Pune: Young minds showcased impressive aircraft replicas and innovative aerospace projects at the Aeromodelling Workshop, Art & Research Project Exhibition organized by The Aeronautical Society of India. This event was part of the 73rd Annual General Meeting and the national conference on "Challenges in Aerospace for Viksit Bharat 2047."
The exhibition featured poster, aeromodelling, and research project competitions, with enthusiastic participation from school and college students.
Poster Competition Winners:
School Level: First place - Shraddha Ramesh Pradhan (Sathe Junior College, Mumbai); Second place - N. Shwetanjali (Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pune).
College Level: First place - Shashwati Atul Hinge & Jyoti Nagarkar (Ajinkya D.Y. Patil University).
Aeromodelling Competitions:
Rubber-Powered Aircraft: First place - Pranav Gangurde, Bhoomi Ranawade & Swara Raut (Ajinkya D.Y. Patil University); Second place - Sakshi Geete & Zeeshan Khan (MIT Vishwashanti University).
Battery-Powered Aircraft: First place - Mariam Memon, Danish Devangi & Malhar Gadkari (MIT Art, Design & Technology University); Second place - Divyani Singh, Ajinkya J. & Kevin Bindora.
Research Project Exhibition:
First place: Mayuri Rajendra Gore (DIET).
Second place: Ayush Maurya, Dhruv Pednekar & Alaric D’Silva (MIT Art, Design & Technology University).
During the special workshop, expert Madhav Khare guided students in the art of aircraft construction, helping them refine their skills. The event saw the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including Dr. A.P. Das (President, Pune Chapter, Aeronautical Society of India), ARDE Director Ankathi Raju, Associate Director R.P. Pandey, Srinivas Rao, and R.P.N. Rao.
The exhibition was graced by former ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somnath, former DRDO Chairman Dr. Satish Reddy, DRDO Director-General Dr. Prateek Kishor, and Dr. Chandrika Kaushik, who applauded the students' efforts.
Dr. S. Somnath emphasized the importance of fundamental science, advising young researchers to focus on core scientific concepts rather than merely pursuing high salaries. He noted that a strong foundation in science enhances applications in AI, data science, and analytics.
