Detailed list

Our programmes for varied age and experience groups

We have various educational and public outreach programmes at IUCAA. You can find the most suited for you.

You can always email us for further details, scheduling and customising content via scipop@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.

Regular Programmes

This series of lectures at IUCAA have been in vogue for the past 25 years. On the Second Saturday of every month (when schools are in session) we host a lecture by invited scientists and personalities, for school children of standard VIII, IX & X. The lectures are supplemented with demonstrations and slides. The local schools in our list are sent an invitation and details of the lecture every month. To this they can respond by selecting and sending 10 students and one teacher on the respective day.

For Details/Adding your school to our list
Contact: Prasad Adekar – Tel. (020) 25604602 or email: [ scipop@gmail.com 

These are aimed to give a scientific introduction those who have a popular interest in Astronomy. During these workshops, children explore more about the Universe via some films, slideshows and activities. They find out what kind of astronomy they can do themselves and how they could choose this as their future line of study. We also try to fit in a Q&A session and a visit to the IUCAA Science Park at the end.

The workshops are usually scheduled either on Mondays or Wednesdays as per mutual convenience. The timings are from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Groups of 40-50 (incl. teachers) are welcome.

The calendar of the activities can be checked at this link.

For Details/Booking
Contact: Prasad Adekar – Tel. (020) 25604602 or email: [ scipop@gmail.com ]

This is a School student’s programme. During these visits, the children are shown some scientific principles through a set of creative toys and experiments. They spend their time making “action” toys that spin, fly, whistle and jump. We also try to fit in a visit to the IUCAA Science Park and if possible a small Q&A session at the end.

We encourage visits from a group of 40-50 (incl. teachers), with prior booking. The workshops are usually scheduled either on Tuesdays or Thursdays as per mutual convenience. The timings are usually from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm.

The details of the Science Toys are available at this link.

For Details / Booking
Contact: Rupesh Labade – Tel. (020) 25604602   [ rupesh@iucaa.in ]

This is an open programme for anyone, but strictly with prior arrangement

As a way to grow public interest in astronomy and clear many misconceptions, IUCAA has a regular sky-watching session on Friday evenings after sunset. The session begins with an introduction to practical sky watching and the constellations. During the evening the planets, stars, galaxies available in the sky are shown to the assembled group. The 6-inch & 14-inch telescopes on the terrace of the Science Centre are made available for this.

For Details/Booking
Contact: Prasad Adekar – Tel. (020) 25604602 or email: [ scipop@gmail.com ]

This is the main suggested visit for those who wish to have an introduction to IUCAA, a walk inside the main campus, a look at the salient areas and description of astronomy through related exhibits. We also try to fit in a small Q&A / career session at the end of the trip if requested. Such visits to the main campus are planned only on Saturdays at 11 am.

For Details/Booking
Contact: Prasad Adekar – Tel. (020) 25604602 or email: [ scipop@gmail.com ]

Occasional / Yearly Programmes

This is the Open Day at IUCAA for all public.
The day of the discovery of the Nobel prize winning Raman Effect (~29th Feb), by Prof. C.V.Raman is celebrated every year with great zest as the National Science Day. Visitors can attend and participate in popular science lectures, demonstrations, quiz contest, screening of scientific films, essay writing and drawing competetions for school students etc. Research carried out in IUCAA is showcased for the benefit of all. All are welcome to visit IUCAA on 28th Feb.

IUCAA periodically invites eminent scientists to deliver public lectures. These lectures are very popular with the science-savvy people of Pune.

The talks are announced through posters at quite a few places. A schedule can also be found here or here

“If you wish to become a scientist, spend time with a working scientist”.
This sums up the Summer School Project. Every summer (~6 weeks in April-May), 180 children from Pune schools are invited to spend time at IUCAA. Every week, a batch of about 30 students do some hands-on projects in IUCAA. These Groups of students are attached to a working scientist so that they get a “feel” for science.

This programme is open to students from Pune only. The participation is strictly and only through criteria informed to school heads. Only nominations from respective schools, on a first-come-first-serve basis are considered. Individual entries are not entertained directly.

For Details
Contact: Samir Dhurde – Tel. (020) 25604604   [ scipop@gmail.com ]

“Make your own telescope” has attracted over 350 science enthusiasts. The 5-day workshop we usually organise, is to make a 4-inch reflecting (Newtonian) telescope. We give instructions and space to work in our small Lab at IUCAA. The process involves grinding a glass blank, then mirroring, assembling and calibrating it. It gives a deeper insight into the working of telescopes.

The workshops can be undertaken whenever there are two requests in a week. In special cases amateur astronomers can also interact with us for a few weeks to grind a 15-cm (6 inch) mirror. Arrangements for a fruitful session, resulting in good telescopes, are made by the SciPOP team. Dealers in the city can be contacted directly for buying the glass, kit & mount for the telescope.

For Details
Please apply through the online form at the link below. We will get back to you at the earliest.
http://goo.gl/VnFWW

Contact: Samir Dhurde – Tel. (020) 25604601   [ scipop@gmail.com ]

Some realted help literature can be found here

This is the main suggested visit for those who wish to have an introduction to IUCAA, a walk inside the main campus, a look at the salient areas and description of astronomy through related exhibits. We also try to fit in a small Q&A / career session at the end of the trip if requested. Such visits to the main campus are planned only on Saturdays at 11 am.

For Details/Booking
Contact: Prasad Adekar – Tel. (020) 25604602 or email: [ scipop@gmail.com ]