December 17th, 2025
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The primary objective of this session was to familiarize faculty members and students with the IEEE TryEngineering STEM Grant framework and its various funding categories. The event aimed to guide participants in transforming outreach ideas into well-defined, fundable programs, while building essential skills in proposal drafting, budgeting, and documentation. Another key goal was to encourage a culture of sustained STEM engagement with school students through structured and impactful outreach initiatives.
The IEEE HKN Nu Eta Chapter of Sri Sairam Engineering College successfully organized an online awareness and training session titled “Unlocking Innovation Pathways: IEEE TryEngineering STEM Grant Opportunities” on 17th December 2025 through Google Meet. The event brought together enthusiastic faculty members and student volunteers from various departments to explore how global STEM grants can support locally relevant outreach activities.
The session focused on demonstrating how workshops, hands-on demonstrations, and mentoring programs for school students can be systematically planned and funded through the TryEngineering initiative. Presenters shared live examples of grant documents, application forms, and outreach reports, ensuring that participants could clearly connect guidelines with real-world implementation.
Segment 1: Understanding IEEE TryEngineering STEM Grants
The session opened with an introduction to the IEEE TryEngineering STEM Grant initiative, its mission, and
the categories of projects it supports. Participants learned about funding levels and how proposals are
evaluated based on clarity of need, objectives, audience, and anticipated impact.
Segment 2: Proposal Structure and Application Walkthrough
A detailed walkthrough of a sample proposal document was conducted, covering sections such as program
description, funding requested, and background information. This was followed by a guided tour of the
online application form, where each field was explained with practical tips on framing clear and concise
responses.
Segment 3: Example Outreach Plan – Mobile App Development Workshop
Participants were shown a drafted proposal for a three-day Mobile App Development Workshop designed for
school students. The plan demonstrated how to break down technical content into age-appropriate modules,
align activities with learning outcomes, and map budget items directly to program needs.
Segment 4: IEEE STEM Champion Program
The IEEE STEM Champion Program was introduced, highlighting the role of volunteers in planning and
reporting pre-university outreach activities. The process of creating an engineer profile on the STEM /
TryEngineering portal—including uploading a photograph, writing a brief biography, and adding optional
video introductions—was demonstrated live.
Segment 5: Reporting, Documentation, and Closure
Sample school permission letters, consolidated reports, and outreach documentation from previous programs
were shared. A final roadmap slide summarized the complete lifecycle of a grant—from application and
approval to execution and reporting—emphasizing the importance of proper documentation for future funding.
1. Dr. B. Meenakshi – Professor, Department of EEE, Sri Sairam Engineering College
2. Dr. K. Soma Prathibha – Professor & Head, Department of CSE (Cyber Security) and IEEE HKN Nu Eta Chapter Advisor
3. Ms. B. Renukadevi – Associate Professor, Department of IT
4. Dr. R. Valarmathi – Associate Professor, Department of CSE
The session was attended by approximately 30–40 participants, including faculty members and students from multiple departments. Participants were actively engaged throughout the session, raising questions related to eligibility criteria, budgeting, timelines, and reporting requirements.
- Provided a clear and practical understanding of IEEE TryEngineering STEM Grants.
- Live demonstrations of proposal drafts and application forms simplified the grant-writing process.
- Real-world outreach examples helped participants visualize and plan their own initiatives.
- Introduced the STEM Champion framework to promote long-term outreach involvement.
- Encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration for community-focused STEM programs.
Participants expressed strong appreciation for the hands-on approach adopted during the session. Many noted that viewing real documents and examples made the grant process far less intimidating. The interactive discussion format and opportunity to clarify doubts in real time were particularly valued.
Several attendees shared that the session motivated them to register on the STEM portal and consider long-term involvement as IEEE STEM Champions.
The event successfully transformed abstract information about STEM grants into actionable guidance. Participants left with a clear understanding of proposal drafting, outreach planning, budgeting, and documentation. The session strengthened the IEEE HKN Nu Eta Chapter’s role as a mentoring and guidance hub within the institution.
The “Unlocking Innovation Pathways: IEEE TryEngineering STEM Grant Opportunities” session proved to be a meaningful and empowering learning experience. By combining global opportunities with locally relevant examples, the event enabled participants to confidently convert ideas into structured outreach programs.
The IEEE HKN Nu Eta Chapter’s commitment to guiding peers through ideation, application, execution, and reporting establishes a strong foundation for impactful, grant-driven STEM initiatives in the years ahead.