Empowering Female STEM Graduates 
SheSTEM joined SciBlitz 2.0 at CUET, where 230 finalists from 52 universities showcased Bangladesh’s next generation of STEM talent over two days.
Over two days at Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET), research, innovation, and collaboration came together in one of the most energetic student STEM events of the year. Hosted by the IEEE Student Branch CUET, SciBlitz 2.0 welcomed participants from 52 universities across Bangladesh with 230 finalists competing across a lineup of challenges built to test creativity, technical depth, and real-world problem-solving.
Day 1: Showcases, Hackathons, and Industry Voices
The first day, on 17 July, set an ambitious tone. Three flagship segments ran side by side:
- Project Showcase — participants presented working ideas and prototypes to peers and judges.
- AI Hackathon — teams built and iterated under pressure, applying artificial intelligence to practical challenges.
- STEM Bee Final Round — the culmination of a rigorous knowledge competition, testing finalists across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Between the competition arenas, participants heard from two industry leaders whose keynotes reframed what a STEM career can look like:
- Md. Minhajul Abedin, Chief Technology Officer at BRAC IT Services Ltd.
- Irfan Bin Amdad Chowdhury, Regional Head, Industry & Infrastructure at Siemens.
Their sessions on technology, innovation, industry, and the future of STEM encouraged the audience to think beyond conventional boundaries, connecting classroom learning to the realities of a fast-moving industry.
Throughout the day, morning snacks, lunch, and evening refreshments kept the energy high and gave participants space to network and collaborate well beyond the formal sessions.
Day 2: Ideas on Stage and a Celebration of Innovation
The second day, on 18 July, was a celebration of research, learning, and innovation. 60 participants took the stage for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, distilling complex ideas into sharp, three-minute pitches while the STEM Bee runner-up tiebreaker kept the excitement alive.
A series of knowledge-sharing sessions brought together an impressive range of voices spanning renewable energy, telecommunications, healthcare, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, technology, and STEM education. Featured speakers included Jisu Park, Shafayat Aziz Chowdhury, Md. Abdus Sabur Shanto, Dr. Rivu Raj Chakraborty, Mithu Kumar Bhowmick, Omar Farhan Khan, and Ariful Hasan Opu. Drawing on their experiences, industry insights, and research perspectives, they inspired participants to look past the classroom and pursue impactful, real-world innovation.
The event closed with a closing ceremony recognizing the winners of the AI Hackathon, Three Minute Thesis (3MT), Project Showcase, and STEM Bee, alongside tokens of appreciation for the distinguished speakers.
Why This Matters for SheSTEM
Behind every hackathon submission and three-minute pitch is a student deciding what kind of future feels possible for them. SciBlitz 2.0 put 230 of those students in a room with industry leaders, peers from 52 universities, and a stage worth stepping onto. That is exactly the kind of pathway SheSTEM works to build: spaces where skills meet opportunity, where talent is seen, and where a career in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics is shaped by ability, not gender. Career Knows No Gender.
