First L&T National STEM Challenge Celebrates Young Talent

• 6,000 students participated in pan-India competitions leading to the mega event

Mumbai: The Government High School, Gerugambakkam, Chennai has emerged as the national champion in the 1st L&T National STEM Challenge hosted in Mumbai on 3 February. The event is the culmination of the regional level STEM Fests that L&T conducted in six cities across India to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among school children.

As part of its CSR function, L&T conducted the initiative in association with Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC).

The L&T National STEM Challenge, hosted at AMN Tower in Powai on 3 February, marked the high point of fostering STEM education through L&T’s 'Engineering Futures' initiative. It showcased the incredible talent and innovativeness of young minds from across India, with the Government High School Gerugambakkam emerging as the national champion, while the Government High School, Velappanchavudi (Chennai) and Shree Kanchanlal Mamawala Surat Municipal Corporation School (Hazira, Gujarat) becoming the first and second runners-up, respectively, after three rounds of intense competition. The Government Higher Secondary School, Kaliannanpudhur, Coimbatore won the Jury Special prize.

Approximately 6,000 students of Grades VI-VIII participated in the intra and inter-school level competitions. From among them, 208 teams (416 children) were chosen to participate in the regional level STEM Fests conducted since October 2023. Of these, 24 teams (50 children) from Chennai, Coimbatore, Hazira, Vadodara, Talegaon and Mumbai made it to the L&T National STEM Challenge.

The four winning schools received an upfront cash reward – Rs 50,000 for the national champion, Rs 30,000 for the 1st runner-up and Rs 20,000 each for the 2nd runner-up and the Jury Special winner– for upgrading their science labs. This apart, all the four winning teams received an array of prizes including telescopes, drones and DIY Robotics Kits for further exposure to STEM, and an opportunity to visit to L&T’s tech projects as well as interact with the leadership team.

L&T Chairman & MD, Mr S N Subrahmanyan, gave away the prizes. “It is an honour to witness the exceptional talent and creativity showcased by the young innovators who made it to the 1st L&T National STEM Challenge. STEM education plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our children and initiatives like this demonstrate our commitment to expanding access to quality education, ensuring that children – regardless of their background – get an opportunity to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of STEM,” he said.

The L&T National STEM Challenge unfolded through three exciting levels, engaging students at
different stages of the competition.

At Level 1, students showcased their talent in an intra-school STEM Model-Making Competition, exploring innovative themes such as green and sustainable energy, waste management, smart schools, and satellite & launch vehicles. The exceptional teams from each school moved to Level 2 – the regional inter-school STEM Fest and Competition. This phase saw students participating in a wide array of activities, including science art, science quiz, science elocution, and design challenge.

L&T volunteers played a crucial role throughout the regional and national stages, actively involving themselves with students, offering mentorship and guidance to help them prepare STEM models for the competition. This engagement fostered a deeper comprehension of scientific concepts among the participants.