National Science Day Celebration at the Udaipur Solar Observatory

Science Outreach Activity of Udaipur Solar Observatory at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Mavli, Udaipur, on 3rd March 2020 On 3rd March 2020, a one-day science outreach activity was organized by Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO) at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Mavli, Udaipur, to commemorate National Science Day (NSD) and International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS)-2020, together, with the privilege that – “Women in Science” being this year’s theme for NSD@2020. The JNV School, Mavli is under Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India, and is located in a rural area about 45 km away from Udaipur city. The USO team comprised of scientists/engineers/research scholars, viz., Dr. Brajesh Kumar, Dr. Rohan Eugene Louis, Dr. Girjesh Gupta, Ms. Bireddy Ramya, Mr. Kushagra Upadhayay, Ms. Sushree Sangeeta Nayak, Mr. Hirdesh Kumar, and Mr. Suraj Sahu, whereas about 540 students (girls and boys together) from Class VI to Class XI and 25 teachers of the JNV School participated in this event. The programme began at 10:00 am with the welcome speech of the Principal of the School followed by inaugural address by Dr. Brajesh Kumar of USO. Later, following talks were given by USO team in mixed Hindi and English language, which were well received by the students and teachers of the JNV School:

 

Importance of celebrating NSD and IDWGS & Women In Science : Ms. Sushree Sangeeta Nayak

 

Our daystar – The Sun & Research @ USO : Dr. Rohan Eugene Louis Solar Activity & Space Weather : Dr. Girjesh Gupta

 

Engineering in Science : Ms. Bireddy Ramya

 

Career Prospects in Science : Dr. Brajesh Kumar

 

This was followed by Speech Competition on the topic “Women in Science” in which 10 students of JNV School from Class IX and Class XI participated with applaudable performance. The speech of the students were evaluated by a panel of four judges comprising of two senior science teachers of the JNV School and two scientist/engineer from USO, in which the best two were given special prizes. The Principal of the School and the USO team gave away the prizes and memento to the students participating in the Speech Competition. The memento was also given to the Principal and Senior Science Teachers of the School. After this ceremony, the Principal of the School invited the USO team for lunch in their School canteen. The USO team enjoyed the homely food served in their canteen.

 

In the afternoon session, the USO team organized poster session and demonstration of astro-kits to the students of the School, in which about 250 students of Class VIII, Class IX and Class XI participated with keen interest and enthusiasm. The poster session comprised of posters on the following topics in mixed Hindi and English language : Research Activities @ USO & Space Weather, MAST observing facility @ USO, GONG observing facility @ USO, and e-callisto radio observing facility @ USO. The demonstration of astro-kits comprised of making the following astronomical kits with simple paper cut-outs: sun-dial, star clock, star wheel, clinometer, and solar motion detector etc. The USO team also distributed hard copies of astro-kit booklets containing instructions both in Hindi and English language and drawings for making the aforementioned astronomical kits as a home work to the students of the JNV School. The overall activity remained quite interactive and successful as assessed from the feedback from the teachers of the JNV School. The event ended at 5:00 pm with the vote of thanks by the Principal of the JNV School, Mavli, Udaipur, in which he thanked the whole USO outreach team and the management of USO and PRL for organizing this event in their School.

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