3 students from Gujarat to participate ISRO’s YUVIKA programme during summer vacation

Gandhinagar: Three young students Masters Kunj Devang Buddhdev, Academic Heights Public School from Rajkot, Patel Pratham Maheshbhai, Shri J B Shah English Medium School from Aravalli and Solanki Rahul Ramdevbhai, Shri Brahmanand Vidyalaya, Surendranagar are all set to join the three week programme on Space Science & Technology during this summer vacation at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The three students will represent Gujarat at the “Young Scientist Programme – YUva VIgyani KAryakram (YUVIKA), a special programme designed by ISRO for school children for the first time. The programme aims at imparting basic knowledge on space technology, space science and space applications to the younger ones with the intent of arousing their interest in the emerging areas of space activities.

The two weeks summer intensive programme include invited talks, experience sharing by the eminent scientists, facility and lab visits, exclusive sessions for discussions with experts, practical and feedback sessions.

As per the circular and guidelines of ISRO, only 3 students from each State or Union Territory will have to be selected to participate in this programme based on the applicant’s performance in the 8th Standard, which includes both academic and extracurricular activities.

Gujarat Council on Science & Technology (GUJCOST), working under the aegis of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat is the State Coordinator to select the students in the state for this programme. GUJCOST has circulated the information and the details of the programme among the Community Science Centre, School Science Club networks in every district as well as potential schools and requested to submit the applications form of meritorious students as per the prescribed format.

In Gujarat, there were 203 students (Boy:130 and Girl: 73) submitted their applications to GUJCOST. On the basis of the guidelines and evaluation criteria, finally three candidates are recommended to ISRO to represent Gujarat State and to participate in the YUVIKA Summer programme. While all the three students are of rural background, two of them are studying in state board and one in CBSE board.

The YUVIKA 2019 programme will be conducted across four centres of ISRO during the second half of May 2019. All the selected candidates will be accommodated at ISRO hostels and guest house and other expenditure, which includes II AC fare by train for student and guardian or parent from the nearest railway station to the reporting centre and back, and course material will be borne by ISRO.