India celebrates its National Science Day every year on the 28th February 2020 in remembrance of the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ announced by Sir C. V. Raman on this day. The Raman Effect bagged the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for the country. In 1986, the Government of India announced 28th February to be observed as National Science Day (NSD). Every year, the Government announces a theme for NSD based on which different scientific activities are carried out across the country to educate and inculcate scientific interest in young minds. This year, the theme is ‘Women in Science’. President Ram Nath Kovind shall be presenting awards to renowned Indian women scientists who have made a significant contribution. While the GOI applauds Indian women scientists, we at Biomall would like to feature a few Indian women who are evolving their career in science, contributing to the society in their own way. We know them as our customers. This special feature is our small gesture to thank for their contributions, and with this, we hope to inspire more young ladies to pursue a career in science!
Check out our youtube video sharing inspiring lines from these women in science!
Ms. Swapna Shah
Founder & Director
Kitucate Educational Services, Pune, Maharashtra
Swapna Shah is an automation engineer by qualification and science & emerging technology educationalist by passion and profession. After gaining professional experience for more than 7 years in the process automation industry, she founded her own educational venture “Kitucate Educational Services” in 2014. Kitucate has embarked on activity-based science learning system as support to, and extension of, school curriculum. Her venture has developed a system of education that leads students to be innovative and earn a living. They also run laboratories cum innovation incubators spreading awareness in young children towards the latest technology trends such as science, 3D printing, electronics, and renewable energy.
Through social organizations, Kitucate’s system of learning has reached to more than 700 rural schools empowering 850+ teachers pan India.
Skills: Innovative course design, product development, business development, software efficiency in DCS & PLC, project management, team management
Dr. Sumona Karjee Mishra
Founder & Director
Prantae Solutions Pvt Ltd, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa
Dr. Sumona Mishra has achieved Ph.D. in Biotechnology from ICGEB in 2010. She has served as a researcher, faculty, consultant editor, reviewer and now she is an entrepreneur. Out of her passion for translation technology, she founded Prantae Solutions Pvt Ltd in 2015 to address the gap of early prognosis for life-threatening pregnancy-related complications. The company has fetched 2 granted patents and 3 products in the past 3 years. “We primarily focus on coupling biochemistry and biophysics to create ultra-sensitive diagnostic technologies,” says Dr. Mishra.
During her career, she has bagged several awards including CII-IPR award by the confederation of Indian industry, BIRAC Ignite fellowship award, BIRAC-TiE WInER Award among others
Skills: Research expertise in microbiology, molecular biology, biophysics, nanotechnology, cell biology, plant molecular biology
Dr Lynda V Thomas
Scientist D
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Dr. Lynda V Thomas earned her Ph.D. in 2012, from the division of Tissue engineering and Regenerative technologies, SCTIMST. For 2 years, she joined Duke University, NC, USA for her Postdoc as the prestigious Fulbright fellow at the biomedical engineering department. In 2015, she returned to India and joined Axio Biosolutions Pvt Ltd as Senior Scientist leading the R&D division. In 2016, she joined SCTISMT and continues to work here as Scientist D. Her current research is focused on the development of scaffolds for tissue engineering applications, developing bio-polymers for wound healing and bioprinting of polymers.
A few major awards bestowed to Dr. Thomas includes the Biomedical Engineering Society Innovation and career development award, USA and the Young Scientist Award by Govt. of Kerala.
Skills: Polymeric biomaterial synthesis and fabrication, bioprinting techniques, tissue engineering
Dr. Akanksha Sharma
DST Women Scientist C
CSIR – Innovation Protection Unit (CSIR-IPU), New Delhi
Dr. Akanksha Sharma accomplished her Ph.D. in physics with CSIR-NET (JRF) from JNU, New Delhi in 2013. She has 5-year post-doctoral experience working as an assistant professor, research associate and project scientist at well-known institutes in India. She has extensive research experience in physics and technological development of semiconductor-based thin film devices including transistors, Schottky diodes, and solar cells. Currently, she is working as DST Women Scientist C at CSIR–IPU managing intellectual property rights related work at the institute.
Skills: Advanced microscopy, spectroscopy, thin-film growth techniques, IPR
From education to IPR, tissue engineering to diagnostics, these women have followed their passion and dug their own career in science. On this National Science Day, we like to congratulate each and every woman who has pursued her dreams of science and created wonders worthwhile!
