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Observe, learn, dream,
be brave and curious!
Ms. Charu Negi
M.S.C.A. Steminist
My Story
Nature happens to be one of the biggest inspirations for many researchers. The same for me. Being from the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India, I have always found nature and the mountains to be my biggest source of inspiration. Back in school, it was in standard 5th when our school Principal would take us to the school garden for Nature and Science Club activities. She first showed us Mimosa pudica, the touch-me-not plant, which I was in awe of. Thus, nature became an inspiration for me as well. It gave me my curiosity, to be honest. As I began studying science, my principal’s wonderful way of teaching and explaining things has been the pillar of my interest in Chemistry.
I pursued a Bachelor's Honours degree in Chemistry followed by a Master's degree in Chemistry. I was actively involved in research and I aimed to devote my time to research as my future endeavour. Being associated with the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, the national centre of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (HBCSE-TIFR) for my Bachelor's with a wonderful mentor gave me the direction to pursue my career in science, that too as a researcher, I can never forget her support and mentorship.
That happens to be one of the reasons for being an enthusiast of promoting Women and Girls in STEM-related fields. The journey itself has never been a smooth sail. I met a few disappointments but that did not let me down. I continued to work on myself and my skills. Throughout my journey till now, I have had a lot of experiences and I want to use those to help fellow women and young girls to pursue a career in STEM. This field has a lot to offer, and with the right kind of support, I am sure we can help everyone to achieve that.
In the end, I would like to mention that, "Dare to dream, dare to work on that dream and make it happen. Good things take time and if you are persistent enough, no one can stop you from achieving your goals and dreams. So make sure you make every day count with your head held high and live that dream."