Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

A couple of years ago, I got to know about this annual observance by the UN - to promote equal participation of women in STEM as well as celebrate contributions by women in science. I read the stories people share every year, but I never really felt the need to tell people about my love for science, electronics, and the maker's life. Maybe because I was mostly surrounded by such people, women who loved science, discussed scientific discoveries, and talked about it without making it sound like it was something very unique.

But when we shifted our lab from the city of Delhi to a village in Himachal Pradesh, I realized people always saw our lab as Arpit's workshop and thought that I only took care of paperwork. It may be because that's how the arrangement usually is. They have never seen a woman who likes designing electronics, or assembling PCBs, or handling tools in a lab.\

And honestly, I never cared. Because I am what I am.

But after having a daughter, I realized that although it doesn't matter what adult people see me as, what a young girl sees when she looks at me can make a lot of difference. If she can see me as an equal owner of our lab - as someone who is happily pursuing a non-traditional job - then maybe it will inspire her to follow her dreams as well. Maybe it will help her choose a non-conventional career when everyone will be asking her to play it safe. She will not choose her career based on what is considered convenient work for women, but will choose something that fills her heart with fire.

So, unlike previous years, here I am, writing down my thoughts and sharing a glimpse of my life as a maker and an engineer. I hope through my blogs, I will be able to convey the excitement I feel whenever we start a new project, or how my heart starts racing when we discuss making contraptions and solutions to solve a problem, or the joy of watching something we designed work perfectly.

So here's to all the women and girls who build, tinker, question, and create—may we keep making space for ourselves, and for the ones who will follow.