26/08/2024
Seminar on National Space Day тАУ 2024 organized at Garhwal University
On August 23, 2024, in celebration of National Space Day - 2024, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University hosted an engaging interaction and awareness program. This event was organized collaboratively by the Department of Remote Sensing and GIS Application, Research and Development Cell (RDC), and the InstitutionтАЩs Innovation Council (IIC). Held in the seminar hall of the Department of Physics at Chauras Campus, the program aimed to introduce students to the significant achievements of Indian space science and to spark their interest and curiosity in this field.
In keeping with Indian cultural traditions, the event commenced with a warm welcome to the esteemed guests and participants, followed by a ceremonial lamp lighting. Dr. Ram Kumar Sahu, President of IIC-HNBGU, extended a heartfelt welcome to all attendees. Subsequently, Prof. Hemwati Nandan Pandey, President of RDC-HNBGU, provided an overview of the program's objectives and schedule.
The chief guest of the program, HonтАЩble Vice-Chancellor of HNB Garhwal University, Prof. Annapurna Nautiyal, began her address by highlighting the theme of Indian Space Day: тАЬTouching Humanity While Touching the Moon.тАЭ She commended the hard work and dedication of IndiaтАЩs space scientists, praising their contributions to both national and global advancements. Prof. Nautiyal noted the exemplary work of the universityтАЩs Department of Remote Sensing in areas such as disaster management, forest fire monitoring, and forest management. She emphasized the importance of interdepartmental collaboration to ensure the universityтАЩs continued progress and concluded her speech with an inspiring message: тАЬWe have moved forward, and we will move furtherтАЭ (Hum ab aage badh chuke hain aur aage badhenge).
Dr. C. M. Bhatt, Senior Scientist at the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Dehradun, was the main speaker for the event. He captivated the audience by discussing the pivotal contributions of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai to Indian space research. Dr. Bhatt explained how Dr. Sarabhai, despite his background in business, developed a passion for space exploration and played a key role in founding the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He provided an overview of IndiaтАЩs historical milestones in space missions, including the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) and ISROтАЩs achievements. Dr. Bhatt detailed the six types of moon missions: Fly-by, Orbiter, Impact Mission, Lander, Rover, and Human Crew. He also covered the structure, types, and components of launch vehicles, landers, and rovers. Highlighting IndiaтАЩs recent accomplishments, he noted that India is the first country to successfully land on the MoonтАЩs south pole at the SHIV-SHAKTI point and to scientifically confirm the presence of hydroxyl ions (OH-) and Sulfur on the MoonтАЩs surface.
The second speaker of the event, Dr. Akhilesh Nautiyal, Civil Engineering Department at NIT Uttarakhand, provided valuable insights into the various applications of remote sensing in everyday life. He explained the technical aspects of remote sensing and its critical role in online delivery systems, weather monitoring, and forest fire management. Dr. Nautiyal also highlighted career opportunities in remote sensing, offering practical guidance that was particularly beneficial to the students.
Prof. C. M. Sharma, Dean of the School of Life Sciences, addressed the students with a historical perspective on remote sensing. He discussed its early use in Germany for forest surveys and provided a detailed overview of different types of satellites, their operational mechanisms, and the concepts of active and passive remote sensing. Prof. Sharma also explained how remote sensing contributes to weather forecasting and meteorological data collection.
Prof. S. C. Bhatt, Dean of the School of Science, compared the budgetary aspects of Indian space missions with those of other countries, such as the USA and Russia. He praised the remarkable achievements of Indian space scientists, who have accomplished significant milestones with relatively modest budgets. Prof. Bhatt highlighted India's success in achieving a soft landing on the Moon on its third attempt and detailed the findings of the PRAGYAN Rover from the Moon's surface. He emphasized the potential benefits of indigenous space research for human development and encouraged the use of scientific knowledge not only for financial gain but also for the advancement of the country and humanity.
On National Space Day, the event featured both a poster and quiz competition. The winners were honored by the HonтАЩble Vice-Chancellor and other distinguished guests.
The event was attended by several faculty members, including Dr. Bhaskaran, Dr. Suneel Kumar, Dr. Sanjay Upadhyay, Dr. Surendra Puri, Dr. Rohit Mahar, Dr. Vibhishan Roy, Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Dr. Vineet Maurya, Dr. Bibhishan Roy and Dr. Anil Shukla.
The program concluded with Dr. Subhash Bera, Assistant Professor in Remote Sensing and GIS Applications, delivering a vote of thanks to the esteemed guests, participants, faculty members, and students, acknowledging their contributions to the success of the event.
Ministry of Education Institution Innovation Council - HNBGU HNBGU (Garhwal University) Srinagar, Uttarakhand MyGovIndia Iic Hnbgu ISRO - Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission
