Need to get beyond 'scared of math' syndrome

Two young girls in Chennai want to inspire the next generation of innovators by teaching them how to write and understand technology code. Aditi Prasad and Deepti Rao are sisters who have spent a lot of their studying life in the US exploring subjects in an around STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). "I always knew I wanted to see the application side of technology.

In that I worked with an MIT start-up company in Boston, one that was working on brain-machine interfaces and artificial intelligence," Prasad shares. "We want the code movement to go across the country," says her sister Deepti Rao.

These young girls are passionate about technology because they have had the opportunity to learn and be exposed to its use and potential. Together with their father, they set up Robotix Education. Having grown up with progressive parents who encourage them to explore technology and nature around them, the duo wants to pass on the benefits of this privilege to many others. The girls have taken after their dad in their interest for robotics.

India's numbers on women in tech need some serious course correction. According to a recent study by Kelly Global Force, women represent 46% of all enrolled undergraduate students in STEM, not many continue to pursue careers. 41% of women in technology companies leave after 10 years of experience, compared to 17% of men.

If one looks at the big companies, a survey by Nasscom points out that women comprise 25% of the two-lakh strong employee strength of Indian IT majors such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro and Satyam. Nasscom pits the current male versus female ratio at 76:24 and predicts that it will change to 65:33 by next year.

One of the ways to challenge and fix these lopsided ratios is to make people approach technology with its end use, make it more approachable and fun and even put the spotlight on those who are changing the game with tech.

Ashwini Asokan, founder of Mad Street Den, uses artificial intelligence for everyday products and services as part of consumers' shopping experience. They have for long had to spend time explaining what they do. But Asokan has been determined and believes that's the only way.

"I think I actively say different kind of stories about AI to show that it is very useful to people to make their lives better," Asokan says, but admits there is a steep education curve when it comes acclimatising people to AI. We have had some good role models in women like Padmasree Warrior, formerly at Cisco, Neelam Dhawan at HP India, Vanitha Narayanan of IBM, Aruna Jayanthi of Capgemini and many others.

What's needed now is to expand this list several times over and showcase stories of young women in tech who are breaking the mould and creating new thinking and discourse in tech. From innovators to coders, the more stories we celebrate the faster it will lift the fear of STEM. As Prasad shared, we need to get beyond the 'I am scared of math' syndrome. And that's might be the crux of our problem.