For the first time, Maulana Azad National Urdu University has been selected to host the Astronomy Nurture Camp 2015 that is scheduled to start from December 2. The camp will be wrapped up on December 14.
It is also a first for any university in the country since such camps have been earlier organized only at institutions that undertake scientific research, besides imparting education. The selection of MANUU to host the camp is indicative of the interest the University has been taking in setting up various departments in sciences.
The inaugural session of the camp will start at 10:00 a.m. at Instructional Media Centre with the Lecture by Prof Sriram Ramaswamy, Director, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
The students taking part in the camp will also register as participants in the International Conference on Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy that will be held at MANUU from December 15 to 17.
The 13-day camp is part of the Indian Olympiad Programme which is organized by Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) of TIFR. The 18-year-old Astronomy Olympiad strives to motivate pre-University students towards careers in pure sciences, especially Astronomy. As a part of Astronomy Olympiad Programme, a winter camp is organized every year for past Olympiad students. About 10-15 passed out undergraduate and Astronomy Olympiad students attend these camps.
The camps are routinely organized at different astronomical research institutes where the students can work on projects in groups of 3-4. Previous camps have been held at Ooty Radio Telescope, Venu Bappu Observatory, Aryabhatta Institute of Observational Science, Nainital, National Balloon Facility, Hyderabad, HBCSE, National Centre for Radio Astrophysics and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali.
HBCSE will also provide funds to cover entire cost of the programme. MANUU will provide local logistical and academic support. Faculty members Prof S N Hasan, Dean Academics, Head, Dept of Mathematics, MANUU, Dr Priya Hasan, Dept of Physics, MANUU and Prof P K Suresh, Dept of Physics, University of Hyderabad will act as mentors to the student projects. The Convener of the program is Dr Priya Hasan, Asst Professor, Dept of Physics, School of Sciences. (INN)