Andhra University, which is the oldest university in the State and one among the oldest in the country, has a lot of potential to contribute in a big way towards space science, said Director of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, Dr. Anil Bhardwaj. He was speaking at the 94th Foundation Day celebration of AU, here on Friday.
According to him, the Department of Space Science has been given a challenge by the Central government to put at least one astronaut into space by 2022, under the Gaganyaan programme.
“Once a man is put into the orbit, research is not just limited to space science but it becomes a multi-disciplinary one. AU has a number of departments such as zoology, botany, space science, geology, engineering and geophysics, and every department can play a vital role,” he said.
He urged the academic body to encourage students to produce light weight satellites. “Now ISRO is allowing students to make and put light weight satellites around 4 to 5 kg into orbit. This opportunity should be utilised by the 94-year-old university,” pointed out Dr. Bhardwaj.
Appreciating AU for already playing a key role in space science, he said, “My association with AU is long and this university has been part of the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia Pacific. But it can always further its initiatives.”
He also said that instrumentation engineering is a key area in space science and AU and Director of Physical Research Laboratory and work together in this area.
“We can always research, collaborate and cooperate for further development,” said Dr. Bhardwaj.
He also appreciated AU for taking the initiative to honour its former octogenarian teachers and non-teaching staff on the occasion of foundation day. “This is a tradition which is to be adopted by all institutions,” he said.
Earlier, after garlanding the bust and portrait of AU’s founding Vice-Chancellor C.R. Reddy, the Vice-Chancellor of AU Prof. G. Nageswara Rao said that the university has been sanctioned ₹100 crore by the government under RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan).
He also informed that AU was short-listed from 890 institutions in the country and is one among the 14 institutes, which are likely to be given the Institution of Excellence status.
About 16 octogenarian former teaching staff and 14 non-teaching staff were felicitated on the occasion.