At his alma mater, Springdales School in New Delhi, Group Captain Angad Pratap — designate astronaut for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan Mission — the first human space flight programme, on Friday, encouraged students to pursue science as a path to innovation and service to humanity.
He made these remarks at the annual event — Dr A. K. Saha Memorial Young Scientist Experimental Project, an interschool scientific event organised by Springdales School, Dhaula Kuan.
Pratap urged students not to view science just as a path to careers and wealth, but as a medium to explore, innovate, and serve humanity.
“Too often, we see science only as an avenue to make a living or a fortune. Those things matter, of course, but it is just as important to give back to the system,” he remarked.
Offering insights into India’s remarkable journey in space exploration, Nandini Harinath, Deputy Director, ISRO, Telemetry Tracking Command Network, Bangalore, who presided over the event as Chief Guest, recounted the behind-the-scenes stories of India’s landmark space missions.
Drawing on her expertise in space flight operations, she spoke about the challenges faced in missions she has worked on — from Chandrayaan, which sought to unravel the Moon’s mysteries, to Mangalyaan, which made India the first country to reach Mars in its maiden attempt, and NISAR, a collaborative Earth observation mission with NASA.
Throwing light on the widespread opportunities for students eager to pursue space science, Harinath explained, “To be a space scientist, you don’t have to come only from aeronautics or aerospace. Space needs people from every field — electronics, mechanical engineering, even biology. There are many ways to contribute.”
This year’s inter-school contest was on the theme “Science and Sustainability: Challenges and Transformative Solutions.” The event aimed to spark curiosity among budding scientists while giving them a platform to address pressing environmental, economic, and social challenges. Students showcased ideas ranging from smart wound-healing bandages that sense temperature and moisture to eco-friendly packaging and sustainable construction materials.