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A Legacy of Celebrating Science
Time till next Open Day at IUCAA.
Every year, on February 28th, India celebrates National Science Day (NSD) to mark the discovery of the Raman Effect by Sir C.V. Raman in 1928. For this work, Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. The day serves as a tribute to Indian scientific achievements and a nationwide effort to encourage scientific curiosity, innovation, and education among students and the public.
Since its inception in 1987, NSD has evolved into a nationwide festival of science. At IUCAA, this day is much more than a commemoration—it is an annual tradition that has grown in scale, creativity, and impact over the years.
The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, has been at the heart of NSD celebrations since the early 1990s. From humble beginnings with school quizzes and telescope demonstrations, IUCAA has transformed NSD into a grand festival of science, blending education, entertainment, and hands-on engagement.
This article aims to take you through IUCAA’s remarkable journey of NSD celebrations across the decades, showcasing how it has inspired thousands of students, teachers, and science enthusiasts every year.
The first recorded NSD celebration at IUCAA took place in 1991, with a science quiz featuring students from four regional schools. From there, the event grew rapidly—by 1993, over 25 schools participated in quizzes, lectures, slide shows, and even a cartoon contest.
A big highlight of 1993 was a model planetarium—a simple plastic-ball projector that simulated the night sky. Local students also engaged in an experimental physics challenge, where they had to bend a piece of wire into the IUCAA logo in 30 seconds.
By 1995, NSD took on thematic significance, with that year’s celebrations focusing on the upcoming total solar eclipse of October 1995. The event featured model-making competitions, an Astro-ballet on eclipse myths, and screenings of eclipse videos.
The late 1990s saw a dramatic expansion in public participation. In 1997, IUCAA introduced an Open House, welcoming thousands of visitors to explore interactive science exhibits, public lectures, and skywatching sessions.
By 1999, the event had grown into a full-scale Science Festival, featuring a Science Project Competition, a maze-solving robot, and a record-breaking 6,000 visitors on Open Day. One highlight was the Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti’s (Superstition Eradication Committee) show, where volunteers debunked so-called “miracles” using basic science experiments. This effort helped enlighten the general public’s minds toward science and astronomy and escape the clutches of so-called “god-men” whose swindling tendencies remain rampant in our society.
By the early 2000s, IUCAA’s NSD had grown into a multi-day event. In 2002, a special exhibition on “100 Years of the Nobel Prize” was hosted, attracting over 8,000 visitors. Jayant Narlikar and Ajit Kembhavi introduced a live Q&A session, where audiences could ask anything about the universe—this tradition continues to this day.
In 2005, NSD showcased an interactive Mars Rover model, hands-on physics experiments, and an actual meteorite exhibit. IUCAA also inaugurated the Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika, a scientific outreach center where students and visitors could explore science through fun DIY experiments.
The late 2000s saw IUCAA taking science beyond its campus. By 2008, celebrations expanded to Ambegaon Taluka, where IUCAA’s Girawali Observatory is located. Lectures and skywatching sessions were conducted in rural areas, introducing astronomy to students who had never seen a telescope before.
In 2009, a landmark moment occurred when A.S. Padmavathi from ISRO delivered a talk on Chandrayaan-1, showcasing India’s first mission to the Moon.
By the 2010s, IUCAA’s NSD had become one of India’s largest science outreach events.
In 2010, the event featured virtual observatories, where visitors could explore the sky using Google Sky and WorldWide Telescope. By 2011, IUCAA introduced aerodynamic shows, and despite heavy rain, over 6,500 visitors turned up for the evening skywatch.
By 2013, the celebrations had grown so massive that IUCAA welcomed a record-breaking 10,000 attendees. The event introduced an interactive Mars Mission exhibit and featured live webcasts, allowing science lovers across India to participate.
IUCAA continued pushing boundaries in public engagement and scientific outreach. In 2016, the NSD theme focused on gravitational waves, celebrating India’s role in the groundbreaking LIGO project.
By 2018, IUCAA hosted the first-ever “Ask an Astronomer” booth, where visitors could chat with real astrophysicists. Public interest soared, and NSD was now a multi-day science festival, engaging thousands of students and general visitors.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 forced IUCAA to adapt. Instead of an in-person event, IUCAA hosted virtual lectures, live Q&A sessions, and online science workshops, reaching an even wider audience across India.
In 2022, IUCAA returned with a hybrid model, combining physical exhibits and online experiences. This ensured that even those from remote areas could participate. The event also introduced AI-powered space simulations, allowing visitors to “fly” through the universe.
As we move further into the decade, IUCAA continues to inspire, educate, and ignite scientific curiosity, proving that National Science Day is not just an event—it’s a legacy.
From a small quiz contest in 1991 to a massive science festival engaging 10,000+ visitors, IUCAA’s National Science Day celebrations have evolved into a beacon of scientific outreach in India.
With each passing year, IUCAA pushes the boundaries of engagement, accessibility, and innovation, ensuring that science remains exciting, inclusive, and ever-evolving.
What will the next decade bring? One thing is certain—IUCAA’s National Science Day will continue to shine as a celebration of curiosity, discovery, and the infinite wonders of the cosmos.
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