Life on Mars, the next big bet for Indian women scientists  

Hyderabad hosts inspiring women scientists Tessy Thomas and Kalpana Kalahasthi, highlighting growth in STEM and emotional intelligence.

India has a rich history of women scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of science. Two such stars from the galaxy - Tessy Thomas and Kalpana Kalahasthi– were in Hyderabad on Friday.  

Dr. Thomas, also known as the Missile Woman of India, is the Director General of Aeronautical Systems, and the former Project Director for Agni-IV missile in Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Ms. Kalahasti was the Associate Project Director for Chandrayaan –3, the second-in-command for one of the most celebrated space missions in India.  

While sharing insights on their individual journeys in a session organised by the Committee of FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO), the two highlighted the growth in women participation in the domains of Science, Technology, Engineering and Management (STEM).

“Back when I joined, there may be 1-2% women joining in DRDO. Today we have 12-15% women in this domain. The system has evolved over the years and today both ISRO and DRDO have many senior level scientists, including technology directors, project directors of major projects, directors of labs.  

In a domain that is typically considered Intelligence Quotient (IQ) heavy, the two also highlighted the significance of emotional intelligence alongside technical competence, as key to success.  

“Emotional intelligence is key to dealing with the ambiguities and failures that come along in the journey of major projects,” said Ms Thomas.