Sandhya Gupta
Founder, Aavishkaar
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“I see a world where every child—regardless of gender, class, or community—believes they can learn and grow in the STEM field and in life.”
Sandhya Gupta is a STEM education advocate and the founder of Aavishkaar, an organization dedicated to delivering high-quality STEM education to underserved communities throughout India and beyond and empowering educators to build communities of possibility and equality.
With Aavishkaar, Sandhya aims to close gaps in academic achievement and help all children, especially girls, gain the skills and confidence they need to enjoy and pursue stable careers in STEM fields. Aavishkaar collaborates with state governments and civil society to reach communities that need assistance creating engaging and equitable STEM curriculum and classrooms. Aavishkaar trains educators to nurture these skills in their classrooms and become broader catalysts for positive community developments. She previously worked as the executive director of Sambhavana Institute, India, and principal engineer at Polar Semiconductor, USA. Her degrees conferred include a master’s in public affairs from the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and a doctorate in electrical engineering from Iowa State University.
Sandhya sees STEM education as an essential component to escaping the cycle of poverty for many rural and low-income communities. By working with science and math teachers to imagine new ways of developing these skills, we can create new generations of passionate advocates for equality and justice.