In a significant push to foster scientific curiosity among India's youth, the director of ISRO's Space Applications Centre, Nilesh M Desai, engaged in a dynamic dialogue with nearly 1,500 government school students in Uttar Pradesh's Mau district. The special children's programme, held on Friday at the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Stadium, aimed to spark a lasting interest in science and space research.
Igniting Young Minds for a Scientific India
During the interactive session, Nilesh M Desai fielded questions from the enthusiastic young audience. He emphasized that scientific thinking is essential for India to secure a position of global leadership. Actively encouraging children to dive deep into scientific learning and innovation, Desai stated that such participation is crucial for India to emerge as a global powerhouse in space research. He was joined by Deepak Singh, a senior scientist from the prestigious Gaganyaan Unit in Ahmedabad, highlighting the event's importance.
Building Infrastructure for Future Scientists
The day also marked a concrete step towards building scientific infrastructure at the grassroots level. Dr Nilesh M. Desai Space & STEM Laboratory was inaugurated at the Upper Primary School in Dharauli, located under the Ghosi development block. Following the inauguration, the ISRO director spent time with students, answering their queries on space science, upcoming ISRO missions, and future possibilities in the field.
This initiative is part of a broader effort in the Mau district. Authorities revealed that space research centres have already been established in seven development blocks across the district. Thousands of children are participating in educational tours and workshops to gain hands-on knowledge of space science and robotics.
District Officials Hail a Proud Moment
The event was hailed as a moment of immense pride for the district. Mau District Magistrate Praveen Mishra felicitated the visiting ISRO scientists, expressing his honor that students from basic education schools were receiving direct guidance from the nation's top scientific minds.
Echoing this sentiment, Chief Development Officer Prashant Nagar promised that more such opportunities would be created for children in the future to systematically help develop a scientific temperament. District Basic Education Officer Santosh Kumar Upadhyay expressed strong confidence that students from Mau's rural schools would go on to become milestone achievers in the field of space research.
The district's commitment is already showing results. In a notable precedent, 13 students from Mau were selected through examinations and interviews in May this year to visit ISRO's Space Applications Centre in Gujarat. There, they learned about the structure of artificial satellites, various sensors, and interacted with senior scientists, providing them with an unforgettable, real-world glimpse into the world of space technology.
