Once in a Lifetime Opportunity for Children to Travel Free to Russia to View the Total Solar Eclipse

SPACE, a voluntary organization working for Science Popularization, has launched a competition titled “Heliodyssey 2008″, an all India online exam, winners would accompany astronomers, scientists & teachers to Russia on a fully sponsored trip to track and study the total solar eclipse occurring on 1st August 2008 in Novosibirsk, Siberia.

Heliodyssey is a project of SPACE to follow the Total Solar eclipses all over the world and perform experiments. Heliodyssey 2008 the second student solar expedition is an all India competition, any Indian student between classes 6th to 12th is eligible to participate in the exam for the selection of the winners. The tentative dates of travel to Russia are from July 29th to August 2nd.

Winners (five) become part of the official SPACE team of astronomers and scientists to work on various experiments during the Total Solar Eclipse and scientifically record the event. They not only get a chance to represent their school and themselves internationally but the exposure opens their horizon for scientific research and the cultural diversity adds to their personality.

SPACE has been tracking solar eclipses since 1996, when the total solar eclipse was visible in India. In 2006 SPACE organized Heliodyssey 2006 in which winners were taken to Turkey to view the Total Solar Eclipse. On the team’s return Dr. Kalam, then President of India personally met the team and queried them on the activities and experiments conducted by them. The eclipse on 1st August 2008 is partial in India and Total only in Canada, China, Mongolia and the Russian federation. The longer totality (time for which the sun is covered by the moon) for this eclipse is at Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia and is the reason for the expedition’s travel to that location. As Sachin Bahmba, General Secretary, SPACE says, “Total Solar Eclipse besides being a fascinating and beautiful experience is also a great learning opportunity. The participants of Heliodyssey conduct experiments and collect data of scientific importance.”

Through Heliodyssey SPACE strives to break the myths and fears associated with solar eclipse in the minds of people. Science dispels inequality, communalism, casteism and breeds equality and unity. SPACE utilized this event to popularize astronomy and science, one of the core objectives of SPACE, inculcates Scientific Temper, which leads to rational thinking, questioning and logic, all vital for the growth of mind, especially amongst the younger generation.

The examination will be conducted online and will be of one hour duration. It will consist of 50 multiple choice questions from basic science, general knowledge and general astronomy. The students can check the sample paper on the website and prepare accordingly. The students will be divided into two categories for the purpose of examination i.e. Category I- Classes 6th to 8th and Category II - Classes 9th to 12th.

Source India PRwire

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