Abstract Details
| Name: G.S.D.Babu Affiliation: M.P.Birla Institute of Fundamental Research, Banga Conference ID: ASI2015_455 Title : ASTRONOMY EDUCATION BEYOND BASIC COURSES Authors and Co-Authors : G.S.D.Babu M.P.Birla Institute of Fundamental Research Bangalore Abstract Type : Poster Abstract Category : Other Abstract : To cater to the students who have the interest and aptitude for an in-depth understanding of the subject of Astronomy and Astrophysics, various extracurricular educational programmes have been designed and are being implemented at the M.P.Birla Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore. As a precursor, the high school students are given a two-week long course on basic concepts of Astronomy during their summer vacation and the students at the undergraduate level are given a greater exposure of various topics in the field of Astronomy and Astrophysics over an extended period of about six months. This longer course has actually helped the students to identify the specific topics which are more appealing to them and also to be motivated for pursuing those topics for a deeper understanding. Such students, being keen to go beyond the basics, are given the option to take up specialised courses in the topics of Astrobiology, Astrochemistry, Radio Astronomy, Solar Astronomy, Space Astronomy and Cosmology conducted as week-end classes at MPBIFR. These courses are at the post-graduate level and are covered in a span of 18 to 20 hours spread over a period of 9 to 10 weeks. All these courses are coordinated respectively by the visiting subject experts coming from various research institutes and organisations located in and around Bangalore. Each of these courses are specifically designed by the coordinators in order to make an impact with an in-depth knowledge in that particular topic. Field trips to the relevant observatories are also included for conducting on-site sessions. The students of these courses are made to go through a fairly rigorous programme of class room sessions, assignments and tests before they are awarded certificates. Further, the motivated students are encouraged to involve themselves in regular research programmes in Astronomy at MPBIFR or at any other suitable scientific institution for publishing research papers in national and international journals. |