This online course aims to spread STEM education to women from small cities across India

The Anita Borg Institute (ABI) India launched 2017 Codeathon.in for women students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) from smaller cities across India. As a part of the event, participants have to use the knowledge gained from the online course and make a submission for the project: Navigate the Mars Rover.

The project involves designing and implementing a solution that will apply a variety of shortest path algorithms to help the Mars Rover find the optimal path between the starting point and the destination marked by the user. The end user will have the ability to choose the algorithm to be used.  This initiative is an online platform that offers the students an opportunity to enhance their coding skills while developing innovative solutions. 

There is a large pool of untapped talent in smaller cities that have a lot of knowledge, they need more exposure and confidence-building. 2017 Codethon.in aims to bridge this gap. The participation from colleges and students in the selected cities has been positive and we look forward to some great coding

Geetha Kannan, Managing Director, Anita Borg Institute India

"Currently, the industry efforts in this area are concentrated in the six to eight metro cities. At times there is so much happening that the talent in these cities is spoilt for choices. There is a large pool of untapped talent in smaller cities that have a lot of knowledge, they need more exposure and confidence-building. 2017 Codethon.in aims to bridge this gap. The participation from colleges and students in the selected cities has been positive and we look forward to some great coding”, said Geetha Kannan, MD, ABI India. 

The event is being held in select engineering colleges in Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), Mysore (Karnataka) and a few cities in Kerala. It will be conducted online from July and will go on until September 2017. It will also offer all participants coaching and practical experience that will better prepare them students for exciting careers in technology.