Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday felicitated top 5 winners of the 17th Edition of Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) 2023 in Bhubaneswar.
This year’s Young Astronomer Talent Search, organised by Tata Steel in association with PSP under the Science and Technology department, saw participation of more than 80,000 students from 30 districts of Odisha.
The competition included an open quiz for students of Classes VI to VIII, conducted physically in schools and a multiple-choice questions assessment for students of Classes IX and X, conducted in schools and online. Total 20 winners along with their teachers will be taken on an exposure visit to one of the facilities of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in June 2024. They will have the opportunity to interact with ace space scientists of the country.
Speaking at the felicitation function in Pathani Samanta Planetarium (PSP) in the city, Chief Minister said, “I congratulate all the students who participated in the activities organised as part of Young Astronomer Talent Search. I am glad that over 80,000 students from our state are participating in this competition. My congratulations to Tata Steel and Pathani Samanta Planetarium for conducting this unique event successfully year after year.”
Chanakya Chaudhary, vice-president, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, said, “The growing number of participants in each edition of YATS is a resounding testimony to its value and success, particularly among Odisha’s youth. The 2023 edition of YATS also comes on the heels of India’s most successful space mission – Chandrayaan-3. It is very encouraging to see so many young minds turning their attention to astronomy and unchartered areas of space missions and technologies.”
Ashok Chandra Panda, Minister, Science & Technology, Public Enterprises, Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disability; Chithra Arumugam, Principal Secretary, Science and Technology and Yeddula Vijay, Joint Secretary, Science & Technology department were present.
Since its inception 17 years ago, more than 3,50,000 young science enthusiasts in Odisha have participated in YATS. Notably, 180 students have had the privilege of visiting various facilities of ISRO.
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