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Spending fifteen days at the TIFR Mumbai campus for the Vigyan Vidushi program, organized by the School of Technology and Computer Science (STCS), was an absolute dream that ignited my research curiosity. If you have any inclination toward computer science or math, I highly recommend applying for this program.

The faculty and fellow participants were super supportive, and the conversations, both in and out of the classroom, were really fun and insightful. Honestly, I've never met more supportive and friendly faculty.

Cheers

Sandhya

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My recent two-week experience at TIFR for the STCS Vigyan Vidushi 2024 program was truly exceptional. Participating in this program was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I’ve made. I am immensely grateful to the organizers for this incredible opportunity to delve into advanced theoretical computer science.

The lectures were extraordinary. Each session felt like a masterful narrative, with professors expertly guiding us through complex concepts in a way that was both engaging and enlightening. This summer has been incredibly well-spent.

I also want to extend my thanks to my fellow participants, whose remarkable skills and insights challenged me to push my own understanding further. The professors were remarkably flexible, adjusting their pace to ensure that every participant could follow along and grasp the material.

The courses were thorough and insightful, striking the perfect balance in content depth. For anyone considering a research career, this program provides an invaluable glimpse into the world of computer science research. The hospitality at TIFR was outstanding, and I already miss the lectures and the beautiful sea. I hope to return soon for more.

- Sadgi Tiwari :)

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Whether it was attending a lecture or a magic show, enjoying lunch or engaging in an intriguing conversation, taking evening walks or listening to a captivating, movie-like storytelling of the campus's history, its beauty, and its founder—I found it impossible to separate these experiences by the end of the two-week program.

Do not miss this opportunity to attend the brilliant lectures and get to know some of the most wonderful people you will ever meet. TIFR is a world-class institution that fosters not only academic excellence but also creativity and the essence of true intellectualism. Did I mention they have their own seashore on campus and are located in the most happening area of Mumbai? ;)

I am extremely grateful to have been part of this wonderful experience. The organizers, faculty, and students did a fantastic job of putting together an excellent and well-curated program. I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of it.

My sincere thanks to everyone who organized this and to those I had the pleasure of meeting <3 (overlapping sets!)

Roseline

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I came to the STCS Vigyan Vidushi 2024 program hoping to explore my interests in computer science and make some connections. I’m leaving with so much more—clarity on what I want to pursue, what I’m less interested in, and a deeper understanding of the many paths available for research and higher studies.

Big thanks to the incredible mentors who opened my eyes to countless opportunities I hadn't considered before. I’m excited to decide on my next steps. Who knows, maybe our paths will cross again in the future!

The program was not just about the learning but also about the amazing experiences. From exploring Mumbai and soaking in the beautiful sea views to making new friends and sharing laughs, it was a blast. Meeting passionate women from across India, exchanging ideas, and learning together was truly inspiring.

The sessions were engaging and the atmosphere was collaborative and friendly. A special shoutout to the organizers and everyone who made this experience memorable. I’m leaving with new knowledge, great friends, and wonderful memories of seaside chats and sunset views.

Thank you all for making this such a rewarding experience. Can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next!

Thank you

Snehal Pawar

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This was my first ever solo trip, and I was very excited and curious about what the next two weeks at TIFR had to offer.

No doubt, it was an amazing experience. From sharing ideas with curious and lovely fellows to attending classes, we engaged in lively discussions, learned together, and experienced a multitude of things.

Thank you to all the instructors for providing such amazing classes. They definitely made me more interested in Theoretical Computer Science.

I learned a lot and met many people, especially women in science. I asked questions, listened to their experiences, and now I see many opportunities and paths I can take.

I can't forget the moments after classes: heading to the seashores with friends, watching the sea blend into the horizon at dusk, and either discussing a class-related problem or simply enjoying ourselves with jokes and conversation.

Thank you to all of you for hosting the VV program. You all made this hard work look easy with your effort. I hope our paths cross again.

- Areej :)

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I wanted to thank you for the fantastic time I had as a Vigyan Vidhushi participant. This whole experience has been super rewarding, and I really appreciate everything everyone did to make it so special. The sessions, workshops, classes, quizzes, and art walks were terrific, and I loved how engaging and informative everything was. I learned so much from the mentoring session. The collaborative and friendly atmosphere made it a joy to participate. It was great being taught by such enthusiastic and knowledgeable professors. I hope to collaborate and work with some of you in the future.

The whole combination of the science and the beautiful sea view was amazing, had a hard time saying bye to the campus and everyone I met there. The program definitely strengthened my ambition to pursue a PhD in CS.

Thanks a lot!!

Snehal Yutika

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As an Explorer, I love to explore more, to get exposure of new things. This program was perfect opportunity for me to explore various field of Computer science in presence of experienced instructors. Apart from lectures, I enjoyed the fun sessions very much. The knowledge which I gained here will be surely helpful to me at some point of time.

Sometimes, it's not just about technical sessions, it's about networking, environment and the soft skills which you learn when you become part of some program. I enjoyed this program very much.

- Pragya Gupta

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Two weeks at TIFR felt like a dream.

It was a wonderful experience meeting and interacting with so many people. The courses were amazing and I enjoyed learning everything. The distinguished lectures by Kavitha Ma'am, Krishna Ma'am and Aparna Ma'am were so good! It was incredibly motivating to learn from such accomplished women.

I would like to thank each and every person involved in organizing and running the program. It's only because of the efforts of the organizers, professors and all other staff involved, that made this an enriching and unforgettable experience for me.

Feel free to reach out to me at [email] :)) I'd love to stay in touch and hear from you :))

Best wishes,

Sphurti

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Thank you for putting together such a remarkable program!

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Thank you for putting together such a remarkable program!

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I don’t know where to start—VV was truly a one-of-a-kind experience. I remember filling out the form, unsure if I’d even make it to the final list. It was my first real CS course experience, and it completely changed my perspective. I discovered that I enjoy problem-solving and now see myself pursuing a career in CS. For anyone who’s unsure, this is the opportunity you need. The faculty is outstanding, and the diverse participants from all over India contribute to a rich learning environment. The program is full of valuable information and features insightful talks by distinguished women in CS.

If you have even a slight interest in theory, this is the perfect place to start. I can't thank everyone enough; this has been an experience of a lifetime.

TIFR Mumbai is a place you won’t want to leave once you arrive. The people there make it truly special (this is a huge thanks to Aindrila <3).

VV at STCS TIFR is definitely a great start for emerging learners in CS, given the amazing and established professors assigned to each course. The participants are also highly valued, coming from diverse backgrounds including corporate professionals, undergraduates, master’s students, and future PhD candidates. In an age where doom-scrolling is common, you might find yourself so engrossed in the program that you forget about your phone (speaking from personal experience).

Cheers!

Mehak ;)

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Thank you for curating such a Holistic course

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Thank you for curating such a Holistic course

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First of all thank you everyone for your tremendous efforts in hosting VV2024. You all made all your hardwork look so effortless.

I am grateful to attend this program and I must say it has been the best two weeks for me in a long time.

The courses were wonderful,it gave me a sneak peak into nuances of theoretical computer science . The invited lectures were equally intriguing . It has given me entirely new perspectives on thinking about problems in computer science. I hope to explore it deeply . I am sure I would make efforts to obtain a Phd position with the guidance I received during the mentoring session. I would like to thank Aindrilla for giving us one of the most impactful advice on preparing for PhD - " Don't try to crack an exam, strengthen your fundamentals " these words are deeply profound, it has altered my perspective at many levels.

You guys make a great team, working in tandem with the institute protocol with some added randomness. As professor prahlad suggested small randomness make things better, it held true for the program as well - Last minute plans about visiting quantum lab and the accelerator or naac visit, you guys made through every hiccups.

Thank you to all the instructors for breaking down difficult ideas into easy understandable chunks, pushing us to think about problems - special mention to Juhi mam - your efforts for getting us to our maximum capacity and flow ( pun intended ) was tremendous.

Lastly, thankyou all my fellow VV participants, for making it such an engaging classroom. Believe me you were all doing me a favour by striking difficult questions in the lectures . I was fortunate enough to meet all of you guys .

Thank you

Lucy

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I am so glad I decided to sign up for this iteration of Vigyan Vidushi, I had much more fun than I expected to. My two weeks stay at TIFR just reaffirmed my love for math and theory, and the warm theory community in general. It would not have been such a great success without the efforts of Ramprasad, Mrinal, Prahladh, Umang and the numerous TAs. I recommend everyone who even has the slightest interest in theory to apply, the program does not disappoint. There is something interesting to take away for everyone irrespective of their background, and I think that's beautiful. I will be hanging around the theory community for the foreseeable future :)

--Anagha

Pls feel free to stay connected at [email]

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Participating in the program was an enriching and inspiring experience. It was great to meet amazing teachers ,mentors and numerous women from across India who share a passion for science. It was amazing to exchange ideas, discuss research, and learn from each other's experiences. The program not only broadened my scientific knowledge but also expanded my professional network and I got some good friends.

It helped me to understand my interests in a better way. I explored various places in Mumbai and felt really good on visiting the places.Thanks for organizing such a wonderful program and the memories made here will be cherished forever.

Thank you ,

Sayani

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I cannot do better than repeat the exhortation in Anand's post: keep asking questions, about everything! After all, perhaps the only compliment in science worthy of being sought is this wish expressed by an ancient author:

"May there be other questioners like you!"

Piyush

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Every time we conduct this programme, it is genuinely a lot of effort. Then we see the students come in, have fun, make connections among themselves, push themselves in class, push us in class, have discussions, ask so many probing questions, talk about their experiences and aspirations, and it gives us so much energy and makes it all worthwhile. So kudos to you, thank you for all your questions, and may you always remain inquisitive, enthusiastic, and engaged!

Umang (NV sir ka lookalike)

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The Quizgyan Quidushi was one of the most fun quizzes I've ever conducted, and I enjoyed sharing the coding theory application too. (I just realized somehow both were 20 questions!) You guys are a lively and cheerful bunch. I hope this taste of computer science has made you want to explore more, and in any case, I hope you always keep the spirit of curiosity and wonder. Looking forward to crossing paths again sometime.

Best wishes,

Ashutosh

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I had a great time preparing for and conducting the Gems session on Sperner's lemma and its applications. I hope you enjoyed the session, found the exercises and references useful and interesting, and gained appreciation for how abstract results can find applications in unexpected fields of research. I also hope you'll think about Sperner's lemma whenever you cut a cake!

Feel free to write to us if you have doubts, questions, suggestions, or have anything interesting to share. I wish you all all the best for your future!

Best,

Pranshu

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Science and Mumbai Monsoon make a great combo! Hope you experienced the best of both worlds. I thoroughly enjoyed the mentoring sessions, despite the fact that I joined online. I am surprised that many undergraduate students are already exploring post-PhD job opportunities. My best wishes to you.

-Ramya. C

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It was a great pleasure to interact with such a diverse group of girls who have already set their foot in the world of science and technology. I hope you carry this enthusiasm throughout your life and help each other grow in the process. If there's any help I can provide, you can reach me at

[email]

Here's to a happy and successful life 🥂

Stay Ambitious!

Himadri

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I came here to figure out what I like in TCS and make some connections. I'm very happy to say I'm going with much more, I figured what I need to learn, what I don't really like and what I like to pursue more and thanks to the incredible set of mentors ... I got to know how numerous number of options I have.. to choose from for my higher studies in research especially, for lot of which I had no idea before.

Will go back, think, decide, solve and maybe we will cross our paths again!!

Thank you so much for organizing this and making it very accessible, I can see it making remarkable impact in my career.

Thank you :)

Hima Bindu Tenneti

[email]

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I had a great time interacting with all of you. Thanks for all the amazing questions! If you think I can help in any way, do write to [email]

Cheers :)

Krishna

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You all have such a bright future ahead of you with lots of opportunities. Remember, to work hard and keep aspiring for a better version of you. No one has seen this version yet. You have to sculpt it on your own. Also don't forget to have fun and smile everyday:)

-Manya

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It was fun discussing some coding theoretic puzzles with you all. I hope you enjoyed your time at TIFR and that you made some lasting friendships. I also hope that some of these mathematical ideas will stay with you and help you in whichever field you choose to pursue.

Varun

P.S. Here's a fun 3b1b video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltLUadnCyi0 :)

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It was wonderful to chat with all of you!

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It was wonderful to chat with all of you!

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It was great getting to speak with all of you, I had so much fun during our session together. Thanks for all of your questions, I felt like we got to touch on a variety of topics, I hope that inspired new ideas or opened up new avenues to pursue. Keep exploring new areas and ideas on your journey, with the passion and drive you have you're going to achieve amazing things! :D

Nitya

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I really enjoyed the interaction session. I also learnt a lot from young minds.

All the very best for bright future , I am sure our paths will cross again

-- Vandana Nanal

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This was great fun to interact with the aspiring women researchers. Thanks to TIFR and organizers for bringing us all together. We need more such outreach programs. Wishing everyone all the best in their aspirations and here is to looking forward to maybe collaborate with some of you on exciting research projects in the near future!

Cheers

Aditi

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Dear VVs,

Although I only had a brief chance of interacting with you all, I couldn't help but notice the enthusiasm with which you tried to understand completely unfamiliar material by asking probing questions. I hope everyone takes back home the spirit of getting out of one's comfort zone, thinking out loud, and asking "seemingly stupid" questions.

Look forward to seeing you all soar higher.

Cheers,

Anand.

P.S. - "Thus, I [we] have explained to you this knowledge that is more secret than all secrets. Ponder over it deeply and then do as you wish."

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Dear VV's,

First of all, high fives all around! 🎉 I appreciate that you guys applied here. You didn’t reject yourselves first, which is a huge win. Secondly, you nailed those applications—a big round of applause! Third, you were incredibly interactive during the classes and mentoring sessions, which is fantastic. That’s already three major accomplishments: application, participation, and interaction!

Now, it's time to keep up the momentum and spread awareness and knowledge among others. I’m confident you all are going to excel in whatever you choose to do.

Remember, the journey doesn’t end here. Keep challenging yourselves, stay curious, and continue to grow.

And don’t forget, I am just a message away. Let’s keep in touch and support each other’s journeys.

Keep shining! Good Luck!

-Juhi

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I enjoyed sharing my experiences with so many people during the mentoring sessions. It was enlightening to listen to the participants' varied experiences and shared struggles and dilemmas.

I hope that in your interactions with teachers and speakers, you not only encountered beautiful ideas in theoretical computer science but also felt inspired by their curiosity, enthusiasm, and clarity. Engaging with mentors and fellow participants likely showed you that many others share aspirations and struggles similar to yours.

Feel free to reach out to me at [email]

I hope you discover what you enjoy working on and pursue it. All the very best!

Janaky

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It was really a lot of fun interacting with all of you, even though it was just online. It was amazing to see so many young and excited women from such diverse backgrounds with diverse aspirations and dreams.

I really hope you keep in touch with each other and help each other grow into the best possible version of yourselves. And of course, if you think that I can help in any way, please reach out at [email].

All the best... :)

Prerona.

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Thanks for being a part of the program. 

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Thanks for being a part of the program. 

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It was great to have you all here for VV over the past couple of weeks. I had great time interacting with all of you, and a delightful time teaching. I must say that I have hardly met a more enthusiastic bunch of students in a class!

I hope that some of you also enjoyed the stay here...the various aspects of it..the technical conversations as well as the non-technical and the people you met in the process (also, the rains and the canteen food :)).

At least for me, an important part of this program was to try and communicate the sense of joy of that theoretical computer science can bring, and I hope that we were a tiny bit successful on this front.

I definitely look forward to meeting some of you as fellow researchers in the years to come!

Cheers,

Mrinal

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It was a wonderful experience interacting with you all. Hope you all had as much fun as we did over the last couple of weeks.

We hope you've made some lasting connections among the participants, the mentors, instructors, students etc. Whenever you wish to, please do reach out.

We also encourage you to be ambassadors of science to others as well.

Wish you all the very best!

- Ramprasad

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Hope you enjoyed your 2-week Vigyan Vidushi programme. We were delighted to host you all at TIFR. Hope, we were able to share with you some of the fun and joy we have working in computer science.

It was fun interacting with all of you. Wishing you the best in your future endeavours.

Best,

Prahladh