Odisha’s top 20 young astronomers, chosen from over 77,500 competitors, embark on an inspirational ISRO tour, led by notable officials.
Jamshedpur – A week-long voyage to the Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Ahmedabad for the 20 winners of the Tata Steel Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) 2022–23 was flagged off by Odisha’s Minister for Science & Technology, Shri Ashok Chandra Panda, on May 23, 2023.
The expedition, commencing from Bhubaneswar, includes students and their guide teachers from across Odisha, along with Planetarium Director, Ms. Sanjulata Behera.
These talented young students were selected from an impressive pool of 77,500 competitors from across 30 districts of Odisha.
During their tour, they will have the opportunity to visit various SAC labs and interact with some of India’s elite space scientists, further fuelling their interest in space exploration.
Alongside SAC, the young astronomers will also explore Science City and IIT Gandhinagar, expanding their understanding of science and technology.
Shri Panda lauded the initiative, extending his congratulations to the students, their teachers, and parents, acknowledging the significant roles played by Tata Steel and Pathani Samanta Planetarium in nurturing young talents in Odisha.
Sarvesh Kumar, Corporate Communications Chief of Tata Steel, echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude to the Odisha Government for their consistent support.
The annual flagship event of Tata Steel, in collaboration with Pathani Samanta Planetarium, has seen a surge of participation over the years.
Since its inception in 2007, YATS has aimed to foster interest in astronomy and space science among students, especially those from rural and remote regions, honouring the contributions of renowned Odia astronomer Pathani Samanta.
