Srinagar, Sept 13: A six-day Psy-STEM Workshop aimed at fostering scientific temper, innovation and critical thinking among students and teachers in border areas concluded successfully in Bandipora on Sunday.

Organised by Government College for Women (GCW), M.A. Road, Srinagar, in collaboration with NIT Srinagar, the workshop was held at Nadim Memorial Boys Higher Secondary School, Kaloosa, and Government Higher Secondary School, Shagund, under the JKST&IC-sponsored Research and Extension Programme.
The initiative, titled “Psychology Driven STEM Learning to Build Scientific Temper in the Border Villages of Kashmir,” blended psychological principles with hands-on STEM education.
Around 30 teachers and 150 students received training in robotics, Arduino and ESP32 applications, sensors, block programming, drone technology and 3D printing, alongside modules on problem-solving, metacognition, examination anxiety and scientific thinking.
NIT Srinagar Director Prof. Anurag Misra said experiential learning can take STEM education beyond conventional classrooms, while GCW Principal Prof. Yasmeen Farooq stressed the importance of combining technical skills with creativity, confidence and psychological understanding.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Indu Kanwal Chib highlighted the need to strengthen scientific temper and urged students to make active use of Atal Tinkering Labs for innovation.
The programme was led by Dr. Eshrat Ara, Principal Investigator, and Dr. Dinesh Kumar Rajendran, Co-Principal Investigator, with support from the District Administration Bandipora and Chief Education Officer Rafeeq Ahmad Mir.
Despite the logistical challenge of conducting parallel sessions at venues nearly 33 km apart, organisers ensured smooth execution through coordinated efforts.
The successful workshop marks another step towards taking innovative, psychology-driven STEM education to students and teachers in underserved and border communities of Kashmir.