ISRO to adopt 100 labs to promote space education

The Samikhsya Bureau

NEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on Monday, announced to adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Labs across the country to promote education in the field of STEM, Space education and space technology related Innovations for school students.

It would be a collaboration between NITI Aayog and ISRO.

“This is a great opportunity for our young budding space researchers and astronauts to learn from the best minds of our country, and become living inspirations for their school, families and local communities,” NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr. Rajiv Kumar said.

ISRO Chairman Dr K. Sivan expressed hope that the step shall help promoting innovation and the spirit of experiential learning among the school kids compared to traditional learning.

“With today’s adoption of 100 ATLs, distributed geographically in line with ISRO’s presence across the country, the organization is taking a small step in engaging with the students, towards giving them direction in pursuing their space dreams,” he stated.

Scientists and engineers from ISRO centers, in close coordination with Capacity Building Program Office, ISRO Headquarters, shall actively mentor the kids as well as interact with teachers in these ATLs for encouraging experiments, ISRO elaborated.

An Atal Tinkering Lab provides a makerspace where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands on do-it-yourself mode; and learn innovation skills.

To foster entrepreneurship and innovation, Atal Innovation Mission has established over 7000 ATLs across the country so far enabling over three million students between Grade 6 to Grade 12 acquire a problem solving, tinkering and innovative mind-set, ISRO maintained.