Friday, June 30, 2017

Asteroid Day Nepal 2017 remains a great success!

Toay, we had a special Asteroid Day event in association with Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) at its auditarium hall with ~200 participants!


High school students were from Himalaya Vidya Mandir Higher Secondary School and Bright Land English Higher Secondary School while the participants included officials from different professional organisations in Nepal.

Chief Guest Er. Rishi Shah, academician at NAST and patron at NASO highlighted the importance of science and technology for the development of the nation and the role that everyone living in the society has equal role to build our society for better life on earth.

Ms. Manisha Dwa, WIAN/UNAWE-Nepal and project coordinator at NASO highlighted the need of  women engagement for better science community in the country!

Then the program went through a different environment for the video and documentary show at the academic hall of NAST. The documentary covered various topics like;
  • Size of our solar system(in two different style of explanation)
  • Short video about Chelyabinsk incidence and shockwaves.
  • Brief introduction about how asteroid really had killed the dinosaurs.
  • Recreating an asteroid strike that Killed dinosaurs – a lab experiment video by NASA.
  • Impact records from 2000 to 2013 – demography on daily incidents.
After the documentary series, Mr. Suresh Bhattarai, Chairman of NASO, gave an excellent speech on "The mitigation measures during Asteroid attack, and also talked about civil defenses and future awareness programs. After the speech, we had a ten-minute break for the tea and snacks. Then considering queries form participants we had another session called Interaction program about asteroid and related areas. So, participants had Interaction with  Er.Rishi Shah, Mr. Suresh Bhattarai and Ms. Manisha Dwa. Participants from the different background raised series of queries.

Participants from 4th National Astronomy Olympiad 2017 closed camp were introduced to the audience and provided an opportunity to explore NAST and National Forensic Science Laboratory which is closed to the event venue.

The program was designated to be finished between two hours but it lasted for another one and half-hour. Our team could feel the demand of the program to be continued on but we stopped there and gave a promise to bring such program again in the future.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Nepal Review: Global Space Exploration Conference 2017!

 Submitted by
 Er. Anmol Mittal, Nepal

The Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2017) I attended discussed recent results, current challenges, and innovative solutions on to advancing human space exploration. The conference brought together leaders and decision-makers within the science and human exploration community- engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, educators, agency representatives, policy makers. The conference was organized by International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in Beijing International Congress Center, Beijing, China from 6-9th June, 2017.

As a young aerospace engineer, who wants to explore and learn about space technologies, I jumped at the opportunity of travelling all the way to China to attend this conference. A small change in direction at the start ends you up on a totally different path in the end. To give my unfolding career a direction, influenced by upcoming challenges and opportunities, was the main motive for attending GLEX 2017. Over 1000 attendees made the journey to Beijing from 51 countries. Heads of space agencies, Cosmosnauts, Taikonauts and Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, came together to discuss the challenges of space exploration from all different perspectives. I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting some distinguished people from the space industry, to name a few: 
  • Gilbert Kirkham, Director, Science division, NASA
  • Rob Chambers, human space flight, commercial civil space, from Lockheed Martin
  • Brent Sherwood, program manager, Solar system mission formulation from JPL.
  • Didier Morancais, Key account manager, Science/ Exploration & CNES from Airbus 
  • Dr. Peng Xia, researcher, AIST
  • Zihua Zhu, Asia-Pacific Regional coordinator, SGAC
I was able to discuss, with them, about my interests in the field of aerospace and the potential it holds in upcoming future. Meeting such people opened up new dimensions in my mind regarding numerous opportunities in the space industry. The conference was organized in a professional manner and addressed major issues concerning the space industry. There were 329 abstracts from 22 different countries, all of which were categorized into following categories:
  • Scientific Objective and Infrastructure of Space Exploration
  • Space Laboratory, Space Station and Space Exploration
  • Lunar Exploration
  • Exploration of Near Earth Asteroids
  • Mars Exploration
  • Exploration of Other Destination
  • Entering into Space and New Energy and Propulsion Technology
  • Key Technology of Space Exploration
  • Challenges of Life Support - Medical Support for Manned Space Exploration
  • Values and New Models for Space Exploration
  • Law Issues and Public Awareness Related to Space Exploration
  • International Cooperation for Space Exploration
  • Small Satellites
The presentations were delivered in a professional manner and with utmost proficiency. Although I couldn’t attend all the oral presentations, due to clash of their timings, but having the chance of attending even some of them was exhilarating.

Day 1: Will space exploration lead us to a global space agency?
The Global space exploration conference officially opened with a welcome address by Li Yuanchao, Vice-President of People’s republic of China, who read a note from Xi Jinping, President of People’s republic of China stating that: “China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the international community for a better future for human kind”.

This Chinese call to cooperation has been the main focus of the Heads of Agency Plenary where the idea of global space agency has been analyzed. Roberto Battiston, President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Pascale Ehrenfreund, Chair of the Executive Board of German Aerospace Center (DLR) joined the discussion with their views on the various aspects of unified and separate space agencies.
Photo 1: ESA DG Jan Woerner presents the Moon Village concept; Credits: SpaceWatch Middle East
Day 2: Mars- Moon: How do we get there?
The significance of global cooperation and international partnerships for efficient space exploration was further explored on the second day by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG). Importance of individual and collective space exploration was indeed discussed in a detailed manner. 

Another question which rose was: should we explore Mars or Moon? Different space agencies held different views but I found the view point of Russian delegates convincing, which stated: “interrogation should be centered on the direction rather than the destination”.

Last but not the least, the luminary Buzz Aldrin showed us the plan, he has been devising for last 30 years, to travel to Mars, which is also in its final stage of completion. Personally, this was part which left me on the edge of my seat during the entire time period of the presentation. 

Photo 2: Dr Buzz Aldrin presents the Mars cycler concept; Credits: SpaceWatch Middle East
Day 3: Space exploration- A common goal
The last day of GLEX marked the end of intense three day exposure to international scientific community. I believe all of us, who are devoting our lives to space exploration, are searching answers to the fundamental questions in the Universe: Who are we? Are we alone? Where do we come from? 

It was an excellent opportunity to gather, interact and exchange findings of such influencing people and views during conference sessions, coffee breaks and conference dinner. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Ugur Guven for giving me the opportunity to attend GLEX 2017 via their conference funding which covered the part of expenses.

Note: This report is influenced by the media report of GLEX 2017 by SPACEWATCH middle east.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

XIX WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS RUSSIA, October 14-22, 2017

Today, we had an opportunity to attend an information session about the 'XIX World Festival of Youth and Students2017' which will be held in Sochi, Russia during October 14-22, 2017. The organizers are expecting  to bring more than 20,000 of young people from 150 countries around the world making it the  largest event in the field of international youth cooperation. The National Preparatory Committee- Nepal members shared that they are planning to take 250 youths while Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of Nepal will have 30 members national delegation under the leadership of Minister of Youth and sports to the festival this year.

Photo: Group photo with the Government and RCSC officials after the meeting [From left: Ms. Manisha Dwa, project coordinator at NASO, Mr. Anton Maslov, deputy director at RCSC-Kathmandu, Mr. Suresh Bhattarai, chairman-NASO, Mr. Stanislav Simakov, director at RCSC-Kathmandu and Mr. Mahendra Paudel, under-secretary at Ministry of Youth & Sports, Government of Nepal]
Russian Center of Science and Culture- Kathmandu (RCSC-Kathmandu) organised the information session in order to spread the information regarding the festival among more nepalese youths. Repreentatives from the National Preparatry Committee-Nepal and Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of Nepal answered questions from the audience related to the festival. They shared that the registration was opened in September 2016, and representatives of more than 120 countries have already registered for the event!

The deadline for the registration is 10th June 2017
Click here to register now!

RCSC-Kathmandu highlighted that Russia has always payed great attention to the creation of conditions for the development of the young generation and supports youth and student movements. And this festival will create a new history for such achievement. In the entire history of the festival, the country already opened the doors twice to its participants - in 1957 and 1985. 

World Youth Festival will unite the community of young leaders in various fields - representatives of NGOs, youth, who achieved success in science, art, sports, pedagogy, IT, politics, and best representatives of the student community, compatriots and foreigners who are interested in Russian culture. Cultural dialog, economics, globalization, politics, and international security, are among the themes of the festival. 

Who can apply for the festival?
Anyone who have the see him/herself fits with the below criteria are eligible to apply for the festival.
  • Have an active life position 
  • Are from 18 to 35 years 
  • Have your own favorite practice 
  • Respect the interest of your country 
  • Consider yourself as the part of the global community 
And belong to the one of the categories: 
  • Leaders of the youth NGOs 
  • Young journalists 
  • Creative, artistic young people (musicians, writers, artists, directors, etc.) 
  • Leaders of sports club 
  • Young engineers 
  • Leaders of youth organization of political parties 
  • Young university teachers 
  • Leaders of student government 
  • Young scientists ( social, humanitarian, economic, natural and technical sciences) 
  • Young entrepreneurs 
  • Compatriots 
  • Young foreigners who study Russian language and are interested in Russian culture 

How to apply from Nepal?
  • Click here to fill up the application for participation (*Please fill in all the fields correctly!
  • After the registration, send your Full Name, Date of Birth/Age, Hobby and Professional Interests:Culture & History/Ecomony/Politics/International Security/ealth: addressing HIV/AIDS, Maleria/ Sports/Education Science/ IT/ Art Creativity/Journalism, Media to ruscult@subisu.net.np
  • Your application will be sent to National Preparatory Committee of Nepal
  • You will be invited to participate according to the results of the selection of the applications
Why you should participate?

You  should participate to experience: 
  • Visa-free entry
  • Meals, hotel accommodations, access to all educational, cultural and sports fields at  the expense of the host country
  • A unique educational and discussion program with the participation of the world-class professionals 
  • Real applied skills in master classes and creative workshops 
  • Complexity of Russian culture: ballet, ice show, film festival, jazz festival, circus program 
  • Life-style program: street dances, healthy lifestyle, jogging, hitting a qualifying standards of the "Ready to Work and Defense", extreme park, musical subcultures 
  • Acquaintance with like-minded people and colleagues from 150 countries 
  • Participation in a grand international youth event
Expenses you need to bear on your own:
  • Round-trip airfare from Nepal to Russia
  • Travel Insurance and other personal expenses

The deadline for the registration is 10th June 2017
Click here to register now!

For more information about the festival, please feel free to visit the official webiste of the festival: 
www.russia2017.com

Please note that neither NASO or RCSC-Kathmandu are involved in the selection process. Registration will be taken via official website only and the selection will be done by the organising committee of the festival only.

Excited to be a part of it? Apply today!