Patna: Bihar’s scientific future received a major push on Wednesday as the Indian Institute of Technology-Patna (IIT-P) hosted the state-level celebration of National Space Day in collaboration with the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), ISRO, bringing nearly 600 school students face-to-face with India’s space scientists and the country’s growing technological ambitions.The event, held against the backdrop of Chandrayaan-3’s historic success, went beyond celebration to send a pointed message: Bihar’s children must not remain spectators in India’s space journey—they must become its future engineers, scientists and innovators.The programme drew students from Kendriya Vidyalayas, govt schools and institutions including Foundation Academy, High School Amhara and Uchcha Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Dayalpur, among others. Their interaction with ISRO scientists offered a rare opportunity to understand the science and technology powering India’s space missions.IIT-P director T N Singh, URSC deputy director Senthil Kumar, IIT-P physics department head Naveen K Nishchal, ISRO scientists and teachers attended the inaugural session.Technical talks on India’s space programme were complemented by a space quiz, extempore, spot painting and memory tests, turning scientific learning into an engaging competition and testing knowledge, creativity, communication and teamwork.More significantly, IIT-P used the occasion to underline its growing role in strengthening science education at the school level. Its physics and chemistry faculty are working with the state govt to upgrade laboratory facilities for Classes XI and XII in govt schools— an intervention that could help bridge the yawning gap between textbook learning and hands-on scientific experimentation.
