Kashmir University to have Astronomy Club

Vice Chancellor (VC) of Kashmir University (KU), Prof Riyaz Punjabi has announced the establishment of an Astronomy Club at KU.

Saying that seeing science education at all levels in J&K is his dream VC asked the students to remain focused for whatever they are perusing and equip themselves with more information to face the challenges of the new world. Quoting poet of the east Sir Allama Muhmmad Iqbal, VC asked youth to have craving to explore and know more and more about universe.

He was speaking at the inaugural event of celebration of International Years of Astronomy-2009 organized by Department of Physics KU in collaboration with Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics Pune. It was a two day telescope/Spectroscope making workshop at KU campus, Srinagar.

He said, “Your quest for truth and knowledge will help you to unravel mysteries of the universe; VC told the students who had come to attend the event from various schools and colleges of Kashmir. Saying that Science is better done than learnt VC KU emphasized on the need for creating scientific temper among the students. VC Kashmir University asked the teachers to help students in this direction. Students with Scientific bent of mind can take up any challenge of life he opined.

Earlier in his welcome address Dr Manzoor Ahmad Malik, Organizing Secretary of the workshop and faculty Kashmir University Department of Physics said that the aim of the two day workshop is to create scientific awareness and to promote scientific cooperation. “Scientific advancement leads to economic advancement” Dr. Malik asserted. While outlining the objectives of IYA 2009 programme Dr Malik emphasized the need to improve Science education in schools, improve the gender balanced representation of Scientists and create awareness about the dark skies.

Noted Astrophysicist and head Department of Physics, Kashmir University, Prof Farooq Ahmad in his keynote address said that about 141 nations across the world, scientists in thousands and participants in millions are participating in international year of Astronomy 2009. Prof Farooq said that through our collaboration Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics Pune (IUCAA) Kashmir University has also become a global partner for this event. Prof Farooq said that it is the mission of our department to strengthen the hands of Vice Chancellor Kashmir University to popularize science education in schools and colleges.

Registrar Kashmir University Prof Syed Fayaz said on the occasion that God has given mankind capacity to explore the truth and he opined that astronomy can help man both materially and spiritually. He appealed the students in the audience to join KU in helping society to tread the path of knowledge, awareness and prosperity.

In his special lecture entitled Introduction to telescopes Prof Arvind Paranjpaye from IUCAA Pune thanked the Vice Chancellor for creating an astronomy club at Kashmir University and offered the help of his institution in training the youth from valley colleges and higher secondary institutions in astrophysics. He said that there is need to create low cast instrumentation and students at the two day workshop will be exposed to making G++ Telescopes making. In his public lecture “In search of life in the Universe” Prof Arvind through a PowerPoint presentation took the audience to the ever new realms and mysteries of universe through slides and photographs. A telescope making session was conducted by Prof Arvind for young students from Hr. Secondary Schools.

Dr Wasim A Bari and Dr Naseer Iqbal faculty department of physics conducted the proceedings and presented vote of thanks respectively.