Learning Begins With Us
Pathfiinder started in 2019 is an awareness and support platform for STEM education for teens and our commitment is to ensure gender diversity and equal opportunity for girls.
STEM learning is extremely important for students in their adolescent years. The ability to understand data, apply data and develop solutions to complex problems are important life skills.
Currently, primary and secondary students do not understand the importance of STEM and are not familiar with STEM career opportunities, until later in their studies, or at all. The number of school students studying STEM in later secondary (Year 11 and 12) has flat-lined. The bottom line is, we are failing to engage young people in science, resulting in fewer choosing it as a career choice.
If we can engage a variety of STEM professionals and researchers to share with students their stories, such as their day-to-day work, the wide-ranging use of technology and the impact their work has on the community or wider, we may be able to ignite ‘curiosity’ in our youth, and an eagerness to learn more. This would also showcase the diversity of the STEM workforce, the broad range of jobs and careers available, and that STEM professionals can be from all walks of life. The messaging is that science is for ALL people, it is a good start.
Internships and work experience opportunities allow students to gain insight and see firsthand what a career would be like. Teenagers who combine part-time employment with full-time education transition better than students who leave school and go straight into the workforce. The new generation of STEM professionals requires not just strong academic skills, but also curiosity, imagination, empathy, entrepreneurship, and resilience.
Schools are the principal means by which we instil these skills and interests in our youth, but it is the industry that understands the interplay between the cutting edge of its science and our everyday world. The development of different models of working and interacting together and most importantly, teachers and career counsellors who are encouraged and supported.
It is not a matter of just one science-based industry to promote, but a collective effort in promoting the diversity of the career prospects and be inclusive in approaches early on in an adolescent’s school life to realise the full potential of future generations.
Pathfiinder at a Glance
Overview
We also extend support to these students by offering online courses, resources, and a library that serve as a strong backbone to their endeavors of becoming successful engineers.
Our Mentors
Siddharth Kataria
Electronics engineer
EDUCATION – Indian School of Business (ISB) PGP, Finance and strategyMasters, Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications, New York University (NYU)Bachelors, Electronics Engineering, Mumbai University
EXPERTISE – Strong expertise in scaling marketplaces, bridging supply demand gaps on platform, category management.
7+ years in areas of building businesses, Strategic partnerships, P&L management, Platform ecosystems across asset classes(Equity, Commodity, Real Estate),
Supply chain management in niches like Edible Oil, Fresh Produce, Fashion
Passed all three levels of CFA program on first attempt.
Ankit Shah
Electrical Engineer
EDUCATION – University of Virginia, Doctor of Philosophy – PhD, Electrical, Georgia Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Science – BS, Electrical Engineering
EXPERIENCE, CEO/Founder UGen Mar 2020 – Present · 3 yrs 2 mos United States
At UGen, have developed wearable sensor technology that can work with various patients and athletes leading them to achieve their best outcomes. Making the best movement sensor technology. We all enjoy our ability to move around with ease. It can be an athlete who is training hard to become stronger or a patient who just had a shoulder surgery and is undergoing physical therapy. They all need a solution that guides them through their movement training and rehabilitation
Kiran Khona
Computer Science
EDUCATION- Masters in Computer Science 2020 – 2022, Ramnarain Ruia College – Mumbai, Grade: 9.9 CGPA
Bachelors in Computer Science 2017 – 2020, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Grade: 9.1 CGPA
Kamya Mehta Vithalani
Chemical engineer
EDUCATION – St. • University of Melbourne, Australia,
• Masters of Engineering (M.E, Chemical with Business) – 2019
• Student mentor – undergraduate STEM students
• Melbourne School of Engineering Scholarship
• Student Ambassador
• University of Mumbai, D.J Sanghvi College of Engineering
• Bachelor of Engineering (B.E, Chemical) – 2014
• Only woman in top 10 candidates throughout Mumbai.
LEADERSHIP
• Graduate Student Association, (GSA)– ‘LEAD’
• University of Melbourne
• Elected as a member of the association providing extensive training to individuals, transforming them into leaders for a better tomorrow.
EXPERIENCE
• Student mentor (Current), STEM
• Process Engineer, Rio-Tinto, Australia
• Process Engineer, Indian Pharmaceutical Combined Association (IPCA), India
Ketan Goradia
Civil Engineer
EDUCATION – Civil Engineer
Experience – CEO – Agastyaa Infracon Pvt Ltd, Vast experience in real estate development. He was involved in several real estate development projects and successfully demonstrated his skills as a builder and technical expert.
He is known for his for his out of box vision and planning and working for various social initiatives to mitigate various problems of infrastructure, transport and housing of the city of Mumbai. He has submitted a plan for a rail and metro network of Mumbai. His work has been reported in every major newspaper of Mumbai like DNA, Hindustan times, Navbharat times, The Times of India, Loksatta, Lokmat, Sakal, Mumbai Samachar, Gujrat Samachar etc. Well known bodies in the government have acknowledged Mr Goradia’s effort and are processing his proposals which will help Mumbai’s growth and development.
Sarwat Sayyed
Biotech Engineer
Education – B.E Biotech Engineering from S. S. B.T College of Engineering and Technology
Experience in working on a university project focused on the production of Bio Preservatives for chocolates.
Also worked as a lecturer at S. S. B. T College of Engineering and Technology
Conducted quality testing of fertilizers while working at Jai Biotech.
Been a content creator at PhysicsWallah.