OSF's Namma Telescope showcased at Mupperum Vizha
The Open Space Foundation (OSF) was privileged to participate in the Mupperum Vizha organized by the School Education Department of Krishnagiri district at Government Medical College, Krishnagiri. This esteemed event, graced by the presence of Thiru Anbil Mahesh Poyamozhi, Minister of School Education Tamil Nadu, Thiru R. Sakkarapani, Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, and Tmt. K. M. Sarayu, District Collector of Krishnagiri, aimed to underscore the importance of quality education and modern teaching methods among school teachers and students.
The program was multifaceted, featuring exhibitions where students from Government High School, Jagir Venkatapuram, showcased their remarkable achievements under the guidance of the Open Space Foundation. They proudly presented a telescope constructed through OSF's Namma Telescope program and also highlighted their role as citizen scientists in discovering asteroids through the Tamilnadu Asteroid Search campaign 2022 conducted by OSF.
During the event, the esteemed Education Minister had the opportunity to observe celestial objects through the Namma telescope exhibit, and his appreciation served as a motivating factor for the continued journey of the participants and Open Space Foundation undoubtedly. Moreover, many students and teachers, along with ministers, experienced their first observation through the telescope, sharing their awe and happiness with us.
The exhibition, revolving around the themes of education, currency collections, and archaeological artifacts (Kalvi Kankatchi, Naanaya Kankatchi, and Tholiyal Kankatchi, respectively), featured active participation from students across Krishnagiri district. The Kalvi Kankatchi highlighted various educational schemes introduced by the Ministry of Education Tamil Nadu, with students presenting these schemes creatively. The Naanaya Kankatchi showcased an extensive collection of over 1000 currencies and coins from different countries and historical periods, with students providing detailed insights into their history and unique alloys.
The Tholiyal Kankatchi featured various archaeological remains and statues of ancient Tamil people, with students offering intriguing details about the exhibits. OSF took pride in contributing to this impactful event by exhibiting the Namma Telescope.
The program concluded with ministers and the collector praising the students, with special recognition given to the citizen scientists of OSF for their innovative achievements in astronomy. The Education Minister honored all participating students, and OSF expressed joy in being a part of this significant event. Additionally, the OSF team extends sincere gratitude to Mr. Sankar, the Science teacher of Government High School, Jagir Venkatapuram, for extending the invitation to the OSF team to participate in this enriching program.
