Conference on ‘Indian Astronomy,Ancient & Modern’ in Ahmedabad

Conference on ‘Indian Astronomy,Ancient & Modern’ in Ahmedabad
By our correspondent
Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat, 23 June, 2009



Astronomy is considered to be perhaps the most ancient of sciences. It begins as soon as we look up at night. As we look up, at first the starry sky seems motionless. But if we continue to make observations night after night, the sky appears to be moving in a regular and predictable fashion. The constellations shift a little bit westward each successive night, the moon drifts west to east, changing position in the sky relative to the stars and the sky is an open lab for one all without boundaries.

As the entire world is celebrating 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy, the galaxies of space scientists along with eminent astronomers are getting together in Gujarat to brainstorm on ‘Indian Astronomy, Ancient & Modern’ in a conference being organized during 27th to 30th June 2009 at Town Hall, Ahmedabad. The four days conference will highlight the great heritage of astronomy science deep-rooted in the country with its present and prosperity and has been jointly organized by the Indian Planetary Society, Gujarat Science Academy, Gujarat Council on Science & Technology, Department of Higher Education, Government of Gujarat and Naranpura Vedhshala.

Notable Professor and Scientist Dr. U. R. Rao, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Physical Research Laboratory and Former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization will inaugurate this conference on 27th June, 2009 at 4.00 pm at Town Hall Ahmedabad and will deliver keynote address on “Aryabhata to Chandrayaan and Beyond”.

In addition the conference will be attended by eminent scientists and policy makers including Dr. Mohanbhai I. Patel, (D.Sc.) Prof. Rajesh Kochhar, Prof. Sibaji Raha, Prof. Ram Sagar, Prof. Govind Swarup (FRS), Professor M.S. Raghunathan (FRS), Prof. Dipan Ghosh, Prof. Virendra Singh, Prof. Narendra Bhandari, Prof. K. Sivaprasad, Prof. S. Ramadurai, Prof. J. N. Desai and many others, who will address the gathering on various aspects of theme of the conference.

The Conference has special sessions for the school and college students and teachers on the great scientists and their pioneering work of Ramanujan, Homi Jahangir Bhabha, Sir C. V. Raman, S. Chandrasekhar, Satyendranath Bose, Meghnad Saha, Aryabhata, Bhaskaracharya and others. During the conference, documentary film on the Solar System, Einstein, Galileo will also be shown, students and teachers will be able to interact with the giants of Indian Astronomy. Students and teachers will be able to make their presentation in astronomy and can also present their science projects.

The various activities of this conference has been coordinated by Dr. Mohanbhai I. Patel (D.Sc.) as the Chairman of the Scientific and the local organizing committee and Prof. N. V. Vasani, Vice Chancellor, Nirma University as Vice Chairman. Dr. J. J. Rawal, President, Indian Planetary Society is the Convener.

On this occasion the Indian Planetary Society will present Shri Balvantbhai Parekh Gold Medal to Dr. Mohanbhai I. Patel (D. Sc.) for his contribution in the field of Science. Journalist Late Shri Manubhai Mehta Silver Medal to Shri Deepak Bhimani and Shri Sohanraj Shah Silver Medal to Shri Dhananjay Raval for their efforts to popularize science in the country. On this occasion Prof. Rao will also release a booklet on Indian Astronomy, Ancient & Modern, Virat Surya and Kid’s Science two popular science periodicals published by the Indian Planetary Society.

Various Indian organization, companies and philanthropists such as Shri Jignesh Shah (CMD, Financial Technologies Group), Patel Extrusion Group, DAV Group of Schools (Western Zone), Prakash Higher Secondary School, Swastik Group of Schools, All India Ramanujan Maths Club, Scanpoint and Geometics, Saurashtra Education Foundation (Rajkot), Shri Kachchhi Jain Samaj, Shri Hashmukhbhai Upadhyay (ITI) Halvad, Institute of Plasma Research, Physical Research Laboratory, Shri Raj Saubhag Satsang Mandal (Sayla) financially support this conference.

For more details about participation and information, please contact at Naranpura Vedhshala, Ahmedabad Telephones (079) 27554433 / 27554488, Mumbai Office (022) 28682787 / 28948678.