Shruti Giri Fund

In 2025, the Shruti Giri Fund was established as an independent fund under the Groninger Universiteitsfonds (GUF).

Shruti Giri (1999–2023) was an exceptionally talented physics student from India who began her BSc in Physics in 2018 at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG). She immediately distinguished herself through her academic excellence, her passion for physics, and her strong commitment to supporting fellow students.

Throughout her studies, Shruti excelled in the most challenging courses of the programme while combining her degree with the Honours College programme. She served as a teaching assistant in several courses, mentored first-year students, and consistently received very positive evaluations from both students and staff.

In 2021, Shruti was diagnosed with bone cancer. Despite intensive treatments, a temporary recovery, and ultimately a terminal diagnosis, she chose to continue her studies in Groningen whenever her health allowed. That same year, she received the GUF-100 Prize as the best student of the university. She graduated cum laude in July 2023.

Alongside her studies, Shruti was actively committed to promoting inclusivity within the sciences. As part of the Honours programme, she conducted the research project “Where are the Women in Physics?” and founded the online platform repreSTEM to increase the visibility of underrepresented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). She also volunteered for ROOTS, an organization that makes science accessible to residents of the Beijum neighbourhood in Groningen.

Shruti was deeply passionate about physics, particularly particle physics and cosmology, and strongly believed in sharing this passion with society.

Objective of the Shruti Giri Fund

The Shruti Giri Fund was established in memory of Shruti with the aim of promoting her values and supporting students in STEM.

The fund focuses on fostering inclusion and success for students from underrepresented groups within STEM education by:

• supporting students from minority groups throughout their academic journey in STEM;
• fostering fair access to educational and professional opportunities;
• strengthening diversity and inclusion in STEM by empowering students from underrepresented backgrounds.
  
  

Activities

The Shruti Giri Fund pursues these objectives by, among other things:

• providing financial support, such as fellowships and prizes for students from minority groups in STEM;
• organizing the annual Shruti Giri Symposium, open to all BSc and MSc STEM students at RUG;
• inviting speakers from both academia and industry;
• collaborating with existing initiatives, such as the annual PAM Symposium for first-year students in Physics, Applied Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics, Applied Mathematics.
  
  

Shruti Giri Symposium

Each year, starting from 2027, the Shruti Giri Fund will organize a symposium where science, inclusion, and societal engagement come together, fully in the spirit of Shruti’s commitment to both scientific excellence and an inclusive STEM community.