Odisha Governor opens Boeing STEM and aeromodelling lab for 2,000 Bargarh students
Representative image: AllThingsCoastal / Pixabay
Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati opened a Boeing Sukanya STEM and aeromodelling lab in Bargarh on October 11, 2026, for 2,000+ students a year.
What Happened
Students in western Odisha's Bargarh district now have a dedicated space to build robots, wire circuits and fly model aircraft. Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati inaugurated a Boeing Sukanya Program STEM lab and an aeromodelling training centre at The Kosala School in Bargarh on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The facility, set up with Boeing and its implementing partner Learning Links Foundation, is expected to reach more than 2,000 students a year, including pupils from nearby schools, according to the organisers.
Key Facts
- The STEM lab and aeromodelling training centre opened at The Kosala School, Bargarh, on October 11, 2026.
- It is expected to benefit more than 2,000 students every year through hands-on learning.
- The STEM lab covers robotics, physical computing, electronics, artificial intelligence, rapid prototyping and aerospace concepts.
- The aeromodelling centre teaches aerodynamics, aircraft design, flight and building model aircraft.
- Ananda Cityzen, the CSR arm of Fluentgrid Ltd., partnered on the build-out and added an AI lab.
- The spaces are open to students from The Kosala School and surrounding schools.
- The Boeing Sukanya Program, launched in 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to bring more girls and women into aviation and offers scholarships to girls training as pilots.
Why It Matters
Most well-equipped science and technology labs in India are concentrated in big cities and expensive private schools. A district town like Bargarh rarely gets facilities where children can build and test their own projects. A lab that opens its doors to neighbouring schools as well as the host school spreads that access further than a single campus.
The focus on hands-on work is the point. Students learn aerodynamics more easily when the glider they built either flies or does not, and they learn programming faster when a robot responds to their code. This kind of tinkering, rather than learning answers by rote for exams, is what the lab is designed to encourage.
There is also a gender angle. The Boeing Sukanya Program was set up to draw girls towards science and aviation careers, and its stated aim is to increase women's participation in aviation. Early exposure, before students choose their streams in Class 11, can shape whether a girl sees engineering or flying as a realistic option.
At the inauguration, the Governor toured the lab and watched students show their projects, prototypes and model aircraft flights. He said the centre would help build a scientific temper among students and inspire them to join India's growing technology industry. Salil Gupte, President of Boeing India and South Asia, said the Governor had personally dedicated the facilities to the children of Bargarh. Local MLAs and the district collector also attended.
| Facility | What students learn |
|---|---|
| STEM lab | Robotics, electronics, physical computing, AI, prototyping |
| Aeromodelling centre | Aerodynamics, aircraft design, building and flying model aircraft |
| AI lab (Ananda Cityzen) | Artificial intelligence basics |
Impact
Short-term: Students of The Kosala School and nearby schools can begin using the lab and aeromodelling centre for projects and training.
Long-term: Regular access could help more students from the district, especially girls, consider careers in engineering, aviation and technology, and prepare for science competitions.
Who is affected: School students and teachers in Bargarh and neighbouring areas, girls interested in aviation and science, and the partner organisations running the programme.
Key Takeaway
A new Boeing-backed STEM and aeromodelling lab in Bargarh brings hands-on science and aviation learning to more than 2,000 students a year in western Odisha.
Questions and Answers
What was inaugurated at The Kosala School in Bargarh?
A Boeing Sukanya Program STEM lab and an aeromodelling training centre, inaugurated by Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on October 11, 2026. A partner also added an AI lab.
How many students will benefit from the Bargarh STEM lab?
The organisers expect the facility to serve more than 2,000 students a year, including pupils from schools around The Kosala School.
What is the Boeing Sukanya Program?
It is a Boeing initiative launched in 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to increase women's participation in aviation. It sets up STEM learning spaces and offers scholarships to girls who want to train as pilots.
What can students learn at the aeromodelling centre?
They learn aerodynamics, aircraft design and flight, and build and fly their own model aircraft.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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