IUCAA Sponsored National Workshop on "New Frontiers in Observational Astronomy and Space Physics"

The Post-Graduate and Research Department of Physics, N.S.S. College, Pandalam, in association with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and the Research and Extension Forum, successfully organized a National Workshop on "New Frontiers in Observational Astronomy and Space Physics", funded by the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, on 9–10 July 2026.

The two-day workshop featured expert lectures by Prof. C. S. Stalin (Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru), Prof. Vaidehi S. Paliya (IUCAA, Pune), Prof. K. Indulekha (Former Professor, M.G. University, Kottayam), and Prof. Prince Prasad (IUCAA Associate). The programme covered topics including optical telescopes, X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, solar-terrestrial physics, statistical techniques for astronomy, and career opportunities in astronomy. A major highlight of the workshop was the hands-on training on multiwavelength astronomical data acquisition and analysis.

The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from 50 undergraduate and postgraduate students representing various institutions across Kerala. Notably, 66% of the participants were women, reflecting the growing interest of female students in astronomy and space science.

The workshop received excellent feedback for its academic quality, practical orientation, and interactive sessions with eminent scientists.