Meet and Greet an Astronaut with Dr. Sandra H. Magnus and Award Ceremony!

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) in association with Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) organized an event to award and motivate the young generation working in the field of science in Nepal. The chief guest of the event was Dr. Sandra Magnus (Former Astronaut of NASA) who helped students in the program to know about space science and its possibilities in our environment.

The event was attended by around 150 people which included mainly students and teachers who had their keen interest in space science. They all were glad to know about space science from the person who had already been 135 days in space. "Ask an Astronaut" session helped students to present their question and know about science and technology.

Dr. Sandra H Magnus is an American engineer and a former NASA astronaut. She served as the executive director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the world's largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession from October 2012 until January 2018. While at NASA, Dr. Magnus worked extensively with the international community, including the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), as well as with Brazil on the facility-type payload.

In the very occasion, the Second  Women in Science Awards were also given to Ms. Shreeti Shrestha, B.E. Computer Engineering student at Pulchowk Engineering Campus, IOE, TU and Er. Promisha Mishra, Computer Engineer at Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) respectively. The award included a cash prize, trophy and certificates. 

Also, the winner of First National Space Art Competition were awarded with telescopes, medals and certificates respectively. It gave them more motivation for continuing their passion in the field of science.

The winners of 4th National Astronomy Olympiad 2017 were also awarded by Dr. Sandra Magnus. Many professor and teacher along with chief guest Dr. Sandra Magnus presented their topics to help the student know about the possibilities of science and technology.

This year, the cash prize is sponsored by Er. Rishi Shah, Academician at NAST and patron at NASO and Trophies and certificates are sponsored by Er. Nancy Dwa, one of the Board of Directors at NASO respectively.

World DNA Day 2018 Celebration in Nepal

On the occaisson of the World DNA Day, Biotechnology Society of Nepal (BSN) organised a two day Conference cum Exhibition during April 24-25, 2018 at Nepal Academy of Science And Technology (NAST), Khumaltar, Lalitpur. We had an opportunity to be one of the supporters of the celebration. We had one invited talk and  solar observation session for the organizers, exhibitors, participants and visitors during April 24-25, 2018.

Photo: Prof. Dr. Jibraj Pokhrel, Vice-Chancellor at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) observing the sun during Solar Observation session at World DNA Day Celebration 2018.

The invited talk/presentation was given by Mr. Suresh Bhattarai, Chairman at Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) on the topic "The Role of Biotechnology in Human Space Exploration" which was hugely appericiated and liked by the participants, distinguished guests and senior professionals presented in the conference. Solar Observation session was available at the premises of NAST.

The conference had four thematic sessions: Plant and Agriculture Bioscience, Medical and Pharmaceutical Bioscience, Environmental Bioscience and Food and Industry Bioscience. During the sessions university students and young professionals shared their respective works with the participants.

The celebration was formally concluded on 25th of April with a Prizes, token of love and certificate distributions by Prof. Dr. Jibraj Pokhrel, Vice-Chancellor and Dr. Buddhi Ratna Khadge, Secretary at Nepal Academy of Science and Technolgy (NAST).

NASO Celebrates International Day of Peace in Pokhara, Nepal

As a celebration of International Day of Peace in association with StarPeace Project, an interaction program followed by Solar Observation Session were organized at Sangri-La Village Resort on September 22, 2013 for 40 invited participants and Solar Observation Session at Motherland Higher Secondary School on September 23, 2013 where ~200 students got the first time experience of observation of sun through PST which was donated to NASO by EurAstro Association during EurAstro Mission Nepal 2011. 

Photo 1: Students enjoying the Sun through NASA Solar Glasses on September 22, 2013 at Sangri-La Village Resort, Pokhara, Nepal

Photo 2: Participants and the organizers of the Interaction programme to celebrate International Day of Peace at Sangri-La Village Resort on September 22, 2013.

Photo 3: Ms. Manisha Dwa, Project Coordinator, Sharing NASO projects among the participants during an interaction programme at Sangri-La Village Resort, Pokhara, Nepal on September 22, 2013

Photo 4: Student looking at the Sun and the spots on it though Coronado Personal Solar Telescope (PST) donated by EurAstro Association to NASO in 2011. This PST is the  first and only solar telescope with NASO (probably in Nepal).

Photo 5: Er. Rishi Shah, Academician at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and president of NASO asnwering the queries from the students during an interaction programme on September 22, 2013 at Sangri-La Village Resort, Pokhara, Nepal.

Photo 6: Students posing for group photo with organisers after the solar observation session at Motherland Higher Secondary School on September 23, 2013, Pokhara, Nepal.

The Observers also enjoyed the Sun through NASA Solar Glasses which were donated to Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) during Global Astronomy Month 2011 which was brought to Nepal by Joan Chamberlin. The sessions/events were sponsored by Rishi Shah, Academician of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and President of NASO. 

AstroFest on ToV2012- Nepal, July 4-6, 2012

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) in association with Nepal Academy of Science & Technology (NAST), Russian Center of Science & Culture ( RCSC), Astrophysics and Cosmology Research Group Nepal ( ACRG-Nepal) -Tribhuvan University ( TU) and ESPRO Foundation organized three days Astronomy Festival with different programs in Nepal during June 4-6 , 2012 to celebrate the last Transit of Venus of Twenty-first Century. The next Transit of Venus will occur after 105 years in December 2117. To provide more opportunity for Nepalese to witness this rare celestial event in different regions of Nepal, NASO extended its supports to Pokhara Astronomical Society (PAS) in Kaski, Damak Astronomy Club in Jhapa and Nepal Astronomy and Space Science Association (NASSA) in Chitwan.

GTTP Session:

A half day workshop was organized on June 4, 2012 from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm as a special session on Galileo Teacher Training Program (GTTP)-Nepal. This special session of AstroFest on ToV2012-Nepal was organized in order to increase the opportunity to witness ToV2012 in Nepal. During the session, hands-on activities on safe solar viewing techniques were provided to the students from 7 selected schools.

Public Talk Sessions:

On Monday, June 4 and 5, public talks on ToV were organized at Russian Center of Science and Culture, Kamaladi, Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu by Associate Prof. Dr. Binil Aryal, Chair-ACRG-Nepal and by Associate Prof. Dr. Raju Khanal, Central Department of Phycics, Tribhuvan University (TU) at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Khumaltar, Lalitpur respectively.

Special Screening of “Acquainted With the Night”:

A special screening of 79 minute long Gemini Award Winning documentary “Acquinted With the Nights” held on June 4 and 5 at RCSC from 4:30 pm for the first time in Nepal with the special permission to NASO from the Michael Macnamara, Director of the documentary. “Acquainted With The Night” is a feature documentary that traces a journey through a night from sunset to sunrise. The clock dictates the stories as they change, hour by hour, from 6pm to 6am. Some stories are joined in progress; others begin in one hour, and resolve in another.

Observation Programs:

An observation program was scheduled and co-ordinated at different places of Kathmandu Valley as well as at Damak, Chitwan and Pokhara to have better opportunities for public and students to observe this rare celestial event from their nearest places.More than 5, 000 people witnessed this unique and rare celestial event in Nepal with NASO.