ISRO launches summer course 'Young Scientist Programme'

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched a special programme for school children called “Young Scientist Programme” from this year.

The programme is primarily aimed at imparting basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications to the younger ones with the intent of arousing their interest in the emerging areas of Space activities.

The residential training programme will be of around two weeks duration during the summer holidays. “It is proposed to select three students each from each State/ Union Territory to participate in this programme every year covering CBSE, ICSE and State syllabus,” said an ISRO release.

Those who have finished 8th standard and currently studying in the 9th standard will be eligible for the programme.

ISRO has approached the Chief Secretaries of the respective States/ Administrators of Union Territories in India to arrange for the selection of three students from each of their State/UT and communicate the list to the space agency.

The selection is based on academic performance and extracurricular activities. This has been cited in the selection criteria already circulated to Chief Secretaries of States/ Administrators of UTs.

Students belong to the rural area have been given special weightage in the selection criteria. The list of the selected candidates from each state is expected by the end of March 2019.