The National Space Science Exhibition in Kolkata has opened up the wonders of space for city residents to explore and experience. The exhibition is being organised by Centre of Excellence in Space Sciences India, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, in association with Indian Space Research Organisation, SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Science City, Birla Industrial and Technological Museum and city-based educational institutions like the University of Calcutta and St. Xavier’s College among others. The exhibition will be open to public from December 5 to December 11.
The event got off to a great start with a rural outreach programme at St. Xavier’s College, Raghabpur campus, organised on December 5. From December 6 to December 11, Science City will be hosting an elaborate exhibition on its campus. Visitors can enjoy the exhibition with valid entry tickets. December 9 will see a discussion on the role and contribution of women in Space Science, a panel which will be hosted at Birla Industrial and Technological Museum in English. On December 10 and 11, Science City will organise a science adda session in Bengali and a discussion on pathways of industry-academia relations in English, respectively. The exhibition has decided upon a bilingual and open format to ensure a wide mass appeal, especially benefiting students from diverse backgrounds.
A.S. Kiran Kumar, former chairman of ISRO and current chairperson of ISRO’S APEX Board, suggested the curation of the National Space Science Exhibition. “This exhibition is an unprecedented collaboration of various Kolkata-based organisations and the National Space Science Community to showcase Indian space science achievements, and ISRO’s role in catalysing the growth of space-reliant technologies for the benefit of society,” said Dibyendu Nandi of IISER Kolkata.
Through this exhibition, the students will be able to interact, listen, and engage in critical discussions about various subject matters related to space science with stalwarts from Astronomical Society of India, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Physical Research Laboratory, IISER Kolkata, Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Ashoka University, SatCom Industry Association of India and ISRO centres and more.