Scientific Secretary, Government of India launches ChemAmaze Gamification Platform and honours WEnyan Scholarship Awardees & Mentors – A Joint Initiative by BASF and Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC)
- WEnyan Compendium, a showcase of the accomplishments of awardees and mentors unveiled
- ChemAmaze aimed to promote game-based teaching and learning as well as making STEM education interactive and accessible
Pune, India March 06, 2024: BASF in India and Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC) honoured the recipients of the WEnyan Scholarship and their mentors at an event held at the Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune. WEnyan is a research scholarship program for women by women in Maharashtra. Dr. Mrs. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of the PSA to the Government of India, graced the occasion as the guest of honour and launched the WEnyan Compendium and ChemAmaze, a gamified learning platform in chemistry. The Strategic Alliances Division under Office of the PSA to the Government of India has been instrumental in facilitating and supporting the partnership between BASF and PKC.
Launched by BASF India Limited as a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility Program in collaboration with PKC, IUCAA Pune and IIT Madras, ChemAmaze offers a collection of engaging games designed for students and teachers across India, promoting game-based teaching and learning techniques at schools. This innovative initiative seeks to make STEM education interactive and accessible, enhancing the learning experience in Indian schools, in line with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Speaking at the launch event, Dr. Mrs. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of the PSA to the Government of India said, “Office of PSA is happy to be a flagbearer of programs like WEnyan and ChemAmaze, which not only align with the SDGs 4 and 5, but also showcases the commitment of the Office of PSA towards creating a sustainable and inclusive society, that contributes towards bringing about a visionary change in STEM education and helps India in becoming the third largest economy in the world.”
Alexander Gerding, Managing Director, BASF India Limited & Head - BASF Group Companies in India said, “We are pleased to see the outcome of the WEnyan program. Over the past two years, 49 women from 16 colleges and 18 districts across Maharashtra have received scholarships, establishing it as a leading scholarship program for women in the State. As we continue in our endeavour towards making a fundamental shift in teaching and learning processes, we are excited to launch ChemAmaze aimed at nurturing critical thinking, encouraging an interest in chemistry, and explaining difficult concepts through gamification to school students.”
“PKC is happy to collaborate with BASF for STEM education initiatives like WEnyan and ChemAmaze. WEnyan is a ‘for women, by women’ initiative, in which women in leadership positions from academia as well as industry are involved in the selection, mentoring, and monitoring of the grantees, giving them an opportunity to contribute towards the society and nurture fresh talent. Further, we are excited to launch ChemAmaze with BIL marking an important step in our journey towards implementing gamification pedagogy at schools and making classroom learning more engaging, informative, and interactive.” Dr. Priya Nagaraj, Chief Executive Officer, PKC highlighted at the event.
WEnyan is a comprehensive scholarship initiative in Maharashtra, where women in leadership roles in scientific fields actively participate in selecting, mentoring, and monitoring other female candidates in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). The name 'WEnyan' symbolizes Science ('विज्ञान'), with 'WE' representing Women in Education and 'nyan' ('ज्ञान') signifying knowledge.
For more details about the WEnyan Program, please write to: wenyan@pkc.org.in
For more details about the ChemAmaze Program, please write to: stemgames@pkc.org.in
About Office of Principal Scientific Adviser (O/o PSA)
In November 1999, Cabinet Secretariat established the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The PSA’s office aims to provide pragmatic and objective advice to the Prime Minister and cabinet on matters related to science, technology, and innovation with a focus on application of science and technology in critical infrastructure, economic and social sectors in partnership with Government departments, institutions, and industry. Under the office of the PSA, Strategic Alliance division facilitates Industry-Academia-Start-ups collaborations among industries, Foundations, philanthropist and academic science and innovation ecosystem (institutes, city clusters and start-ups) in order to gradually meet the National and Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). `
About PKC
The Pune Knowledge Cluster is one of the seven Science and Technology Clusters established by the O/o PSA under The City Knowledge and Innovation Cluster Initiative (CKIC). PKC aims to bring together Academic Institutions, R & D organizations, Industries, Industry Associations, NGOs, Civic Bodies, and Local and State governments to collectively work for the betterment of Pune City by leveraging the science and technology capabilities of its partner organizations. http://pkc.org.in/
About BASF in India
BASF has successfully partnered India’s progress for more than 130 years. As of the end of 2023, BASF had 2,335 employees in India with 8 production sites and 42 offices throughout the country. The Innovation Campus Mumbai and the Coatings Technical Center in Mangalore are both part of BASF’s global technology platform. In 2023, BASF registered sales of approximately €2.4 billion to customers in India. Further information is available on www.basf.com/in.
