Pune Knowledge Cluster Organizes EduConclave 2.0 to Promote Effective Integration of Digital Tools in STEM Education
Pune, 6th February 2025: Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC), in collaboration with Salaam Bombay Foundation, organized EduConclave 2.0: Transforming STEM Education on 5th and 6th February at Savitribai Phule Pune University. EduConclave is PKC’s flagship initiative aimed at bringing together academicians, NGOs, and organizations working in the STEM education sector, with a special focus on empowering teachers with the latest trends and pedagogical practices in India.
This year’s edition, EduConclave 2.0, focused on equipping teachers with insights into AI-driven changes in the education landscape and the effective integration of digital tools to enhance STEM education in schools.
Dr. Priya Nagaraj, CEO of PKC, set the context for the conference, stating, “As community leaders, we have a responsibility to guide students in using technology responsibly and ethically, ensuring that it serves as a tool to enhance learning. This year’s theme, ‘Transforming STEM Education,’ aims to explore various digital tools, their effective classroom implementation, and the ethical considerations of integrating technology into education.”
In his keynote address, Vivek Sawant, Chief Mentor at Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL), emphasized the role of teachers in ensuring that digital tools complement, rather than compete with, classroom teaching. “The focus should now be on developing a scientific temper, improving ‘learnability,’ and fostering creativity, wisdom, judgment, and ethics. It is essential to consider AI as a partner, not a competitor, and work alongside it.”
The conference featured panel discussions, hands-on workshops, and demonstrations by educators and innovators from CS Pathshala, Shyamchi Aai Foundation, Teach For India, Lenovo, Salaam Bombay Foundation, IISER Pune, DLRC Pune, Calsoft, Jnana Prabodhini Prashala, IUCAA SciPop, SPPU Center for Science Education & Communication (CSEC), Pratham Education Foundation, PCMC Science Park, taral.ai, Pratham Books, Siemens, and Edunet Foundation.
One of the key highlights of the conference was TechVision 2.0, an exhibition by students from Salaam Bombay Foundation’s STEM training program, showcasing robotic projects built by over 30 students from resource-challenged backgrounds across different schools in Maharashtra. Some of the pioneering innovations displayed at the exhibition included:
Krishibot – a remote-controlled fertilizer spraying solution
Smart Wheelchair – an AI-powered mobility aid
Helmet with a built-in alcohol detector – a safety innovation to prevent drunk driving
Speaking about the exhibition, Gaurav Arora, Chief Growth Officer at Salaam Bombay Foundation, remarked, “TechVision is not just about potential; it’s about impact. These students are not waiting for opportunities—they’re creating them.”
The conference witnessed the participation of over 80 teachers from public and private schools across the PMC and PCMC regions of Pune, while the exhibition attracted over 1,000 students.
