Jamshedpur, Oct. 8: For those inspired by Kalpana Chawla, the future beckons.

A conscious effort is being made to make the subject popular among students.

?Astronomy as a subject hasn?t been developed in the country as yet but efforts are being made to cultivate interest in astronomy in children and to give them guidance to follow their dream,? said Shubhendu Mazumdar, member, Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT).

To begin with, here is a golden opportunity for students to participate in the 10th International Astronomy Olympiad.

?But to participate in the International Olympiad, students will have to go through three rigorous screening sessions after which five representatives will make it to the International Olympiad,? said Mazumdar, co-ordinator of the National Standard Examination in Astronomy.

The first big hurdle for the students would be to clear the National Standard Examination in Astronomy on December 12.

?The test will consist of multiple choice type questions based on physics, mathematics and the basics of astronomy in the ICSE and the CBSE syllabus. Students would be divided into two categories; juniors ? comprising students of Classes VIII, IX and X and seniors ? comprising students of Classes 10 and 11,? said Mazumdar.

The junior level comprises of students born after March 1, 1990 and the senior level will be open for the students born after March 1, 1988.

He said this is for the first time that IAPT was organising the examinations in collaboration with the National Council of Science Museums (NSCM) and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).

?An examination of this calibre is happening in the country for the first time and we are extremely proud to conduct the examination at Jamshedpur Public School for the first time. This is the only centre for the examination to be held this year and it has been made possible by the initiative of our principal Lalita Sareen,? he said.

Mazumdar, also a Physics teacher with JPS, further revealed that after the examination, 300 toppers from each category will qualify for the Indian National Astronomy Olympiad (INAO).