Praagya

Praagya – Mega Telescope Assembly Event

A World Record Attempt on Assembling Maximum number of telescopes successfully accomplished

Parents and children were ravished with great joy and enthusiasm.Pragya–Mega Telescope Assembly, organized by Young Innovators Educational Services Pvt. Ltd at Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium,Bangalore on 20th February 2020 was an attempt at creating a world record in assembling the maximum number of telescopes. The event was a success and thereby history was created when the jury from India Book of Records confirmed that 100 students alongside a parent have completely assembled a 4.5” Newtonian Reflector Telescope. A new chapter began for Young Innovators which has been at the forefront of imparting research-oriented learning starting from elementary and middle school students.

Over a decade, Young Innovators has been responsible for igniting the innovative streak in children through their interactive, exploratory, and experimental learning methodology by making learning fun and engaging. Young Innovators takes a step forward to fill the gap that exists in today’s learning and instigates the curiosity that the children express and endeavors to make them think and nurture creativity with the creative environment of engaged learning.

As a part of the Astronomy Level 2 course, the students are trained on assembling, collimating, and observing celestial objects through a 4.5” Newtonian Reflector telescope with Dobsonian Mount they are also educated on optics and its principles and assembling the telescope with materials like PVC pipe, set of mirrors, and hardware in their regular classes. With a telescope of 4.5” aperture size, we can easily get a clear view of the moon and its craters, the Gallelian moons of Jupiter rings of Saturn, and few nebulae.

Before the attempt at assembling the telescopes, the inaugural function was held at the auditorium of the Planetarium chaired by dignitaries Mr. Harish, Jury, India Book of Records, Mr.Pramod G Galagali, Director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore, Dr. Shylaja B S, Ex. Director of Planetarium, G C Anupama President of the Astronomical Society of India. After the welcome ceremony, Mr. Harish, briefed about the guidelines to be followed for the record attempt, Mr.Pramod G Galagali spoke about Young Innovators providing a platform for students and create history, Dr. Shylaja B S made a short and sweet motivational speech to the children, G C Anupama motivated the students to continue their passion for astronomy followed by watering the sapling as a token of gratitude.

Post the inaugural function, tables were set for each participant to assemble the telescope at the entrance pathway of the planetarium. All the materials were provided for the students to assemble the telescope. Once all were set, a bell was rung to notify the students around 4:30 pm to start with the assembly. Young Innovators team was constantly backing up the students and motivating them to keep themengaged and make them complete the assembly and collimate it. The first telescope was assembled and collimated in 30 mins.

Finally, after 1 hour, 9 minutes, the jury announced that the record of 100 Students Assembling the Telescopes Together was set. The record was created by the students of Delhi Public School East, Delhi Public School South, Ryan International School, St. Joseph’s School, Global Academy, Sri Kumarans Children’s Home Educational Council, Carmel School from different parts of Bengaluru.

Speaking after receiving the certificate of achievement and medal, Mr.Bharath A J, Founding Director of Young Innovators Educational Services Pvt. Ltd dedicated the award to the students and parents, the team, and all the members who have invested time and effort in making this dream turn into reality. Young Innovators team and the administration team of various schools were equally elated to be part ofthe mega event Pragya and look forward to many records to be broken with little scientists of the future.

A young, enterprising, and dedicated team is at the helm of providing the generation of today with tools that make leaning science fun and stimulating.