Inclusive Stem Confluence 2020 promises opportunities to disabled science enthusiasts

The upcoming Inclusive Stem Confluence 2020 will bring together people with and without disabilities. The event will showcase talents of disabled students and professionals. In addition, it will also give them a platform to learn new things. Inclusive Stem Confluence 2020 is scheduled for 17 and 18 January 2020. On its third year, organisers are again expecting a huge turnout this year.

This January, Bengaluru will become the host for Inclusive Stem Confluence 2020. This inclusive event will bring together people with and without disabilities to check out latest technologies, learn new things and make the best out of computers and science. Inclusive Stem Confluence 2020 is the brainchild of computer expert Kartik Sawhney who is visually impaired. Kartik is currently working as the Software Engineer in the United States. In addition, he is also a disability rights activist who hopes that Inclusive Stem Confluence 2020 will make a positive impact in the lives of many people with disabilities across India. The 24 hours event will be held at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Bengaluru on 17 and 18 January 2020.

Here is what to expect at Inclusive Stem Confluence 2020

I-Stem has collaborated with Vision Aid, Vision Empower, IIIT Bengaluru and XRCVC for the event. Moreover, it is divided into four tracks. In the first Hackathon, people with and without disabilities will work on high impact projects to help enhance lives of people with disabilities. Participants can meet experts from the field. Like how Kartik puts it, “It is more like owning a project together”. In the second Workshops, participants will be introduced to many new things. It includes detailed insight into Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and block chain. These workshops are open to anyone with prior computer experience.

The third Employment Connect is an opportunity to look out for jobs in the field. Hackathon is inviting representatives from over ten corporate companies across India. They will speak about the various job prospects. Participants can upload their resumes that will be sent to these companies. The final one is the Assistive Technology Expo. Participants will get an opportunity for assistive technology start-ups or developers to share their work with the broader disability community.

Our goal is to essentially bridge the gap between people with and without disabilities. We are focussing on students and professionals with disabilities through technology with a special focus on STEM fields. This is the third time we are doing this event. The last few years have been great. We hope more people can participate in this year’s event and make the best out of it- Kartik Sawhney.

Empowering disabled people through technology

The first and second hackathons in the years 2018 and 2019 were successful. Over 150 participants from seven universities and eleven corporates participated.

Manjot Singh is a visually impaired student from Gurgaon. He is currently interning with the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi. He was part of the last Hackathon. “It was an awesome experience. I came to know about the event after Kartik told me about it. It was a 24 hour event. The best part is that you will learn to solve problems in these 24 hours, something you wouldn’t have been able to do in weeks. Moreover, all participants are from different backgrounds. I’am still friends with them and the team that I was part of. We help each other to tackle problems. I’am going to be part of the upcoming event as well”, says Manjot.

Participants with and without disabilities can register on their website for one or more of these tracks at inclusivestem.org/hackathon.html. The deadline for participants with disabilities is 15th December. For other participants without disabilities and companies, it is till 1 January 2020.