NEW DELHI, APRIL 16, 2024 (GPN): Shell India celebrated the successful completion of the first phase of its innovative NXplorers program in over 100 schools across India in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog. In alignment with the Government of India’s mission to bolster STEM education, this program aims to build the capacity of teachers and leverage the Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) set-up to promote STEM education and instil a culture of innovation and critical thinking among students.

NXplorers, Shell’s flagship STEM education programme, currently runs in 19 countries, including Brazil, China, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, and Vietnam. The program is tailored to help young minds develop skills to address complex global challenges at the intersection of food, water, and energy. Recognizing the limitations of traditional, facilitator-led sessions, the program has been designed to be delivered through interactive and participatory workshops. The program equips educators with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively deliver NXplorers sessions to students. These teachers are trained, monitored, and supported for continuous development required to empower students to drive positive change in their communities.

Speaking about the program, Latika Taneja, Head of Corporate Relations, Shell India, said, “Shell is committed to empowering and nurturing young minds to become the change-makers of tomorrow. Our NXplorers program has already transformed the lives of over 3 lakh students and 2,200 teachers across 1,800 schools in India over the past five years. Our partnership with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, is a significant step towards fostering students’ creative and purposeful mindset, in line with our unwavering commitment to complement national educational initiatives.”

Discussing the ongoing collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission and NITI Aayog, Nuriya Ansari, President, Learning Links Foundation, added, “Currently, through Shell’s NXplorers Program, we have successfully trained 206 coordinators from Atal Tinkering Labs located in Mumbai, Virudhunagar, Belgaum, and Udupi. These trained coordinators have conducted NXplorers workshops, benefiting over 12,000 students. Our partnership with Shell, Atal Innovation Mission and NITI Aayog aligns with our vision of promoting lifelong learning and progress.”

The NXplorers program is implemented in government and low-income private schools in India through Shell’s partner organizations – Learning Links Foundation and SMILE Foundation. The program is delivered in modules that vary from Juniors to Senior Advance, depending on the grade levels of the students. The program’s rigour, from theory to practical aspects, length of engagement with the students (from 6-20 hours per year), and expectations of output quality (from non-functional models to working prototypes) increase progressively as the students advance from Juniors to Senior Advance modules.

About Shell India

Shell is one of India’s most diversified international energy companies, with over 13,000 employees and a presence across upstream, integrated gas, downstream, renewable energy, and deep capabilities in Research & Development, digitisation, and business operations. With over 350 retail stations across eight states, Shell India is expanding its fuel station network and launched Shell Recharge, its EV charging service, in September 2022, which is rapidly growing in the EV infrastructure space. Shell Lubricants serves over 50,000 consumers through a network of more than 200 B2C and B2B distributors and operates an end-to-end value chain that spans conceptualization and development, production at a world-class blending plant, and distribution through a network of four regional distribution centres and eight warehouses.  The company also fully owns and operates an LNG re-gasification terminal at Hazira, Surat. In addition, Shell India has also established an LNG truck-loading unit to supply natural gas to customers across the country. With a focus on digitisation and sustainable solutions, Shell is nurturing a vibrant ecosystem in India to accelerate energy innovation. Its initiatives include Shell E4 for startups, Shell Eco-marathon, investments in new energy companies like Husk Power, d.light, Orb Energy and Cleantech Solar, and the acquisition of renewables asset developers Solenergi Power Private Limited and the Sprng Energy group of companies. Shell also remains committed to positively contributing to the communities in which it operates through programmes like NXplorers, Drive Safe, and Road Safety across India. 

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