CM Mohan Majhi awards young astronomer talents
18th Edition of event organised by Tata Steel and Pathani Samanta Planetarium
Participation from over 71,000 students across 30 districts from Odisha
By Payal Banerjee
Bhubaneswar, Dec. 15: The thirty winners of the 18th Edition of the Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) 2024 were felicitated by Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, at the Pathani Samanta Planetarium (PSP) in Bhubaneswar today. Organised by Tata Steel in collaboration with the Pathani Samanta Planetarium. This year’s YATS witnessed participation of over 71,000 students from 30 districts across the state.
Joining the occasion as the chief guest, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi paid homage to the great astronomer Pathani Samant and addressing the gathering of students from different schools stated that, “ Pathani Samant was a remarkable figure in the history of astronomy. His unmatched heroics in accurately calculating the timings of solar and lunar eclipses using nothing more than two bamboo pipes in the year 1835 are truly awe-inspiring. His flawless observations of celestial bodies stand as a testament to his genius.
I also wish to praise Aryabhatta, the great creator of astronomy, who was the first to tell the world that the Earth rotates around its own axis. Furthermore, I commend the contributions of Brahmagupta in mathematics, and the works of Bruhat Samhita by Barahamir and Siddhanta Shiromani by Bhaskara, all of which have enriched the study of astronomy.
All discussions around space science would be incomplete without acknowledging the significant contributions of Indian culture and tradition.
India is now one of the top five countries in the world excelling in space science. Our scientists today can explore distances as far as 93 light years from Earth, thanks to the modern machinery. I have full faith in our scientists, and I am confident they will discover life on other planets in the future. Chandrayaan-2, Gaganyaan, and Aditya L1 are only a few examples of the brilliance of our scientists.
India is also the first country to land on the south pole of the moon, an incredible achievement. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has affirmed that India will build its own space station by 2035 and will send a man to the moon by 2040. I urge all the young students present here today to work hard and aim to be a part of these historic missions in the future.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, Krushna Chandra Patra, said that India has made remarkable progress in science, especially since the time of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He had added ‘Jai Vigyan’ to the slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’, which was originally given by former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Minister Mr. Patra further stated that Chandrayaan-3 is a historic achievement for India, one that stands unparalleled.
He also emphasized that the 30 students being felicitated today are the real strength of our nation, and their progress will make the entire country proud. Following the direction of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, a planetarium and an institute for astrophysics and astronomy will be established in Khandapada, in honor of the great astronomer Pathani Samant.
Vice President, Operations, Tata Steel Kalinganagar, Rajiv Kumar, highlighted Tata Steel’s commitment to fostering scientific thought and innovation among the youth. “The Grand Finale of the 18thEdition of Tata Steel YATS celebrates the boundless potential of young minds and their passion for science. For nearly two decades, YATS has nurtured scientific curiosity, inspiring students to explore astronomy and pursue careers in science,” he said. “In collaboration with the Government of Odisha, we have reached thousands, promoting talent and fostering aspirations. Congratulations to all participants, especially the winners—this is just the beginning of an exciting journey. Let us continue to ignite dreams and build a future where innovation and excellence thrive.”
Celebrating the achievements of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the 18th Edition of YATS theme was “Will Space be Your Next Travel Destination?”. The winnersfelicitated today will have the unique opportunity to visit an ISRO facility where they will interact with leading space scientists and gain valuable insights into the world of space exploration.
The ceremony was also graced byHon’ble Minister, Science & Technology, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, Government of Odisha Shri Krushna Chandra Patra; Development Commissioner Cum Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, Smt. Anu Garg; Principal Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Odisha and Chairperson, Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Smt. Chithra Arumugam; Deputy Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Odisha and Director-in-charge, Pathani Samanta Planetarium Smt. Urmiprava Maharana.
Also present were Former Programme Director, ISRO, and Former Director, Advanced Data Processing Research Institute, Dr Geetha Varadan;and Vice President Engineering, GalaxEye, Kishan Thakkar.
Since its inception, YATS has engaged over 4,00,000 young science enthusiasts from across Odisha, making it one of the region’s most prominent platforms for fostering scientific talent. Over the past 18 Editions of YATS, more than 200 students have had the exceptional opportunity of visiting ISRO facilities, further strengthening the programme’s impact on the future of science education.
