Science Popularization Program
Since science and technology plays an important role in all aspects of our life, it is necessary to make our children aware of basic scientific events which are continuously happening around us. In fact, we should familiarize them with basic science by using some creative and interesting methods . With the help of such methods they can imbibe basic principles of science in general and could generate interest in scientific research. This will have very positive impact on their future careers. Thus CTP has decided to start a full-fledge Science Popularization Program. In this direction, we have organized star gazing events for the school children of 5th and 6th standard with the help of mobile planetarium. These programs were organized in month of March and April 2017. Each of the program drew around 100 students who took keen interest in watching mysterious world of stars. Apart from this, CTP has also screened from time to time films on interesting scientific themes.
An interactive session of the science popularization team with school students.
Taramandal: Mobile planetarium
Happy kids coming out of the planetarium.
The Taramandal is a mini-planetarium consisting of an inflatable dome, which is used to conduct interactive shows of a simulated night sky. The inflated dome fits within about 26ft x 26ft of ground space and 13ft of unobstructed height. The dome is inflated using a blower fan, which also ventilates the dome and keeps it comfortably cool. A projector is kept inside the inflated dome, and creates images of a starry sky on the inside of the dome, giving an experience of sky-watching.
The mobile planetarium, Taramandal is now routinely being used to teach school students about stars, planets and skywatching. Taramandal and other interactive sessions sessions are conducted by the team consisting of Dr. Sonal Desai, adjunct professor at CTP, Dr. Shibesh Kumar Jas Pacif, who is a post-doctoral fellow at CTP, and an avid popularizer of science, and Mr. Fasih Uzzama who is a Planetarium Technician at CTP, and underwent a training program for the same in Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune.
Several Taramandal sessions have been conducted in various schools, in March, 18-19 April and 4th and 9th May 2017.
A thrilled schoolgirl coming out of the planetarium after the session: April 2017.
Two sessions were conducted on 18th and 19th November 2015. These were long, two-hours sessions from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, for Jamia Sr. Sec. School (Self Financing) students. Third session was conducted on 7th December 2015, 3-4 PM.
School students pose in front of the planetarium, with the CTP's science popularization team. April 2017.
A Taramandal session was conducted for students of Four Steps Special School, Kailash Colony, on 9th February 2016. All the sessions were conducted in the indoor games hall of Jamia Sports Complex.
Students from Four Steps Special School, after the planetarium session, 9th February 2016.
More Taramandal sessions are planned for students from other schools.
Outreach events
Fasih Uzzama on the projector, inside the planetarium dome, conducting a Taramandal session.
CTP acquired an amatuer telescope. The Centre plans to organise public viewing of prominent sky events.
Skywatching enthusiasts at CTP, watching Mercury transit in front of Sun, on 10th May 2016.