Bhubaneswar: Three eminent scientists were felicitated with Samanta Chandrasekhar Jyotibigyani Samman by the Samanta Chandra Sekhar Amateur Astronomers Association (SCAAA) at the Institute of physics here Sunday. They are science writer and speaker Nikhil Mohan Pattnaik, former director Pathani Samanta Planetarium PC Nayak and Ananda Hota a faculty of Centre for Excellence in basic science, Mumbai . The awards were given to mark the Silver Jubilee function of SCAAA, which was established July 10, 1993 with the efforts of scientists, teachers, students, educationists, research scholars and amateur astronomers from Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Regional Science Centre, Srujanika, Regional Research Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Utkal University.
The main objective of the association is to popularize science, particularly astronomy and create scientific temper among the students, teachers and general public and to bring into lime light the work and contribution of Samanta Chandra Sekhar said Laxmidhar Satpathy, president of SCAAA.
He said that SCAAA regularly observe various rare celestial events like solar eclipse, lunar eclipse, transit of Mercury and Venus.
It had recently organised a night sky watching programme through telescope at Pathani Samanta Planetarium from January 21 to 27. Besides, audio visual lectures on astronomy are also regularly held.
Winners of science quiz at various schools were also given away awards on the occasion.
PNN
