist deliberated in depth on various space telescopes and also had an interactive session with USTM students.
Addressing the workshop, Professor Arvinder A. Ansari, Director, Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSEIP), Jamia Millia Islamia stated, "Women are involved in all aspects of life, but when we come to science and technology, women are invisible." UNESCO has prioritized the environment and women because women are the gatekeepers of the environment. Therefore, it is important to understand science from a feminist perspective. She emphasised that the contribution of women to science and technology should be made visible. Professor Zahid H. Khan of Jamia Millia Islamia and the National Node India for the International Day of Light 2023 also spoke at the workshop.
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