The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced a new introductory-level online training programme called Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START).
START is an introductory-level online training in space science and technology for undergraduate and postgraduate students of science and technology.
Objectives
The main objective of the training programme is to attract youngsters to the fields of space science and technology. The training modules will comprise introductory-level topics on various verticals of space science and technology (Astronomy, Planetary Science, Heliophysics, Atmospheric science, Microgravity related studies and space technology). In addition to these, there will be sessions on Indian space exploration programme and research opportunities.
Date and Duration of online training
Online training is tentatively scheduled to be conducted during June-July 2023. The training programme is about 2-3 hrs/day for a duration of 2 – 3 weeks.
The successful candidates of the online test, which would be conducted at the end of the training, would be provided with a certificate.
Those who would score high grades in the introductory level training would be considered for the next level of advanced training.
Eligibility of Candidates
Postgraduate students and final year undergraduate students of physical sciences (Physics and Chemistry) and technology (e.g. Electronics, Computer Science, Mechanical, Applied Physics, Radiophysics, Optics & Opto-electronics, Instrumentation and other associated subjects) studying in Indian educational institutes/Universities/Colleges are eligible to be considered for the training.
Certificate to Participants: Important criteria
- A minimum of 70% of attendance in the live online session is needed to appear in the online examination. They are eligible for a participation certificate.
- The success criteria for the examination is 50% marks or above. Successful candidates will be provided a merit certificate.
Requirements from the Host Institute
- Selection of the candidates: The host institutes need to select eligible candidates, who are studying in the institutes, depending on their aptitude, merit/academic performance. The host institute needs to send the list of selected students to ISRO/DoS in a format as prescribed by ISRO.
- Lecture hall/auditorium facility: The host institute needs to be equipped with a lecture hall/auditorium, with internet connectivity and projection facility. The lectures will be streamed through the internet in a suitable videoconferencing platform. ISRO/DoS will share the link of the online training programme with the institutes.
How to apply
The registrations of the Institute will be through URL- https://jigyasa.iirs.gov.in/START. The Indian Educational Institutions / Universities / Colleges need to register their Institute in the website with an attachment of relevant nomination letter from Head of the Institute to identify a senior faculty as a coordinator of ISRO START programme (Annexure-1).
The coordinator has to provide details of the facilities available at the institute to host the ISRO START. ISRO will evaluate all the registered Institutes and approve them as an ISRO START nodal Centre based on details submitted by them.
All the approved nodal center will get their login credentials for ISRO E-CLASS Coordinator Management System (CMS).
The participants of approved nodal center will register in ISRO website for START programme by selecting their Institute as ISRO START nodal center.
The START programme will be conducted through ISRO E-CLASS platform (https://eclass.iirs.gov.in). The identified coordinator will review all the applications under his/her Institute and approve the eligible participants. All the approved participants will also get their login credentials for ISRO E-CLASS Learning Management System (LMS).
The coordinator will conduct the live classes in his/her Institute where all the approved participants will join the session in a group. However, ISRO E-CLASS platform will also allow the participants to join the live session with an Individual login.
At end of each session, the attendance of each participant will be submitted by the coordinator through E-CLASS CMS. The participants attaining minimum 70% attendance in live sessions will be eligible for online examination. The online examination will be conducted through ISRO E-CLASS LMS in a scheduled date and time.
The online examination will be conducted under close supervision of coordinator of START. The successful participants will be awarded with merit certificate from ISRO. The top rankers of the programme will get special appreciation and recognition from ISRO.
Last date for submission of EOI is 20th May 2023.
Responsibility of Institutes for hosting online training
- Identify a Co-ordinator for the START who will be the primary Point of Contact (POC) related to the training programme
- Select suitable candidates for the training programme.
- Providing necessary logistic support to the students to attend the programme.
- Monitoring of the student’s active participation in the training programme and submitting the attendance of the candidates in every session.
Institutes selected for hosting the online training programme will be intimated with the details of training.
