Space Science branch established in MoEST

The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology began work related to astronomy and space science by opening the space science branch. In a program organized on the occasion of the Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) entering its 16th year, Santosh Sharma, Deputy Secretary and Branch Head of the Ministry informed that the activities related to astronomy and space science are going to be integrated. He said that organizations working on astronomy and space science will be integrated through the branch.

To promote astronomy in Nepal, NASO has been conducting various activities among school and college-level students. It was informed in the program that they have been doing programs such as the Astronomy Olympiad competition, painting, and oratory since class eight. This has increased students' curiosity about astronomy. Dr. Dineshraj Bhuju, a member of the Nepal Science and Technology (NAST), said that NASO has succeeded in drawing the attention of many students, parents, and the general public to astronomy.

Mentioning that NASO has advanced science and culture in Nepal, he also said that future scientists will be cultural scientists. NASO President Suresh Bhattarai said that 15 years ago, a group of students studying science at the Trichandra College started working and established the organization with the aim of advancing Nepal towards a scientific culture. Khil Narayan Shrestha, Curriculum Officer of Curriculum Development Center informed that Nepal also started work when space science is becoming global.

In the program, engineer Roshan Pandey of NAST, parent Pankaj Kumar Karna, science teacher Sarita Shakya Pradhan and Rupa Manandhar, and others demanded to create an environment for studying and researching astronomy and space science in Nepal. In the program, students who excelled in the activities organized by NASO at various times were also honored. NASO has been advancing its activities in collaboration with government and non-government organizations working on science, including the Ministry, and NAST.