World Space Week Celebrations at URSC
World Space Week (WSW) is an annual, global event celebrating science, technology, and their impact on the advancement of humanity. This year’s WSW celebrations at URSC, held from October 4-10, 2024, included a series of educational and outreach activities designed to engage the community, particularly students, and inspire curiosity and awareness about space. The goals of the outreach program were as follows:
Inspire Young Minds in STEM: Spark interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by engaging students with captivating discussions on space and science.
Strengthen Space Education and Outreach: Use unique space-themed events to extend space science knowledge to the broader public.
Promote the Benefits of Space Research: Educate communities about the positive impacts and opportunities created by advancements in space research.
Support Sustainable Economic Development: Highlight the role of space in supporting sustainable development and encourage its responsible use for future prosperity.
These goals were achieved through various outreach initiatives:
Student Engagement at Multiple Locations: A day-long interactive session was organized at nine select locations, covering six sites in Karnataka and one each in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Expert speakers from URSC led these events, which included a combination of technical presentations, popular science talks, and live interaction with students and teachers. Each location also featured space-themed student competitions and exhibitions.
Space Quiz on All India Radio: A special one-hour Space Quiz aired daily on All India Radio (FM 101.3 MHz) from October 4-10, 2024. This unique quiz provided an exciting opportunity for the public to engage with space science and answer questions to win prizes.
The celebrations kicked off with an inaugural event at URSC on October 4th, 2024, and concluded with a valedictory session on October 10th, attended by students from various educational institutions.
Inaugural Session – October 4, 2024
The World Space Week inauguration at U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) on October 4, 2024, attracted an enthusiastic gathering of around 350 students and teachers. The session began with an invocation and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the honored dignitaries.
Welcome Address: Shri Venkatagovinda Rao D, Chairman of the Apex Committee for WSW-2024, delivered the welcome speech. He outlined the importance of World Space Week and shared a roadmap for the week’s planned activities, emphasizing URSC’s commitment to engaging and educating young minds on space-related topics.
Presidential Address: The Director of URSC, in his presidential remarks, addressed this year’s theme, "Space and Climate Change." He spoke on the role of space science in understanding and addressing climate issues and motivated the young audience to explore innovative solutions in these fields to support sustainable development.
Chief Guest’s Address: The Chief Guest, Dr. T V Ramachandra, Coordinator of the Energy & Wetlands Research Group at IISc, Bengaluru, captivated the audience with an insightful talk on environmental sustainability and the role of space technology. He discussed the importance of green cover and water bodies in mitigating urban heat and stressed that increasing urban greenery, like the IISc Mini Forest he established, can significantly reduce temperatures. Dr. Ramachandra shared his own experiences in rejuvenating urban lakes, such as Jakkur Lake, and highlighted the creation of YUVA Lake at Alva’s College in Mangalore as a model for sustainable urban development. His talk served as an eye-opener for students, linking space technology with critical climate and environmental issues.
The session concluded with a ceremonial felicitation of Dr. T.V. Ramachandra by the Director of URSC, in appreciation of his invaluable contributions to both the scientific community and the event.
Outreach Program – Visits to Educational Institutions
To extend the impact of World Space Week, four sub-committees, along with a special outreach team, were created to lead interactions at educational institutions. Each sub-committee was assigned two institutions in specific zones. Their goal was to directly engage students and teachers, promoting awareness about space technology and its practical applications.
Institution Visits and Student Interactions: Each team visited two institutions within their designated zones and conducted interactive sessions that included popular science talks and technical presentations by eminent speakers from ISRO/URSC. Through these interactions, students gained firsthand exposure to current advancements in space technology and learned about real-world applications of space science.
Inspiring Talks by Experts: Renowned speakers held in-depth discussions on space science, its role in climate action, and the career possibilities within space and technology sectors. These sessions encouraged students to pursue science and technology fields and envision themselves as future contributors to India’s space program.
The teams’ schedules, including their institution visits and speakers, are summarized in the table below, showcasing the commitment of URSC in spreading space awareness to young minds and making science more accessible and engaging.
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Team
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Location/ Venue
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Address
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Hosur,
Krishnagiri
district, Tamil Nadu
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Shri
Leela Nagarajappa Educational and Charitable Trust
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Halagur,
Mandya
District, Karnataka
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Amratha
Bharathi Vidyakendra
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Hebri,
Udupi
district, Karnataka
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PM
SHRI Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
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Seegodu,
Balehonnur,
Chikkamagaluru District, Karnataka
|
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Proudadevaraya
Institute of Technology
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Hosapete,
Vijayanagara
Dist
Karnataka
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Rao
Bahadur Y Mahabaleshwarappa Engineering College,
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|
|
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KLE
College of engineering and technology
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Chikodi,
Belagavi
district, Karnataka
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DKTE'S
Yeshwantrao Chavan Polytechnic
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Ichalkaranji,
Kolhapur
district, Maharastra.
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United
Institute Of Technology
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Periyanaickenpalayam,
Coimbatore,
Tamil
Nadu
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Outreach Activities at Various Locations
The programs organized at each location included:
Popular Talks: Senior scientists from URSC presented talks on various aspects of space science and technology.
Competitions: Students participated in space-themed competitions, with prizes awarded to winners.
Interactive Demonstrations: Students explored exhibits showcasing satellite models, launch vehicles, video displays, and other visuals explaining space concepts.
Student Interaction: URSC officials engaged with students through Q&A sessions, making the event interactive and inspiring.
Each program was formally inaugurated and concluded with support from host institutions, ensuring a structured and impactful experience for the participants.
Special AIR Program: Space and Climate Change
As part of WSW-2024, URSC, in collaboration with All India Radio (FM Rainbow 101.3 MHz), launched a week-long program from October 4 to October 10 titled Space and Climate Change. The daily one-hour show, airing from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, featured:
Talks by URSC Scientists: Starting with an introductory talk by URSC Director Shri M Sankaran on October 4, the program covered the theme of climate change and space’s role in monitoring it. Subsequent days included discussions by prominent URSC scientists on various space applications and their contributions to climate observation.
Space Quiz: The quiz, featuring questions on space science and technology, engaged listeners by inviting responses via WhatsApp. Each day saw around 1,000 entries, with prizes awarded to the first correct responders, sponsored by URSC.
The concluding talk on October 10, by Shri Venkatagovinda Rao D, Chairman of WSW-2024, emphasized how space technology has become integral to our daily lives.
Valedictory Function at URSC
The WSW-2024 valedictory event at URSC on October 10 brought together around 300 students and teachers. They participated in various activities, explored space exhibits, and engaged in a live quiz.
Opening Remarks: Shri Venkatagovinda Rao D, Chairman of the Apex Committee for WSW-2024, provided an overview of the week’s events and their significance.
Presidential Address: The URSC Director highlighted climate change mitigation through space applications.
Chief Guest Address: Prof. R. R. Navalgund, former Director of SAC, Ahmedabad, addressed the audience on space technology's vital role in tackling climate change. His insights covered the effects of global warming, the importance of temperature and greenhouse gas monitoring, and the potential of renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
Outreach Summary: Shri Kanaka Mohana Rao Yerra, member secretary of the Apex Committee, presented a vote of thanks on the outreach efforts of all teams involved.
Conclusion
The successful execution of WSW-2024 outreach activities reached approximately 9,000 students directly The AIR program Exploring the Space extended awareness to millions, showcasing the power of radio as a medium for science outreach.
Popular items like ADITYA-L1 paper models were shared with the public and host institutions, becoming cherished souvenirs. The week’s efforts were widely appreciated by students, teachers, and visiting dignitaries, recognizing URSC’s dedication to spreading awareness of space science and its societal benefits.
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