<p>Bengaluru: The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department on Friday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) to popularise science and astronomy through Arivu Kendras (Gram Panchayat libraries). </p>.<p>The department and IIA will educate villagers about the role of astronomy in daily life, besides teaching them about celestial events that can be observed with the naked eye. There are around 6,000 Arivu Kendras in the state.</p>.<p>A press statement by the department said inculcation of scientific temper among rural communities as one of the objectives of the programme.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Library supervisors will be trained to conduct low-cost hands-on activities for the public, especially for students. Online interactions through computer labs in the Arivu Kendras will also be organised. Participants will be trained to use small telescopes,” it said.</p>.Words of compassion can better lives of cancer patients: President Murmu.<p class="bodytext">RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge said library supervisors would be trained and mentored to ensure successful execution of the programme. Astronomy-related content would be made available in Kannada, and public activities organised to generate interest in astronomy, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Priyank said digital tools would be extensively used as part of the initiative. The initiative also includes interactive elements like online discussions, talks and competitions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">RDPR commissioner Dr Arundhati Chandrashekar highlighted the need to promote astronomy and science in Kannada. </p>.<p class="bodytext">IIA Director Dr Annapurni Subramaniam said, “We’ve been working with a few Arivu Kendras through our COSMOS-Mysuru project. We look forward to a successful collaboration with the department to promote astronomy in rural Karnataka through our outreach station.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Cosmology Education and Research Training Centre is a planetarium and data training centre being built by IIA on University of Mysore campus.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department on Friday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) to popularise science and astronomy through Arivu Kendras (Gram Panchayat libraries). </p>.<p>The department and IIA will educate villagers about the role of astronomy in daily life, besides teaching them about celestial events that can be observed with the naked eye. There are around 6,000 Arivu Kendras in the state.</p>.<p>A press statement by the department said inculcation of scientific temper among rural communities as one of the objectives of the programme.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Library supervisors will be trained to conduct low-cost hands-on activities for the public, especially for students. Online interactions through computer labs in the Arivu Kendras will also be organised. Participants will be trained to use small telescopes,” it said.</p>.Words of compassion can better lives of cancer patients: President Murmu.<p class="bodytext">RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge said library supervisors would be trained and mentored to ensure successful execution of the programme. Astronomy-related content would be made available in Kannada, and public activities organised to generate interest in astronomy, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Priyank said digital tools would be extensively used as part of the initiative. The initiative also includes interactive elements like online discussions, talks and competitions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">RDPR commissioner Dr Arundhati Chandrashekar highlighted the need to promote astronomy and science in Kannada. </p>.<p class="bodytext">IIA Director Dr Annapurni Subramaniam said, “We’ve been working with a few Arivu Kendras through our COSMOS-Mysuru project. We look forward to a successful collaboration with the department to promote astronomy in rural Karnataka through our outreach station.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Cosmology Education and Research Training Centre is a planetarium and data training centre being built by IIA on University of Mysore campus.</p>