ALL ABOUT THE STARS: Space scientist K. Kasturirangan (right) interacting with students at a function organised by Surana College Science Forum and Gandhi Centre of Science and Human Values of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: Director of National Institute of Advanced Studies K. Kasturirangan on Saturday inaugurated the multi-college students' interface on "Fascinating story of space".

Mr. Kastrirangan spoke on "space in the next Millennium". The programme was dedicated to scientist Raja Ramanna.

He was speaking after the inauguration of a two-day session organised by Surana College and Gandhi Centre of Science and Human Values of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

"To be a top personality in the country you need not be a great leader, but you should be familiar with the objectives of the organisation that you are working and that made the eminent scientist the late Raja Ramanna unique," he said.

Fascinating subject

He asked the students to be confident in their innovations.

Space was a fascinating subject to mankind and discoveries in space had helped in the fields of navigation and astronomy, Mr. Kasturirangan said.

Science in India had a heritage and the ability of the man to enter other orbits of the universe was a major achievement in the history. October 2007 would complete 50 years of Indian Space era, he added.

Mr. Kasturirangan said that various satellites such as those for remote sensing, communications and distance education had helped in the improvement of human life.

Expeditions to the moon, unmanned spacecraft, and investigations of other planets had helped in discovering many important facts, he said.

He said: "In the next 50 years we may have human settlements in space. Fifty years of investigations in space has brought qualitative and quantitative changes in the human life," he said. Establishment of space colonies and colonies on the moon was predictable.

Work had to be done in the fields of radiation, micro gravity, and physiological and psychological effects on human beings during explorations, he added. Human presence in Mars in the next 200 years and exploration of asteroids were on the cards.

N. Ramanuja, Chariman of Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan; K.E. Radhakrishna, principal of Surana College; and Archana Surana, Managing Trustee of Surana College, were present.

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