MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN - "LET YOUNGSTERS CHOOSE"

The question of not a single IIT having a woman director was put to rest when Preeti Aghalayam, a professor of chemical engineering at IIT Madras, became the Director-in-Charge of the newly opened IIT Zanzibar in July 2023.

- Meha Mathur

A chemical engineering graduate from IIT Madras, Aghalayam did her PhD from MIT.

As an academic in a leadership role, Aghalayam sees the question of the glass ceiling and women in STEM differently. She grew up in a household where her scientific temper was fostered - her father, a chemistry professor, would ask questions to both her daughters and discuss scientific concepts. That rubbed off on young Aghalayam, who was at the top of the class during her school years.

Science vs Arts