Biocon Foundation partners with NCBS and BeST Cluster to support 25 women in STEM
Biocon Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Biocon Group, in collaboration with The Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST) Cluster, and National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), announced the launch of BioWISE, an initiative aimed to help disadvantaged female science students from tier 2 and 3 universities across Karnataka, to build a career in life sciences.
The programme aims to support 25 women students from diverse communities through scholarships, extended internships, and mentorship, thereby enhancing access, participation, and retention of women from underserved communities in STEM, particularly the life sciences.
In the first State-level cohort, 15 postgraduates and 10 undergraduates from life sciences background will be supported. The students will be selected from colleges and universities across the State.
Mentorship and exposure
During the cohort duration, which is six months for PG students and three months for UG students, the students will be provided with exposure, training, and mentorship. Biocon Foundation will enable the initiative through funding, and experts from Biocon Biologics will support with mentorship. NCBS will serve as the host institute and academic mentoring partner. BeST Cluster will contribute to the programme's design, management, and implementation.
In a statement from Biocon Foundation, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon Group, said, 'Empowering women in STEM through our program BioWISE, is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic investment in our nation's future. Our commitment to supporting women in science stems from our broader vision of enabling equitable access to health, education, research, and opportunity.'
Identifying pockets
During the cohort, participants will engage in mentorship sessions with experts from Biocon Biologics, NCBS, and other institutions to gain insights into research and career opportunities. They will also get the opportunity to visit the research labs of NCBS, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Jyoti Nivas College, and bio-incubators and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Focused workshops, wet-lab experiences, research-oriented seminars and soft skills and communication training are the other features of the programme.
'It is important to work with the government to identify pockets from where we can pick up students,' saidAnupama Shetty, Mission Director, Biocon Foundation, speaking to The Hindu during the launch event at NCBS.
'Where do we focus in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, which are the colleges where there is a larger women representation and good pass rates - these are some insights we need, and that is how we would be planning the community outreach,' she added.
R Anantharaman, CEO, BeST Cluster, noted that the initiative is a commitment to ensure that career breaks do not translate into career ends.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- The Hindu
Biocon Foundation partners with NCBS and BeST Cluster to support 25 women in STEM
Biocon Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Biocon Group, in collaboration with The Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST) Cluster, and National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), announced the launch of BioWISE, an initiative aimed to help disadvantaged female science students from tier 2 and 3 universities across Karnataka, to build a career in life sciences. The programme aims to support 25 women students from diverse communities through scholarships, extended internships, and mentorship, thereby enhancing access, participation, and retention of women from underserved communities in STEM, particularly the life sciences. In the first State-level cohort, 15 postgraduates and 10 undergraduates from life sciences background will be supported. The students will be selected from colleges and universities across the State. Mentorship and exposure During the cohort duration, which is six months for PG students and three months for UG students, the students will be provided with exposure, training, and mentorship. Biocon Foundation will enable the initiative through funding, and experts from Biocon Biologics will support with mentorship. NCBS will serve as the host institute and academic mentoring partner. BeST Cluster will contribute to the programme's design, management, and implementation. In a statement from Biocon Foundation, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon Group, said, 'Empowering women in STEM through our program BioWISE, is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic investment in our nation's future. Our commitment to supporting women in science stems from our broader vision of enabling equitable access to health, education, research, and opportunity.' Identifying pockets During the cohort, participants will engage in mentorship sessions with experts from Biocon Biologics, NCBS, and other institutions to gain insights into research and career opportunities. They will also get the opportunity to visit the research labs of NCBS, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Jyoti Nivas College, and bio-incubators and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Focused workshops, wet-lab experiences, research-oriented seminars and soft skills and communication training are the other features of the programme. 'It is important to work with the government to identify pockets from where we can pick up students,' saidAnupama Shetty, Mission Director, Biocon Foundation, speaking to The Hindu during the launch event at NCBS. 'Where do we focus in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, which are the colleges where there is a larger women representation and good pass rates - these are some insights we need, and that is how we would be planning the community outreach,' she added. R Anantharaman, CEO, BeST Cluster, noted that the initiative is a commitment to ensure that career breaks do not translate into career ends.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Time of India
Sunday Read: Nature's wingmen
Butterfly migration Bangalore Butterfly Club . native vegetation . Every year, during pre-monsoon months, butterflies pass through the city in large numbers. Intrestingly, years with intense butterfly activity often coincide with higher rainfall. This suggests butterflies may be responding to wind and rain patterns using nature's cues as their navigation –Haneesh M, Bangalore Butterfly Club When migration is mentioned, images of thundering herds across Africa's Masai Mara often come to mind. Yet, right here in Bengaluru, a quieter, more delicate spectacle unfolds every year — the seasonal migration of butterflies gliding across South India's Western and Eastern despite their fragile appearance, are powerful bio-indicators of a region's ecological health. Their presence reflects the diversity and condition of local flora. Bengaluru, situated along a crucial migratory corridor, witnesses thousands of butterflies each year during their seasonal journey, according to Haneesh KM, a founding member of the. The community actively documents butterfly sightings and contributes its data to the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS).'Every year, during pre-monsoon months, butterflies pass through the city in large numbers. Interestingly, years with intense butterfly activity often coincide with higher rainfall,' Haneesh observed. 'This suggests butterflies may be responding to wind and rain patterns, using nature's cues as their navigation system.'India is home to an estimated 1,200 butterfly species, of which more than 170 have been recorded in Bengaluru alone. Karnataka's Western Ghats boast over 340 species. The city's common migratory species belong to the Danainae subfamily, including the Dark Blue Tiger, Blue Tiger, Common Crow, and Double Banded Crow. While the average lifespan of a butterfly is one to two weeks, migration can extend this to three or even four recent uptick in butterfly sightings aligns with pre-monsoon showers, says Sammilan Shetty, founder of the Butterfly Park, Belvai.'Butterflies tend to move just ahead of the southwest monsoon. This could be an evolutionary strategy to escape the harsh conditions of the monsoon, particularly in the higher elevations of the Ghats.' He notes that certain species, like the Common Emigrant, follow a coastal route along the Arabian Sea and then head inland just before the rains arrive. 'It's a carefully timed survival tactic,' he butterfly migration is not a newly observed phenomenon, public awareness has grown significantly in recent years. But this awareness has also brought challenges. Shetty warns against replacingwith ornamental plants in artificial butterfly gardens. 'Such interventions can harm butterflies, whose breeding cycles depend on indigenous host plants. Preserving native flora is crucial,' he enthusiasts, like Sahana M, have been tracking butterfly behaviour for years. 'I've always been drawn to birds and fragile, yet vibrant,' she shares. This year, Sahana observed an early migration of Danaid butterflies. 'That often signals an early monsoon,' she points out, reinforcing the idea that butterfly patterns can act as a natural weather being cold-blooded, are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment. Kiran Kiggal, Associate Professor of Electronics and a keen wildlife photographer, notes that butterflies rely on sunshine and nectar. 'During heavy rains, nectar becomes scarce. So, they often shift eastward to avoid these conditions. Many begin migrating even before the monsoon sets in, sensing early showers caused by low-pressure systems,' he to Dr Abhijith APC from Team Saaliga, butterfly migration is not just about movement, but survival. 'They migrate to preserve their lineage. It's an instinctive intelligence,' he explains. Many butterflies are host-specific; the Common Lime butterfly relies on citrus plants, while the Common Crow prefers Ficus trees. The pre-monsoon season offers fresh vegetation, making it ideal for and nature lovers agree: Butterfly migration is more than a visual delight; it's a strategic and essential survival mechanism deeply tied to ecological too can play a role in this natural phenomenon. Planting native species, especially host and nectar plants, can provide critical support to migrating such green corridors not only aids their journey but also helps reduce roadkill. Citizen participation in recording butterfly movements can further contribute valuable data to scientists tracking their the heart of India's Silicon Valley, the flutter of delicate wings tells a timeless story of survival, adaptation, and harmony with nature, a reminder that sometimes, the most extraordinary migrations happen right in our backyard.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Time of India
Predators' DNA traces at livestock kill sites can aid better human-wildlife conflict management: National Centre for Biological Sciences
Bengaluru: Researchers from Bengaluru's National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) have shown that trace DNA left by large carnivores at livestock kill sites can be used to reliably identify individual predators. This approach offers a powerful tool to effectively manage human-wildlife conflict and understand predator behaviour and ecology, NCBS said Thursday. The study was recently published in the journal Biological Conservation."In communities that live in proximity to large carnivores, livestock depredation might cause conservation challenges. Systematic understanding of individuals involved in conflict is a critical first step towards a solution," said Prof Uma Ramakrishnan, senior author of the out that around the world, managing human-wildlife conflict often involves relocating or removing the suspected predator, NCBS said typically, forest departments rely on field signs like pugmarks, scat, or claw marks to identify the animal involved. Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list Did Pak shoot down Indian jets? What MEA said India foils Pakistan's attack on Jammu airport: What we know so far "However, these signs can be ambiguous, and removing the non-target individual may disturb carnivore populations and sometimes, further intensify conflict situations. More reliable and robust genetic identification of predators could be an effective strategy for conflict resolution," it researchers, in collaboration with Panthera and Madhya Pradesh forest department, investigated 198 kill sites across two of central India's key tiger habitats: Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves. At each site, researchers collected non-invasive genetic samples — saliva, scat, and shed hair as a potential source of predator DNA."Using genetic tools based on Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), they identified individual tigers present at these kill sites. Shed hair samples were the most effective for identification, followed closely by saliva and scat. Overall, tigers were successfully identified at 85% of the kill sites, with species-level identification exceeding 95% across all sample types," NCBS assess each tiger's likely involvement in a kill, the team developed a classification framework based on the type and location of genetic evidence. Each case was categorised as a "true predator" (high confidence), "circumstantial predator" (medium confidence), or "predator uncertain" (low confidence). Out of 198 cases studied, 72 were classified with high confidence, 34 with medium confidence, and 49 with low Chhattani, lead author of the study, said, "Genetic samples are often the only true evidence of a predation event. While identification is possible, there remains some possibility of misidentification, especially when multiple individuals are present at the kill site. That's why it's important to assign confidence levels in identification. We hope that such a classification scheme will help better represent the level of confidence provided by the genetic tools and further evidence-based conflict management."For wildlife managers and conservationists, this method adds a reliable, evidence-based tool to help address predator-livestock conflict, while contributing to long-term predator monitoring, benefiting both local communities and wildlife conservation efforts.
