Khagolshala - Astronomy and Space Education Labs

hagolshala – Astronomy and Space Education Labs for the underprivileged youth.

Fully-Sponsored Labs for underprivileged students of Jawahar Nvodaya Vidyalaya across India, with the vision of empowering youth with tools and technology to become scientists and astronomers. An initiative focused on inspiring grassroots through Astronomy, Space Education, and Hands-On Experimentation. Celebrating the legacy of successful pilot done in 2021 in association with Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, GoI.

hagolshala – Astronomy and Space Education Labs for the underprivileged youth.

Fully-Sponsored Labs for underprivileged students of government aided schools across India, with the vision of empowering youth with tools and technology to become scientists and astronomers. An initiative focused on inspiring grassroots through Astronomy, Space Education, and Hands-On Experimentation. Celebrating the legacy of successful pilot done in 2021 in association with Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, GoI. This initiative aligns with the United Nations‘ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Overview

Khagolshala, meaning “Astronomical Classroom” in Hindi, is a revolutionary program designed to ignite curiosity and foster STEM learning among students across India. Spearheaded by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India in partnership with SPACE Education Foundation, this initiative brought the fascinating world of astronomy and space science to the classrooms of 20 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs also known as PM Shri Schools) as a pilot in 2021.

Objectives

To nurture scientific thinking and inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
To provide hands-on experience and foster innovation through cutting-edge space science tools and resources.
To create a vibrant ecosystem for space education and research at the school level.

I am sure that the Khagolshalas set up by SPACE will open the window of opportunity for our students to be future astronomers and Space scientists of India.– Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan (Former Principal Scientific Advisor to GoI)