Future starts here!
Empowering Goa's young innovators with emerging technologies.
Limited seats — personalized learning and hands-on experience.
A full day of emerging technology, hands-on
The Young Innovators STEM Lab (YISL) is a one-day immersive lab that brings AR/VR, design thinking and startup innovation to Sankhali's young engineers. Instead of lectures, the day is built around doing — you'll put on a headset, prototype ideas, build a real project with your hands, and leave with a clear picture of where the careers in future technologies are heading.
The lab is hosted by the Sankhali Engineers Association (SEA) under the patronage of Dr. Pramod Sawant, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa, and brought to Goa in association with U.S. Mission India, the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), the Goa State Council for Science & Technology and the Department of Science, Technology & Waste Management, Government of Goa.
Seats are deliberately limited so every participant gets personalized guidance and real time on the equipment — register early.
- Learn from experts
- Build real-world skills
- Innovate & create solutions
- Network & grow together
A U.S.–India initiative, coming to Sankhali
The Young Innovators STEM Lab is a mobile, technology-enabled program delivering immersive AR/VR learning across India — supported by the U.S. Department of State's Public Diplomacy Section, New Delhi, implemented by the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) in partnership with STEAM Varsity, and aligned with the U.S.–India TRUST initiative for cooperation in critical science and technology.
How the lab teaches
Skill Proficiency
Critical thinking and technical competencies aligned with U.S. innovation standards.
The Startup Studio Model
An immersive "Learning by Doing" environment — 50–70% of the program is hands-on project work.
Stanford Design Thinking
The d.school framework: from user empathy to rapid prototyping for real-world problems.
The Startup Pitch
A high-stakes 2-minute pitch to demonstrate the technical and creative viability of each prototype.
Professional Ecosystem
Cross-functional teams simulate a tech workspace using industry tools like Meta Quest and GitHub.
What you'll experience
AR/VR Experience
Design Thinking
Startup Innovation
Hands-on Project Building
Career Pathways in Future Technologies
A plug-and-play lab arrives with the workshop
Hardware & Infrastructure
- High-Performance Computing: 5 high-graphics laptops optimized for real-time 3D rendering and software development.
- Immersive Gear: 20 Meta Quest VR headsets with secure storage cases and ergonomic accessories.
Software Ecosystem
- Development Tools: Visual Studio Code and GitHub integration for version control and coding.
- Creative Suite: Licensed AR/VR development toolkits and a curated library of pre-installed educational software.
Expert Mentorship
- STEM Facilitators: A dedicated team of technical experts provides hands-on guidance throughout the day.
- On-Site Support: Real-time troubleshooting and mentorship to bridge the gap between complex tech and learning.
What you need to take part
Passion for STEM
A demonstrated strong interest in science and technology.
Basic English
Candidates must possess basic English proficiency.
Own laptop
Participants are required to bring their own laptop.
Ten core modules, learning by doing
A U.S.-inspired curriculum that turns students from passive technology users into active creators — with AR/VR projected to impact 23 million jobs globally by 2030, these modules are a direct pathway into the future workforce.
Orientation & Icebreaker: Building a Creative Community
A dynamic learning environment modeled on collaborative U.S. innovation hubs like Silicon Valley.
Team Formation: Startup Studio Style
Agile teams with distributed roles, simulating real-world startup incubators.
The Evolution of VR & the Metaverse
From sci-fi to Silicon Valley — the historical roots and milestones of immersive tech.
Introduction to AR & VR: Immersion as Innovation
Core principles of augmented and virtual reality, with real U.S. case studies across industries.
Introduction to WebXR
Build immersive applications for the open web, deployed directly through the browser.
Creating Basic Virtual Scenes
Spawning, textures and world-building — foundational VR environments with basic interactivity.
3D Model Creation & Integration
Makerspace mentality: rapid prototyping, creative reuse and iterative design with maker tools.
Designing User Interfaces for Virtual Environments
Human-centered design practices from leading U.S. tech companies, prototyped inside your VR scene.
Immersive Experience with AR/VR Headsets
Dedicated hands-on time exploring, testing and critiquing experiences in the Meta Quest ecosystem.
Design Thinking & Ideation for AR/VR Impact
The Stanford d.school framework applied in teams to solve real-world problems.
Who's behind the lab
Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF)
A bilateral organization established by India and the United States to promote collaboration in science, technology and innovation. Jointly funded by both countries, IUSSTF connects government, academia and industry — with the Department of Science & Technology (India) and the U.S. Department of State as nodal agencies.
STEAM Varsity
An elite edtech organization and ISRO Registered Space Tutor with 14+ years of experience — a U.S. Department of State Federal Awardee, IVLP 2025 Alumni for Critical & Emerging Technologies, and Google for Startups AI Academy partner, delivering project-based AI, AR/VR and Robotics education, with consultancy roles for the Asian Development Bank and the Atal Innovation Mission.
Don't miss your chance to learn, build & innovate.
Seats are limited to ensure personalized learning and hands-on experience.