Odisha CM flags off Young Astronomer Talent Search programme

June 3, 2019 Education

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday flagged off the exposure visit for winners of the 12th Edition of Tata Steel’s Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) programme here.

The winning group of 20 students will now go on an exposure visit to one of the premier facilities of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, to get a first-hand experience of space science in action.

Patnaik also launched the 13th edition of YATS (2019-20) on this occasion.

With overwhelming participation of students in 2018, the next edition was launched with an aim to make YATS much more enriching for participating students.

Kulvin Suri, Chief, Corporate Communications, Tata Steel, India & South-East Asia (SEA), said, “YATS is a unique programme based on space science and constantly motivates young minds to think beyond just academics and push their imagination to the optimum. We would like to thank the Chief Minister and the Government of Odisha for extending their support in making this venture successful, year-on-year.”

Tata Steel is organizing this flagship event, YATS, in collaboration with Pathani Samanta Planetarium since 2007 to acknowledge the exemplary contribution of Pathani Samanta, legendary astronomer of Odisha, and encourage youngsters to showcase innovative concepts on various themes of space science and astronomy.

In last 12 years 1,38,000 students have participated in YATS and 160 winning students have had the opportunity to visit various facilities of ISRO in India.

With the increased involvement of students and teachers from rural and remote areas of the State, YATS 2018-19 achieved a new record in its 12-years journey with 63,000 students participating from 300 schools spanning all 30 districts in Odisha.