Awareness on Astronomy through Taramandal—Mobile Planetarium:
MIEF has worked with NCSTC Division, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India and been able to showcase a mobile planetarium- called the Taramandal in the Delhi NCR region for a few years. MIEF volunteers and experts work with children to build their awareness on astronomy and share the learnings with them. To make these sessions interactive, quizzes and other activites are often conducted for children, which usually receive a great response. Children are often excited by the prospects of seeing stars and gaining knowledge about the planetary systems. Considering this is a ‘mobile’ system, the planetarium has visited several parts of the Delhi NCR region so far. The planetarium shows allow free access to children.
During the April to December 2012 close to 320 schools participated in this programme and 733 shows were held at National Science Centre, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi and also at various school premises in the Delhi NCR. About 12519 students witnessed the Taramandal shows. All these students also took part in the Astronomy quiz and shared their excitement with MIEF. Apart from students we also had about 6328 viewers witnessed the Taramandal shows. The project is still in progress.
Science popularization in young people
MIEF conducted a survey to study the attitude and mindset of youth towards climate change related issues in Mumbai followed up by a conference. The participants discussed how young people could be involved in sensitizing everyone about climate related issues in Mumbai. This project aside, MIEF has been involving student participation in celebrating the World Earth Day and more recently the World Ozone day project with young people in colleges and schools.
Click below to check out full reports:
2.Preserving our biosphere Understanding Science Then & Now
3.Project Complete Popularization of Astronomy through Mobile Planetarium (Taramandal)