Enlightenment:

I have always been fascinated by how astronomy has influ enced

throughout the history, adding to it my slight obsession with the
constellations and the zodiacs.
Like the architecture of structures like the temples, pyramids , Jantar
Mantar and even the human migration have been based on their on their
study. I wanted to add elements in relation to astronomy to the place of
interest and its well being of knowledge.
India requires a boost in astronomy education at all levels as astronomy
acts as a proxy for promoting scientific temper besides the questions
addressed about the existence and place of humans in the universe.
Given the contribution to astronomy by India the number of graduate
institutes is quite less.
In the articles mentioned below, talkeing about the requirement of not
having enough astronomical institutes in India by Prof S K Pandey, I would
like to take interest in it and contribute to such an institution alongside
introducing a museum, library and even a telescopic observatory, though
architecture, would like to provide an experience of the place with
astronomical elements.

About Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space

Science Education
By: Prof S K Pandey, President of the Astronomical Society of India.

New discoveries in astronomy in recent years have generated a lot of excitement

globally, and Indian scientists have contributed to them in large measure. However,
the country is lacking when it comes to promoting astronomy education at different
levels and the number of professional astronomers it needs just a handful of 700-odd
universities teach astronomy and astrophysics at post graduate and research levels.
The number of undergraduate colleges with courses in astronomy and astrophysics is
miniscule and at the school level, astronomy does not figure in curriculum. This was
stated by Prof S K Pandey, President of the Astronomical Society of India.

India needs to boost astronomy education at all levels as astronomy acts as proxy for
promoting scientific temper, besides addressing fundamental questions about human
existence and place in the universe. Its promotion could drive innovation as some of
the most cutting-edge technologies find their application in astronomy, Prof Pandey
said.

“The need to promote astronomy education and public outreach is even more
important when there is growing influence of astrology in the society,’ Prof Pandey,
who is a leading astronomer and vice chancellor of Raipur-based Pandit Ravishankar
Shukla University, said while talking to India Science Wire after delivering the
presidential address.

One of the objectives of the society is “striving to include astronomical courses in the
school, college and university curricula” But astronomy education has been slow to
pick up despite efforts being made organisations like the Inter-University Centre for
Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA). The IUCAA Node for Astronomy and
Astrophysics Development (INAAD) provides technical knowledge, resource people,
coordination, financial support and some basic resources.

Astronomy and astrophysics courses are taught at the post graduate level, but they
are too dense with too many topics covered. Given the way the discipline of astronomy
and astrophysics have developed, Prof Pandey said there was a need emphasise on
laboratory courses that focus on analysis of data, in addition to observational exercises
using telescopes. Online courses on different subjects could be developed for those
interested in participating in astronomy projects. For instance, engineers trained in
data analysis, instrumentation and image processing could be suitably be trained for
astronomy projects.

“There is going to be huge data pouring from mega science projects in astronomy and
we need an army of professional astronomers to handle it,” he added. “We need a
conveyer belt of astronomers — who start with smaller projects then move on to bigger
ones.”

For teaching and research at undergraduate level, the ASI president suggested use
of small tele- scopes whose capacity could be enhanced significantly by using low cost
back-end instrumentation like stellar photometer, CCD camera and stellar
spectrograph. “With advanced sophistications in optics and electronics it is possible
for smaller telescopes to do what larger telescopes could do in the past. There is no
need to move smaller telescopes to museums,’ Prof Pandey said. Besides training
and research, small telescopes could also be deployed for public awareness by
Organizing events like night sky reading. Overall, “the culture of astronomy teaching
must grow in India,’ the ASI chief said.