Dibrugarh University Marks National Space Day 2026 with Outreach, Competitions and Expert Lectures

A CORRESPONDENT

DIBRUGARH: The Department of Physics and the Centre for Atmospheric Studies of Dibrugarh University, in collaboration with community radio station Radio Gyanmalinee 90.8 FM, observed National Space Day 2026 with a series of academic and outreach activities.

Prof. Umanada Dev Goswami, head of the Department of Physics, inaugurated the programme, while Dr Bitap Raj Kalita delivered the welcome address. Prof. Kalyan Bhuyan, chairperson of the workshop and the Centre for Atmospheric Studies, highlighted the beginnings of India’s space programme and ISRO’s initiatives in the 1970s.

Speakers at the event stressed the importance of students’ participation in nation-building and scientific development.

An inter-departmental poster-making competition was organised as part of the observance, along with a quiz competition conducted by Dr Jitu Ranjan Chetia and Priyanka Joshi.

The afternoon session featured Prof. Pradeep Kumar Bhuyan, a retired faculty member of the Department of Physics, Dibrugarh University, and founder chairperson of the Centre for Atmospheric Studies. He recalled the early development of space science research in Northeast India and encouraged students to pursue science and contribute to space science, technology and allied fields.

This was followed by an online lecture by Prof. D. Pallamraju, senior professor and dean at the Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad. He spoke on the National Space Day 2026 theme, “Towards Viksit Bharat: Innovating, Collaborating and Aspiring to Global and Space Leadership.” Students from various departments attended the online session and participated in the competitions.

The National Space Day 2026 committee comprises Prof. Kalyan Bhuyan as chairperson, Dr Bitap Raj Kalita as convenor, and Dr Binita Pathak, Dr Barsha Dutta, Jocelyn Sangma, Dr Jnanendra Upadhyay, Dr Jituranjan Chetia and Swapnali Bhuyan as joint convenors. The programme concluded with the distribution of prizes to the winners of the quiz and poster-making competitions.

Also Read: Assam: National Pragati Dialogue held at Dibrugarh University