Stars Over Hills: Astronomy Workshop

Department of Physics, Dolphin (PG) Institute of Biomedical & Natural Sciences successfully organized a three-day Astronomy Teacher Training Workshop titled “Stars Over Hills: Astronomy Training for Rural Science Teachers” at Government Inter College (GIC), Gairsain, from 17 to 19 December 2025. Jointly conducted with the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, and supported by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) – Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE), the workshop brought together 30 science teachers from some of the most remote and geographically challenging schools in Uttarakhand. Designed in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023, the workshop aimed to strengthen grassroots-level science education by equipping teachers with conceptual clarity, curriculum-aligned strategies, and practical tools to make astronomy accessible and engaging for students.

The workshop was led by a team of distinguished resource persons, including Dr. Virendra Yadav, Scientist at ARIES; Dr. Aasheesh Raturi, Associate Professor at DIBNS; Dr. Nitesh Kumar, Assistant Professor at the University of Petroleum & Energy Studies (UPES); Mr. Mohit Panwar, Research Scholar at ARIES; and Mr. Abhishek Negi, Research Scholar at DIBNS. The sessions featured expert lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on demonstrations designed for classroom application. Key components included solar observations using safe techniques, understanding phases of the Moon, eclipses, seasons, constellation identification, fundamentals of optics and telescopes, and night-sky stargazing. Teachers were also trained in using star charts, planispheres, and mobile sky-mapping apps to help translate complex astronomical concepts into interactive classroom activities. This initiative by DIBNS marks a significant step toward improving the quality of science education in the Himalayan region by empowering teachers with modern astronomy teaching tools and inspiring scientific curiosity among students. It is expected to create a long-term ripple effect across rural Uttarakhand, contributing to a more vibrant and inclusive scientific ecosystem.