Science Public Outreach Projects/Events:

Beyond his research, Dr. Sekhar is also active in science public outreach projects and events, showcasing his commitment to fostering scientific curiosity and education. He coordinated the IAU Exo World Naming Event 2022 for school students, organized a Telescope Donation Drive to benefit a rural school in Tamil Nadu, India, and initiated and organized the ‘Vigyan Samagam’ CERN in India Travelling Science Exhibition in multiple cities. 

Dr. Aswin Sekhar’s work has significantly advanced our understanding of meteoroid stream dynamics, and his dedication to public outreach demonstrates his passion for sharing the wonders of astronomy with a broader audience.

  1. Organized the IAU ExoWorld Naming Event 2022 for school students from Coimbatore, facilitating the process of suggesting, compiling, and submitting native names from the Nilgiri tribe in Tamil Nadu, India. This effort was carried out in collaboration with Mango Education and Dr. Sameeran IAS, Coimbatore District Collector.
  1. Orchestrated the Telescope Donation Drive 2022 to benefit a Government School in Othakkalmandapam, a rural area in Tamil Nadu, India. This initiative was set in motion by Dr. Sameeran IAS, Coimbatore District Collector, and Mr. Abhilash Krishnan, MD of Neydhal and UAE Group of Companies.
  1. Pioneered and meticulously managed the CERN in India Travelling Science Exhibition titled ‘Vigyan Samagam,’ spanning across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Delhi. This involved effective coordination among key stakeholders such as the Permanent Mission of India to UN Geneva, National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture, Department of Atomic Energy, and Department of Science & Technology, Government of India (2018-2020).
  1. Facilitated the visit of tribal school students from Kerala to the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, Indian Institute of Astrophysics. This collaboration was spearheaded in conjunction with Dr. Shashi Tharoor MP, former Under-Secretary General of UN and former Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Human Resources Development, in 2018.
  1. Delivered an Outreach Talk on Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors at MRS Tribal School, Idukki, upon invitation by Mr. G. R. Gokul IAS, District Collector of Idukki, Kerala, India in 2018.
  1. Played a pivotal role in the Planning Meeting for the CERN Travelling Exhibition to India, hosted at the Department of Atomic Energy HQ Mumbai, India (2018-2019).
  1. Actively participated in the Planning Meeting for the CERN India Mega Science Exhibition ‘Vigyan Samagam’ at the National Council of Science Museums HQ Kolkata, India (2018-2019).
  1. Contributed insights and strategies during the Planning Meeting for the CERN India Mega Science Exhibition at the Office of His Excellency, the Swiss Ambassador to India, Embassy of Switzerland, New Delhi (2018-2019).
  1. Engaged in Science Talks and Interviews through All India Radio, extending from 2018 to the present.
  1. Provided a wealth of expertise through numerous press articles focusing on science, research, and education for both national and international media platforms (2016 – present).
  1. Shared expertise on ‘The Exciting World of Comets, Asteroids, and Meteoroids’ at the ‘Science Outreach to Schools Event’ in 2014, held at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, India. Esteemed co-speakers included Nobel Laureate Prof. Venki Ramakrishnan, President of Royal Society, London, and Padma Vibhushan Prof. M S Swaminathan, the Father of the Green Revolution in India. The event was organized by Dr. Anuradha Pallipurath from the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, England.
  1. Spearheaded guided tours of Armagh Observatory to the general public, leaving an indelible impact from 2010 to 2015.
  1. Assisted in supervising school students engaged in work experience projects focusing on the observation and astrometric reduction of comets/asteroids using the 2-m Faulkes Telescopes Network in Hawaii, USA, and Australia, spanning from 2012 to 2014.
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