Odisha CM Felicitates Young Astronomer Talent Search Winners

YATS 2023: Odisha’s Young Astronomers Recognized by Chief Minister

The 17th Young Astronomer Talent Search in Odisha, witnessing over 80,000 students’ participation, concludes with top winners felicitated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

JAMSHEDPUR – Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik, felicitated the top five winners of the 17th Edition of the Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) 2023 at the Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar.

The event, a collaborative effort of Tata Steel and the Pathani Samanta Planetarium, drew participation from over 80,000 students across 30 districts.

Dignitaries including Shri Ashok Chandra Panda, Minister for Science & Technology, and other officials from the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Odisha, and Tata Steel attended the ceremony.

Shri Patnaik expressed his pride in the massive participation and congratulated all finalists and winners, commending Tata Steel and Pathani Samanta Planetarium for their successful organization of YATS.

Vice President of Tata Steel, Shri Chanakya Chaudhary, highlighted the importance of YATS in fostering interest in astronomy and space technology among the youth.

The competition involved quizzes for students of classes 6 to 10, conducted both physically and online, fostering a deeper understanding of space science.

Twenty winners, including the top five, will be taken on an educational visit to an ISRO facility in June 2024, offering them a unique opportunity to engage with leading space scientists.

YATS has engaged over 3,50,000 young science enthusiasts in Odisha since its inception, with 180 students having visited ISRO facilities, marking the program’s significant impact on science education in the region.