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10th edition of YATS launched to search for budding space scientists.
The 10th edition of the Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) was launched recently in Bhubaneswar. YATS identifies and promotes talented high-school students in the field of space science, by providing them platforms to showcase and test their knowledge.
It is encouraging to see that students are getting encouragement to pursue subjects and careers which were earlier missing from the list of conventional options for students. One such career option which generally seems farfetched for students is that of an Astronomer.
Well it is 10 years now that the Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) has been promoting talented school students in the field of space science. Launching the 10th edition of the programme and unveiling the Information Docket on YATS 2016-17 at Bhubaneshwar, Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Pradip Panigrahy said science and technology hold the key to bringing exponential development in society.
Organised by Tata Steel in collaboration with Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) aims to promote the contribution of Pathani Samanta, the legendary astronomer of Odisha in the field of astronomy since its inception in 2007.
This year’s YATS will feature an on-the-spot essay writing competition and objective type questions astronomy quiz for the students of classes IX-X. There will also be an open quiz competition on astronomy for the students of classes VII-VIII at predetermined examination centres.
To enable students to collect their thoughts and prepare well for the essay competition, the organisers have already shared the topics with the public. Participants will be required to write an essay on any one of the following topics:
1. Building the next generation International Space Station
2. Space tourism: Human space-flights and their future,
3. The future of the Indian Space Programme: The next frontier
4. New generation telescopes: How to see the unseen.
The format of the Talent Search allows top 2 participants from each district to take part in the Grand Finale to be held on December 13, 2016 at Bhubaneswar. The top 20 winners of the finals will be subsequently taken on a unique exposure visit to one of the facilities of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
CJ Venugopal, principal secretary of the department of science and technology, Kailash Chandra Sahoo, director of Pathani Samanta Planetarium and Arun Misra, vice president, Project Gopalpur, Tata Steel and managing director, Tata Steel SEZ were among those present at the launch.