Youths who participated in the program shared that it gave them a chance to dive deep and explore other opportunities and career pathways in STEM.
August 2nd, 2023
One of the many locally-made drones used in the program
On the morning of the 14th of April 2023, learners from the Sri Sathya Sai Primary School and Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School make their way to one of the main halls after morning prayers for a STEM program. They are equipped with only a pen, a notebook, and a vague idea of what lies ahead. In the air, there is curiosity, questions, and mumbling about what to expect. This is when one of the STEM instructors brings out an Indian-made drone, and the crowd falls silent in awe.
This was the atmosphere in Puttaparthi, a small town in Andhra Pradesh, a hotspot for tourists and locals seeking the teachings of Sri Sathya Sai. It is also home to several schools and universities, with youth from France, South Africa, Germany, and various corners of India coming to receive formal education. Here, India Flying Labs set up camp to conduct a two-day STEM training program to foster the growing culture of innovation and scientific curiosity.
A student from Smt Eswaramma High School flying a drone during practical sessions
This two-day event brought together three schools from Puttaparthi: Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School, Sri Sathya Sai Primary School, and Smt Eswaramma High School. Officially, 193 boys and 158 girls signed up for the program, but as the day progressed, more students joined in.
The day program started with an introduction to drone technology, with real-world applications from India's drone industry. The instructors introduced different STEM career pathways in this session through their short stories and a Q&A session. The students were familiar with such STEM programs, so they came prepared with questions about current global trends and applications for conservation, sustainability, and start-up opportunities.
The instructors included mechatronic and electrical engineers, software engineers, data analysts, data scientists, and program managers. Since these short stories drew from the instructors' life and experiences, it was easy to illustrate how they got into the drone industry and what they did for a living.
After the Q&A session, students went to the Sathya Sai International Center for Sports, where the core of the training, the practical session, was carried out.
One by one, each participant got to fly a quadcopter under the supervision of several dedicated instructors. It was the first time many students were flying an actual drone. We could tell by their smiles and joy that this program was indeed a success.
The STEM training program concluded with an energetic drone racing show with FPV drones, which created excitement and showed the incredible skills needed to maneuver these innovative machines.
The program, organized in partnership with Redwing Labs and Fly Camp, proved to be a milestone event for the young students and the teachers of Puttaparthi. Redwing is one of India's leading drone enterprises and operates some of India's largest BVLOS drone networks. Several youths who participated in the program had already decided to choose STEM subjects at the university level but mentioned that this program gave them a chance to dive deep and explore other opportunities and career pathways in STEM. The success of this program serves as a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of hands-on learning experiences in shaping the minds of the future.
Youth participating in the introduction session of the program.
We sincerely thank Principal Y Sivaramakrishnah and the management of Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School, Sri Sathya Sai Primary School, and Smt Eswaramma High School for allowing us to engage their students in our program. This program was successful only due to their understanding, generosity, and contribution.
