A Regional Outreach Program on ‘Igniting Young Minds Through Science & Space’ was organized at Nagaland University, Lumami, on November 7, as a precursor to the National Space Science Symposium 2026. The Symposium being jointly initiated by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Bangalore and North East Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Umiam, Meghalaya will be held in February 2026 at NESAC, Umiam, Meghalaya.
The outreach program began with a welcome address and introduction by Prof. Y. Sundarayya, Head, Department of Physics, Nagaland University followed by Dr. Arup Borogohain, Senior Scientist at NESAC, who provided the background of the initiative and emphasized the need to nurture scientific curiosity in the region. Dr. Himanshu Pandey, Web Information Manager (WIM), ISTRAC, and Division Head, Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC), ISRO Bangalore as the Guest of Honour, encouraged students to explore career opportunities in space research and highlighted ISRO’s pivotal role in empowering young talent. The Chief Guest, Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University, inspired participants by recounting the journey of Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, founder of IG Drones, whose achievements during Operation Sindoor showcased the transformative power of student innovation from Odisha to the national stage.
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Dr. Vijeth, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Nagaland University concluded the inaugural session with a formal vote of thanks.
The program’featured two technical sessions: Dr. Himanshu Pandey delivered a comprehensive overview on the evolution of India’s space program, major space centres, and planetary exploration missions, while Dr. Arup Borogohain detailed the societal benefits of space technology, including satellite navigation, space-based support for disaster management, agritech applications, and analytics for geotourism. About one hundred participants joined the event, taking part in lively discussions and showing great excitement for learning more about space science and technology.
