Bhubaneswar, Feb. 17: The Bhubaneswar edition of the Chevening Alumni Project Fund (CAPF) initiative aimed at building capacities for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), organized by the British High Commission, New Delhi in collaboration with the Chevening alumni and representatives from the University of Oxford, UK, was held at the SOA Deemed to be University here on Tuesday.
The day-long workshop aimed to empower young women—students and professionals—from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across Odisha by enhancing their capacities in STEM fields.
The participants, who included school and college students, young women professionals and entrepreneurs numbering over 500, had the unique opportunity to engage with over 30 Oxford alumni and fellows, who shared their educational journeys, career insights and experiences in STEM.
The different sessions on themes including green energy and clean technology, Artificial Intelligence, start-ups and entrepreneurship, healthcare and education, waste management, government services and manufacturing, were led by experts in the field.
“It is a pleasure for me to speak about a subject close to my heart and vital to our shared future—the role of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” Dr. Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner, East and Northeast, told the workshop.
Pointing out that it was an extraordinary time for UK-India relationships, Dr. Fleming said the cooperation between the two countries in relation to the UK-India Vision 2035 would facilitate in harnessing the power of technology, science, research and innovation to shape a secure, sustainable and prosperous future.
'The British Council had launched a fully funded annual scholarship for women in STEM for the 2026-27 academic session.
Dr. Fleming said 25 scholarships remained open for applicants from South Asia working with five UK universities, he said and added that this program was part of 43 UK universities supporting around 500 women.
The purpose of the program is simple and powerful—ensure opportunity and strengthen female leadership in science and innovation,” he said
The program was also addressed by Ms. Natalia Leigh, Head-Political and Bilateral Affairs, British High Comission in India, Ms. Supriya Chawla, Head-Chevening Scholarships India and Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor, SOA.
Prof. Nanda said the world was encountering a transformative phase when AI was no longer a buzzword but was happening.
Most of the contributors to India’s ‘Mangalayan’ project, the Mars Orbiter Mission, were female as more women were getting into leadership positions. “Earlier, it was to prepare and learn, but it is a different scenario now propelling women to be present pervasively across disciplines and enabling them to leave behind their footprints,” he said.
Prof. Renu Sharma, Additional Dean (Student Affairs), Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), SOA’s faculty of engineering and technology, delivered the welcome address.
An eminent group of speakers including Ms. Manisha Acharya, Founder and Managing Director, WEneurs Forum, Ms. Sanjukta Badhai, Director, Unchin Foundation, Dr. Kamal Gulati, Senior Scientist, AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr. Sayantan Banerjee from AIIMS, Kalyani, Ms. Sandhya Guntreddy, Partner Engineering Manager, Microsoft, Mr. Abdul Rauf Sheikh of CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar, Mr. Amiya Sur, IISc-Manchester Joint Ph.D Scholar, Ms. Meetu Gupta, Founder and CEO, Conservation Core Society and Mr. Amit Choubey, Founder, SANMAT addressed the different sessions.
The event’s international perspective was further strengthened by contributors from the University of Oxford who included Mr. Richard Briant, Mr. Rory Carnegie, Ms. Miranda Creswell and Ms. Romy Briant who offered global insights on leadership, storytelling and community-driven development. Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare), SOA, proposed the vote of thanks.
The program had been held earlier in Kochi, XLRI Jhajjar (Haryana) and UPES, Dehradun. Over 60 per cent of the Chevening scholarships in 2025 were awarded to scholars from non-metropolitan regions, marginalized communities and first generation learners highlighting the transformative impact of such initiatives.
