The children of Uttar Pradesh, who once longed for quality education in the state, are now uncovering the secrets of space at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India's premier space science agency. This incredible opportunity has been made possible by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The brilliant students of these schools are currently on an educational tour of ISRO’s Space Application Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad, where they are participating in informative workshops on space science, led by ISRO scientists.
This initiative, driven by CM Yogi, aims to foster the technical, skill-based, and holistic development of the Atal Residential School students. The vision that CM Yogi had while conceptualising the Atal Residential Schools is now becoming a reality.
Through the ‘Utkrisht Atal’ programme, advanced activities such as space science, machine creation and drone technology were organised across the 18 Atal Residential Schools in Uttar Pradesh.
During the 15-day special programme, students not only learned about the mysteries of space and India’s space achievements from subject experts, but also showcased their creativity by building innovative models like automatic lights, smart blind sticks, smart dustbins and full rover drones.
As part of this programme, one student from each school, who excelled in the space art and best product development competitions, was awarded the title of ‘Vigyan Ratna’. All the winning students were then taken on a tour of ISRO (SAC) in Ahmedabad, where they had the opportunity to attend insightful workshops on space science and ISRO, conducted by ISRO scientists.
During this educational tour, ISRO (SAC) Director Nilesh Desai shared insights with the students about the mysteries of space and India’s remarkable space achievements. Throughout the visit, the director and other scientists posed several questions to the students.
For example, they asked, “What is the main difference between Chandrayaan 2 and Chandrayaan 3?” Shweta Satte, a student from Atal Residential School in Varanasi, answered correctly, explaining that Chandrayaan 2 had an orbiter while Chandrayaan 3 did not.
Another question was posed about the significance of July 20, 1969, and Sachin Kumar from Atal Residential School, Moradabad, answered that it was the day astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.
Director Desai introduced the students to the fundamental principles of space exploration, discussing the history of astronomy and contemporary space missions. This workshop sparked creativity and fostered a scientific mindset among the students.
The programme not only enhanced the students’ interest in space science, but also gave them a sense of pride in India’s space achievements. The visit was attended by key officials, including the Director General of Atal Residential Schools, Gazal Bhardwaj, Additional Secretary of the Atal Residential School Committee, Amit Kumar Mishra, and the schools’ teachers.
Atal Residential Schools stand as a prime example of government schemes reaching the most underserved sections of society, allowing them to uplift their standard of living. Children from families of construction workers and those who lost parents during the pandemic are benefiting from high-quality, residential, free education through this initiative. In addition to academics, these students are being trained in technical fields like machine learning, robotics, and space science.
