On August 23, National Space Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Assam University to commemorate the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon. Organized by the Department of Physics, the event featured a variety of engaging activities, including distinguished scientists’ lectures, a science model exhibition, debate competitions, and a space-themed quiz competition.
The program commenced at 10:30 a.m. in the Meghnad Saha Conference Room of the department, with Assam University Vice-Chancellor Professor Rajive Mohan Panth delivering the welcome address. Also present on stage were the distinguished scientist Professor Biman Nath from the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore, Professor Himadri Sekhar Das, Head of the Department of Physics, and Dr. Mahananda Baro, the program coordinator. The inaugural song was performed by Swagata Bhattacharjee.
Around 170 students from 13 schools, 7 colleges, and the Department of Physics participated in the event. Hon’ble VC Panth inaugurated the ‘Science Museum,’ followed by the inauguration of the science model competition, which featured 40 models centered around space.
Professor Biman Nath delivered a captivating lecture titled “The Multi-Colored Universe,” followed by an interactive session with students and researchers. The technical session was chaired by Professor B. Indrajit Sharma.
Other activities included a quiz competition for school students and a debate on the priority of space research versus social and economic development. The speakers and judges for the debate were Dr. Anindya Sen from the English Department and Dr. Bidhan Mohanta from the Physics Department, respectively. Ayush Das and Yunus Ahmed from Badarpur Vidya Mandir secured the first place in the quiz competition, while Sadia Barbhuiya and Megha Chakraborty from DNNK School, Silchar, secured the second place, and Rimita Paul and Rishik Paul from Holy Cross School, Silchar, secured the third place. In the debate competition, Kuldeep Pal from Cachar College, Sauri Chakraborty from Ramkrishna Nagar College, and Adrija Chakraborty from Gurucharan College, Silchar, secured the first, second, and third places, respectively.
The theme of the science model competition was space-related, and the judges were Dr. Swarnadeep Biswas, Assistant Professor, and Dr. Utpal Sarkar, Associate Professor from the Department of Physics. The first, second, and third places were awarded to Gurukul English Medium School, Udarbond, Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Silchar, and Al-Amin Senior Secondary School, Hailakandi, respectively. Additionally, ten outstanding science models were selected for inclusion in the department’s museum, and the schools donated their models to the department.
The final event of the program was student presentations on various space-related topics, presided over by Professor Atri Deshamukhya.
Dr. Joydeep Choudhury delivered the vote of thanks for the inaugural session, and Dr. Mahananda Baro concluded the technical session. The program was hosted by Sanchali Nath Mazumdar and Deity Basumatary. The National Space Day celebration was elevated to another level by the spontaneous assistance from students, researchers, and non-teaching staff of the department.
