20 winners of Young Astronomer Talent Search felicitated in Bhubaneswar

The grand finale of the 16^th edition of Tata Steel Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) was organised today at Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik addressed the students with a video message and congratulated the top 20 winners of the contest, which has been organised in association with Pathani Samanta Planetarium.

More than 77, 500 students from 300 schools across 30 districts of Odisha participated in the annual flagship event of Tata Steel in the state. The theme for this edition was “Time to unravel the universe”.

The winners will get the opportunity to visit one of the premier facilities of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and receive a first-hand experience of space science in May 2023.

Among others present on the occasion were Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government, Science & Technology Department, Sanjulata Behera, Additional Secretary, Science & Technology Department, Government of Odisha and Director, Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Bhubaneswar, Dr Karuna Kar Nanda, Director, Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar, Sarvesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Communications, Tata Steel.

Addressing the students with a video message, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “YATS has evolved as a platform that ignites young minds to think out of the box and kindle their interest in the field of astronomy. YATS will go a long way in furthering the course of research in astronomy and space sciences.’’

Complimenting Tata Steel and the planetarium for the initiative, Minister Ashok Chandra Panda said through a video message, “In the coming days, we look up to this platform as a launchpad for emerging space scientists. My best wishes to the winners and the finalists of YATS 2022.”