A participant at a science exhibition. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 17: The Pathani Samanta Planetarium here is going to organise a Young Astronomer Talent Search this year.

The purpose of this project is to provide impetus to young talents who are interested in astronomy and space science. Students from standard VIII to X from all schools in Orissa are eligible to participate in the programme that is being held for the fourth time consecutively.

“This project is an attempt on our part to hone talents of youngsters in astronomy, astrophysics and space science. We also want to highlight the contributions of eminent Oriya astronomer Pathani Samanta,” said Subhendu Pattnaik, deputy director (technical), Pathani Samanta Planetarium.

In the Young Astronomer Talent Search, there are three steps to ascertain a genius.

In the first stage, the students have to prepare an abstract on ‘Space Science — India’s Past, Present and Future’ within 500 words and submit it to the headmaster or the principals of their respective schools.

The last date for submitting the write-up is August 25. In the second stage, about 700 to 800 short-listed students will be invited to seven different zonal-level camps in Bhubaneswar, Jajpur Road, Behrampur, Belpahar, Jeypore, Keonjhar and Joda to present a model on a given topic. The 100 best students will be chosen. They will then be called to participate in the state-level camp at Bhubaneswar where distinguished scientists will judge their creations.

The top 20 models will be awarded during the eve of the 176th birth anniversary of Mahamahopadhyay Chandrasekhar Singhsamant Harichandan Mahapatra, better known as Pathani Samanta, on December 13. Pattnaik also said that the number of participants increase every year. This year, he expects more than 6,000 write-ups.

The Young Astronomer Talent Search was first organised in 2007.