Bhubaneswar, December 13, 2024: The thirty winners of the 18th Edition of the Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) 2024 were felicitated by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha,Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, at the Pathani Samanta Planetarium (PSP) in Bhubaneswar today. Organised by Tata Steel in collaboration with the Pathani Samanta Planetarium. This year’s YATS witnessed participation of over 71,000 students from 30 districts across the state.
Joining the occasion as the chief guest, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi paid homage to the great astronomer Pathani Samant and addressing the gathering of students from different schools stated that, “ Pathani Samant was a remarkable figure in the history of astronomy. His unmatched heroics in accurately calculating the timings of solar and lunar eclipses using nothing more than two bamboo pipes in the year 1835 are truly awe-inspiring. His flawless observations of celestial bodies stand as a testament to his genius.
Vice President, Operations, Tata Steel Kalinganagar, Rajiv Kumar, highlighted Tata Steel’s commitment to fostering scientific thought and innovation among the youth. “The Grand Finale of the 18th Edition of Tata Steel YATS celebrates the boundless potential of young minds and their passion for science. For nearly two decades, YATS has nurtured scientific curiosity, inspiring students to explore astronomy and pursue careers in science,” he said. “In collaboration with the Government of Odisha, we have reached thousands, promoting talent and fostering aspirations. Congratulations to all participants, especially the winners — this is just the beginning of an exciting journey. Let us continue to ignite dreams and build a future where innovation and excellence thrive.”
Celebrating the achievements of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the 18th Edition of YATS theme was “Will Space be Your Next Travel Destination?”. The winners felicitated today will have the unique opportunity to visit an ISRO facility where they will interact with leading space scientists and gain valuable insights into the world of space exploration.
The ceremony was also graced by Hon’ble Minister, Science & Technology, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, Government of Odisha Shri Krushna Chandra Patra; Development Commissioner Cum Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, Smt. Anu Garg; Principal Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Odisha and Chairperson, Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Smt. Chithra Arumugam; Deputy Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Odisha and Director-in-charge, Pathani Samanta Planetarium Smt. UrmipravaMaharana.
Also present were Former Programme Director, ISRO, and Former Director, Advanced Data Processing Research Institute, Dr Geetha Varadan; and Vice President Engineering, GalaxEye, Kishan Thakkar.
Since its inception, YATS has engaged over 4,00,000 young science enthusiasts from across Odisha, making it one of the region’s most prominent platforms for fostering scientific talent. Over the past 18 Editions of YATS, more than 200 students have had the exceptional opportunity of visiting ISRO facilities, further strengthening the programme’s impact on the future of science education.
