CM Naveen Felicitates Achievers Of The 17th Edition Of Young Astronomer Talent Search

• Conducted by TaTa Steel in collaboration with Pathani Samanta Planetarium, the 17th edition of YATS saw the active participation of over 80,000 students from 30 districts

Bhubaneswar: The 17th edition of the Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) 2023 felicitated its top five achievers today at the Pathani Samanta Planetarium (PSP) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Honoring the occasion, the esteemed Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, presented accolades to the five outstanding winners. This event, hosted by Tata Steel in collaboration with PSP under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Odisha, witnessed the enthusiastic participation of more than 80,000 students from 30 districts across the state.

The award ceremony was graced by the presence of notable dignitaries, including Ashok Chandra Panda, Minister of Science & Technology, Public Enterprises, Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disability, Government of Odisha, Chithra Arumugam, IAS, Principal Secretary of Science and Technology, Dr. Yeddula Vijay, IAS, Joint Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Odisha, and Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President of Corporate Services at Tata Steel.

During the event, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated all participating students and acknowledged the increasing popularity of YATS, emphasizing its role in stimulating young minds and fostering an interest in astronomy. He lauded the competition for serving as a tribute to Odisha’s luminary, Pathani Samanta, and expressed confidence in YATS continuing to nurture talents in space sciences.

Shri Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President of Corporate Services at Tata Steel, commended the growing participation in YATS, citing it as evidence of the program’s success among Odisha’s youth. He highlighted the 2023 edition coinciding with India’s successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, adding excitement to the students’ engagement with astronomy and space missions.

The competition featured an open quiz for students in classes 6 to 8, conducted physically in schools, and a multiple-choice questions assessment for students in classes 9 and 10, conducted both in schools and online. The top 20 winners, including the top 5, along with their teachers, will embark on an exposure visit to an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facility in June 2024, providing them the opportunity to interact with leading space scientists.

Celebrating its 17th year, YATS has left a lasting impact on over 3,50,000 young science enthusiasts in Odisha. Notably, 180 students have been privileged to visit various ISRO facilities in India, highlighting the enduring success and influence of the program.