Pune: Astronomer Poshak Gandhi on Thursday said, "It feels so good that today everybody is busy and engaged in popularising science in India. This country has huge potential and young people who can dictate the science world.” 

Gandhi was in the city for his SITARE (Southampton IUCAA Training for Astronomy, Research and Education) project. He spoke to Sakal Times at Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics. 

He said, “We are starting this SITARE project which aims at rigorous research by the students who are pursuing masters in science stream." 

"The project will be started in India and Nepal as part of the popularisation of science, particularly physics in South East Asian countries,” he said, adding the department in Nepal is very active in science research and even his lab has collaborated with them. 

"We will be talking to various universities across India and conduct workshops, seminars, symposiums for students on astrophysics, the latest development in science (physics), about basic concepts of science research. It will include understanding of LIGO project,” he added. 

The project, which recently got approval, has been funded by Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) and will start in April 2018 at Delhi, said Poshak who is a Delhi University graduate. 
He said, “India has a huge base in research and we want to tap this knowledge and energy." 

Meanwhile, IUCAA has students programme (summer school programme or vacation students programme) to do projects in astronomy and astrophysics or related topics. These students have to be thorough in basics in physics and mathematics.