Overview

In spite of our advanced space program, India still suffers from the evils of blind faith and superstition. It is time for the scientific community to rise up and act against this growing trend. To encourage rational thinking in people, it is important to inculcate scientific temper in students at an early stage.

Using astronomy as a tool is very effective since astronomy incorporates various disciplines in science, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. The basic purpose of science is recognition of patterns which were first seen in the skies with the motions of the Sun, Moon and stars, understanding motions, simple physics principles and validation by experiment. We shall explain the physics behind the movement of satellites, planets and stars, spectra of stars, sundials, making of telescopes, etc. We also plan to take students to see the Birla Science Center and Planetarium, the TIFR Balloon Facility, the 1.2 m Japal-Rangapur Telescope, all within the city limits, to expose them to the kind of facilities available for science and astronomy. We plan to give lectures, hands-on activities and models, role-play models, and to use various astronomical events to explain their relevance, demystify science and debunk myths. We have named the project Clear Skies since it deals with clearing the minds of people, encourage rational thinking and also provide career guidance.