ATL Space Challenge 2021: Atal Innovation Mission unveils the top teams
Radiance News Service
After successful completion and overwhelming participation from young innovators across the country, the
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog declared the results of the ‘ATL
Space Challenge 2021’ today. The Challenge was launched in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Central Board of Secondary
Education (CBSE).
The event coincides with the birth anniversary of Swami
Vivekananda, also celebrated as the National Youth Day to honor the birthday of
Swami Vivekananda who voiced the important role that youth play in the building
up of a strong nation throughout his life.
The ATL Space Challenge witnessed over 2500 submissions
from both ATL and Non-ATL students across the country from which 75 top
innovators were selected and announced today. The Challenge was a one-of-a-kind
challenge and the first time that an ATL challenge was open to both ATL and non-ATL
students. ATL Space Challenge 2021 witnessed over 6500 students participating
in the challenge from 32 States/ UTs. This Challenge also had the heartening
participation of over 35% of girl students.
Speaking during the virtual event for announcing winners, Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India, Prof K. VijayRaghavan
stressed the value of space science and its challenges for humans.
He said “This is sort of a natural challenge where people have a natural
enthusiasm towards taking such challenges and the ability to explore space is
something wonderful. India has a great history of exploring space so I believe
that all students must have access to science and technology at its fundamental
level have to be available to every student who wants to become an
astronomer. These students can shape our economic future.”
Mission Director, AIM, Dr. Chintan Vaishnav while
unveiling the winners said that the ATL Space Challenge is an example of how
AIM has created an opportunity for young school innovators to directly learn
and work in the ‘space sector’, a major sector that can’t be missed.
“I feel inspired seeing the innovations of our young
school children who are leveraging the whole ecosystem – from a Tinkering Lab
to the latest technologies to solve problems and create sustainable solutions.
We are grateful to ISRO and CBSE who have partnered with us to make it a great
success. Students from the top teams will be presented exciting prizes and
opportunities,” he said.
The Challenge was launched on 6th September 2021 and the students could submit their
entries using the online portal while virtual YouTube LIVE sessions were also
conducted by the AIM-ISRO-CBSE team to guide and motivate the students. A total
of 8 of these inspirational/ motivational sessions were conducted during a
period of 6 weeks by esteemed scientists and experts for the students. The
innovations were to be aligned to one of the four broad challenge themes under
which entries were to be submitted.
Director, Capacity Building Programme Office (ISRO), Dr.
Sudhir Kumar in g=his speech said that “It was an honor for ISRO to
collaborate with ATL and CBSE. We have adopted 100 ATLs and we will energize
them with the energy of ISRO in the coming time. Space is a multi-disciplinary
thing that affects the social life of everyone around and social problems can
be attempted to be solved through space. I am impressed by the entries received
and we need more such programmes for our students so that aspirations of
students are met through innovations.”
Meanwhile, Chairman, CBSE, Manoj Ahuja in his address
said that the Space Challenge allows children to be active, learn and also
correlate with the social problems around them. Knowledge is multi-disciplinary
and when students are given a problem like a space challenge, nothing holds their
curiosity and innovative mind back.
“With the technology available we should make it a point
to make knowledge available which is being promoted by ATLs. It has been a
pleasure for us to see the response and the interest showcased by the students
which were full of optimism,” He added.
The ATL Space Challenge 2021 was launched with an objective to enable innovation among young school students to create something in the space sector that will not only help them learn about the space but create something that the space programme can use itself. The Challenge also aligned with the World Space Week 2021, which is observed from 4 to 10 October each year at the global level in order to celebrate the contributions of space science and technology.