No. 5 Parnika Batham--Finding Purpose Through STEM

Picture of Parnika Batham

Welcome to Share Your Story No. 5, today we're honoured to feature the inspiring story of Parnika Batham.

My name is Parnika Batham, a high schooler based in Jaipur, Rajasthan. As far back as I can remember, I was always in my school library, reading encyclopedias, thick books, and papers just to know more. I never started with the intention to build something, but learning naturally pushed me to think differently. I used to share whatever I discovered with my teacher and mentor, Mrs. Deepa Budania, and those conversations slowly ignited something in me. They made me curious not just to understand information, but to imagine what could be created from it.

Things truly began in grade 6. I was not just learning about STEM, but suddenly inside it. I joined a zonal STEM competition for grades 6 to 10 over three days to complete different tasks. I didn't enter with any expectations, only excitement. The most thrilling event was the robo-race on day three. We built our own robot car from scratch and raced against the finalists. I never imagined myself, in grade 6, assembling a robot and actually competing. What shocked me more was standing on the podium: second place in the robo-race and overall winner among more than 150 students.

That was the moment everything aligned. I was always a multi-ambitious child: dance, theatre, instruments, public speaking, but this felt different. For the first time, I found something that connected everything I cared about. Before high school, weekends were spent wiring circuits, coding sensors, and entering science fairs. Somewhere between building simple machines and presenting projects, I learned something that stuck. Technology is not just fascinating; it is a tool for change.

In 9th grade, I cofounded my nonprofit, WExCLIMATE, where we believed that before real action, we need real education. Initially, we spent 8-9 months developing sustainable material ideas. Our primary objective was to develop magnetocaloric refrigerators as a replacement for CFC-based systems. The idea didn't move forward the way we hoped, and discouragement and self-doubt set in. A few months later, we shifted to something different: creating climate comics that were fun, simple, and informative. Our comics were later showcased at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where we voiced the importance of climate education. Looking back, I see that setbacks didn't mean failure; they pushed us toward ideas that actually worked.

Comics showcased at COP29

Comics showcased at COP29

Another project close to my heart began in grade 10, MADAD.AI. It started from something simple but important. Every time I talked to my friends, I noticed a common pattern: whenever someone felt low, they turned to AI assistants to talk.

Researching mental health chatbots revealed something unexpected. Very few reliable tools existed, and most of them were paid. Mental health should not be behind a paywall, especially for teenagers. I spoke to psychologists and professors about the gap between young people and emotional support. From there, I started building MADAD.AI, an AI-based mental health chatbot initially focused on ages 13 to 19. We are still working on it, and the vision is to expand to more age groups and make it accessible to everyone.

That same year, I participated in my first hackathon at Techfest, IIT Bombay. High-schoolers and college students surrounded me, and being the youngest there definitely brought anxiety. But once I started, all I felt was excitement, and our team ended up winning. The experience showed me that age does not define capability. Courage does.

Sometimes I look back at all of this. The 11-year-old me was filled with questions and curiosity. The 15-year-old me was building ideas and bringing concepts to life. Now, the 18-year-old me is researching, exploring, and diving deeper into the things she truly enjoys. It was never one big decision, but a hundred small yes moments.

We often treat challenges as if they are too big for us to affect. But thinking differently is where innovation begins. There will be setbacks. You will doubt your ideas and your capability. But give it time. Look for different approaches. As someone once said, you either win or you learn.

To every girl exploring STEM, your impact is already bigger than you think. Begin with what you have. Take small steps consistently. Do not wait for certainty, approval, or the right moment. You will only discover your potential when you stop questioning whether you fit here and start creating as though you do.

Thank you for reading! Feel free to check out the COP comics here: https://iycn.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Final-COP-Comic.pdf

We would also like to feature more amazing stories of STEM girls. If you want to share your story, email hernetworkorg@gmail.com! If you would like to join our Discord community, here's the link: https://discord.gg/4KBt5fWb