AutumnGrey and Luminous Power Technologies Challenge STEM Bias for International Women’s Day

On this year’s International Women’s Day, AutumnGrey, a Grey company, and Luminous Power Technologies, have launched the #WomenInEnergy campaign.

In its third year of impactful storytelling, the #WomenInEnergy campaign aims to shatter the subconscious bias that exists in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). 

How often do we assume that when a child excels in a science project, it is the father who provided the expertise? Amongst many Indians, there's an unspoken assumption that STEM-related homework and projects are primarily the father's domain, subtly undermining women's potential and capabilities in these fields.

This is the bias AutumnGrey and Luminous Power Technologies intend to shatter.

The film depicts a seemingly ordinary school science exhibition. A young girl presents her impressive solar energy model. However, the judges and teachers, instead of immediately recognising the potential of her project, are quick to question whether her father helped her. This subtle yet pervasive assumption highlights the ingrained societal bias that automatically associates men with STEM expertise, overlooking the potential and capabilities of women. The film gently challenges this notion by revealing that the girl's mother is a chief engineer at Luminous Solar and a role model who defies these limiting stereotypes.

“People often talk about empowering women, but true empowerment means facing hidden biases that hold them back. This film explores this reality, highlighting how even well-meaning individuals can support stereotypes subconsciously.  Our humble effort, through this film, is to create a world where every girl overcomes these biases and shines brightly.” said Anusha Shetty, chairperson and group CEO of Grey India.

Speaking about the campaign, Ms. Neelima Burra, chief strategy transformation and marketing officer at Luminous Power Technologies, shared her insights, "The #WomenInEnergy campaign has been a journey of showcasing the remarkable contributions of women in energy, a sector that has long been perceived as male dominated. Through this film, we want to celebrate the women who continue defying expectations, leading innovations, and inspiring future generations to pursue careers in energy and STEM. This campaign is just one part of our broader commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. With our month-long celebration of Inclusion Month, Luminous is driving real, measurable change across our organisation, empowering women, fostering allyship, and ensuring that inclusion becomes a way of life."

“During Inclusion Month, we go beyond discussions and workshops to drive actionable change, setting the stage for sustained progress throughout the year. This initiative features candid dialogues, leadership discussions, employee workshops, and events across multiple locations, each designed to drive impact and solidify inclusion as a way of life. This commitment is what helps us move beyond targets and statistics, making inclusion an integral part of who we are."