The document discusses the potential for designating Kodaikanal Observatory in India as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for astronomy. It provides a history of the observatory, noting that it has collected solar data continuously from the same instrument for over 100 years, the longest such record in the world. It describes how the observatory was established in 1899 and instrumental to the development of solar physics as a scientific discipline. The document argues that preserving and promoting Kodaikanal Observatory could help recognize important astronomical achievements and heritage.
Kodaikanal Observatory as a potential world astronomy heritage site Rajesh Kochhar
As things stand, I think the only candidate for astronomical world heritage list from India is the Solar Physics Observatory Kodaikanal ( est 1899 ), which now has solar picture data with the same instrument for the longest period in the world (since 1912), with some short interruptions due to maintenance/ upgradation.
Galaxy Forum SEA Indonesia 2017 - Ofyar TaminILOAHawaii
Galaxy Forum Southeast Asia 2017 — Jakarta
Saturday 18 February (08:30 – 13:30) @ Skyworld TMII, Jakarta, Indonesia
ILOA is very pleased to have cooperation and participation in organizing this Galaxy Forum Southeast Asia of Among Putro SKYWORLD Indonesia, which is a private space/aerospace, astronomy and related science/technology educational and recreational institution located on a national semi-governmental cultural conservation, education and recreational park called “Taman Mini Indonesia Indah” (Wonderful Indonesian Miniature Park) in the city of Jakarta.
Background:
Galaxy Forum is the primary education and outreach initiative of ILOA, it is an architecture designed to advance 21st Century science, education, enterprise and development around the world.
Galaxy Forums are public events specifically geared towards high school teachers, educators, astronomers of all kinds, students and the general public. Presentations are provided by experts in the fields of astrophysics / galaxy research, space exploration and STEM education, as well as related aspects of culture and traditional knowledge. Interactive panel discussions allow for community participation and integration of local perspectives.
Stats:
More than 70 Galaxy Forums, with over 300 presentations to date.
Held in 26 locations worldwide including Hawaii, Silicon Valley, Canada, China, India, Southeast Asia, Japan, Europe, Africa, Chile, Brazil, Kansas and New York.
Started with Galaxy Forum USA, July 4, 2008 in Silicon Valley, California.
International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) is an interglobal enterprise incorporated in Hawaii as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to expand human knowledge of the Cosmos through observation from our Moon and to participate in internationally cooperative lunar base build-out, with Aloha – the spirit of Hawaii.
Kodaikanal Observatory as a potential world astronomy heritage site Rajesh Kochhar
As things stand, I think the only candidate for astronomical world heritage list from India is the Solar Physics Observatory Kodaikanal ( est 1899 ), which now has solar picture data with the same instrument for the longest period in the world (since 1912), with some short interruptions due to maintenance/ upgradation.
Galaxy Forum SEA Indonesia 2017 - Ofyar TaminILOAHawaii
Galaxy Forum Southeast Asia 2017 — Jakarta
Saturday 18 February (08:30 – 13:30) @ Skyworld TMII, Jakarta, Indonesia
ILOA is very pleased to have cooperation and participation in organizing this Galaxy Forum Southeast Asia of Among Putro SKYWORLD Indonesia, which is a private space/aerospace, astronomy and related science/technology educational and recreational institution located on a national semi-governmental cultural conservation, education and recreational park called “Taman Mini Indonesia Indah” (Wonderful Indonesian Miniature Park) in the city of Jakarta.
Background:
Galaxy Forum is the primary education and outreach initiative of ILOA, it is an architecture designed to advance 21st Century science, education, enterprise and development around the world.
Galaxy Forums are public events specifically geared towards high school teachers, educators, astronomers of all kinds, students and the general public. Presentations are provided by experts in the fields of astrophysics / galaxy research, space exploration and STEM education, as well as related aspects of culture and traditional knowledge. Interactive panel discussions allow for community participation and integration of local perspectives.
Stats:
More than 70 Galaxy Forums, with over 300 presentations to date.
Held in 26 locations worldwide including Hawaii, Silicon Valley, Canada, China, India, Southeast Asia, Japan, Europe, Africa, Chile, Brazil, Kansas and New York.
Started with Galaxy Forum USA, July 4, 2008 in Silicon Valley, California.
International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) is an interglobal enterprise incorporated in Hawaii as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to expand human knowledge of the Cosmos through observation from our Moon and to participate in internationally cooperative lunar base build-out, with Aloha – the spirit of Hawaii.
ILOA Galaxy Forum China 2017 - Hakim MalasanILOAHawaii
"Astronomy and space science education and popularization in Indonesia"
Galaxy Forum China 2017 -- Beijing
Monday 5 June (14:00-17:00) @ Beijing International Convention Center, Beijing, China
Sponsored by:
International Lunar Observatory Association
Co-sponsored by:
International Astronautical Federation
Chinese Society of Astronautics
ILOA Galaxy Forum China 2017 on the theme Astronomy from the Moon and International Human Moon Missions is open to GLEX delegates and others. To register contact info@iloa.org. Find out more at https://galaxyforum.org/ or http://iloa.org/
Featured speakers confirmed to date include Andy Aldrin representing Buzz Aldrin's Sharespace Foundation, Steve Durst of International Lunar Observatory Association, Wang Jing of the Lunar Ultra-Violet Telescope program at National Astronomical Observatories of China, Christian Lange of Canadian Space Agency and Dr.Guo Linli of the Institute of Manned Space System Engineering at China Academy of Space Technology, and Hakim Malasan of Bosscha Observatory at Institute of Technology Bandung.
ILOA Galaxy Forum China 2017 on the theme Astronomy from the Moon and International Human Moon Missions takes place 14:00-17:00 on Monday 5 June at the Beijing International Convention Center. It is open to GLEX delegates and others. To register contact info@iloa.org. Find out more at https://galaxyforum.org/ or http://iloa.org/
Featured speakers confirmed to date include Andy Aldrin representing Buzz Aldrin's Sharespace Foundation, Steve Durst of International Lunar Observatory Association, Wang Jing of the Lunar Ultra-Violet Telescope program at National Astronomical Observatories of China, Christian Lange of Canadian Space Agency and Dr.Guo Linli of the Institute of Manned Space System Engineering at China Academy of Space Technology, and Hakim Malasan of Bosscha Observatory at Institute of Technology Bandung.
Galaxy Forum USA 2016 - Bruce Pittman, Chief Systems Engineer NASA AmesILOAHawaii
Background:
Galaxy Forum is the primary education and outreach initiative of ILOA, it is an architecture designed to advance 21st Century science, education, enterprise and development around the world.
Galaxy Forums are public events specifically geared towards high school teachers, educators, astronomers of all kinds, students and the general public. Presentations are provided by experts in the fields of astrophysics / galaxy research, space exploration and STEM education, as well as related aspects of culture and traditional knowledge. Interactive panel discussions allow for community participation and integration of local perspectives.
Stats:
Almost 70 Galaxy Forums, with a total of about 300 presentations to date.
Held in 26 locations worldwide including Hawaii, Silicon Valley, Canada, China, India, Southeast Asia, Japan, Europe, Africa, Chile, Brazil, Kansas and New York.
Started with Galaxy Forum USA, July 4, 2008 in Silicon Valley, California.
International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) is an interglobal enterprise incorporated in Hawaii as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to expand human knowledge of the Cosmos through observation from our Moon and to participate in internationally cooperative lunar base build-out, with Aloha – the spirit of Hawai`i.
ILOA Galaxy Forum China 2017 - Global Networking Forum Update - Steve DurstILOAHawaii
"Global Networking Forum Update"
Galaxy Forum China 2017 -- Beijing
Monday 5 June (14:00-17:00) @ Beijing International Convention Center, Beijing, China
Sponsored by:
International Lunar Observatory Association
Co-sponsored by:
International Astronautical Federation
Chinese Society of Astronautics
ILOA Galaxy Forum China 2017 on the theme Astronomy from the Moon and International Human Moon Missions is open to GLEX delegates and others. To register contact info@iloa.org. Find out more at https://galaxyforum.org/ or http://iloa.org/
Featured speakers confirmed to date include Andy Aldrin representing Buzz Aldrin's Sharespace Foundation, Steve Durst of International Lunar Observatory Association, Wang Jing of the Lunar Ultra-Violet Telescope program at National Astronomical Observatories of China, Christian Lange of Canadian Space Agency and Dr.Guo Linli of the Institute of Manned Space System Engineering at China Academy of Space Technology, and Hakim Malasan of Bosscha Observatory at Institute of Technology Bandung.
ILOA Galaxy Forum China 2017 on the theme Astronomy from the Moon and International Human Moon Missions takes place 14:00-17:00 on Monday 5 June at the Beijing International Convention Center. It is open to GLEX delegates and others. To register contact info@iloa.org. Find out more at https://galaxyforum.org/ or http://iloa.org/
Featured speakers confirmed to date include Andy Aldrin representing Buzz Aldrin's Sharespace Foundation, Steve Durst of International Lunar Observatory Association, Wang Jing of the Lunar Ultra-Violet Telescope program at National Astronomical Observatories of China, Christian Lange of Canadian Space Agency and Dr.Guo Linli of the Institute of Manned Space System Engineering at China Academy of Space Technology, and Hakim Malasan of Bosscha Observatory at Institute of Technology Bandung.
John A Chapman mining the moon 20060723John Chapman
NASA has announced a schedule and plan for the creation of a lunar base within 16 years as a precursor to establishing a base on Mars. Space agencies from Europe, Japan, India and China have expressed support for the NASA plan and/or their separate plans for a lunar base. This plan to explore and inhabit the Moon and then Mars is driven by the triple goals of scientific research, lunar/asteroid resource extraction and saving the earthbound human species from eventual extinction by asteroid/comet impact or super-volcano eruption. This paper proposes the application, on the Moon, of equipment and mining methods already well proven on Earth in very cold and dusty environments. The authors present an innovative combination of existing technologies for exploration and mining, including: mobile equipment, spare parts, sample analysis, remote controls, semi-autonomous controls, remote equipment "health" monitoring, real-time precision location and guidance, and the use of broadband WiMAX for communication to and from the proposed lunar base and Earth's Internet.
Presentation on Space pollution, the genesis of space debris, history, future implications, recent events, growing concern and threats.
It will be helpful for the students of science streams, disaster management courses.
Contact sujaypaulfb@gmail.com to get full access and copy of the file.
Is Space Exploration Worth the Money (in 3d)Rahul Jaiswal
The ppt is actually in 3D so put on your 3D (red and cyan) glasses to watch it properly.
The images may seem to have copyright problem so dont claim it yours.
ILOA Galaxy Forum China 2017 - Hakim MalasanILOAHawaii
"Astronomy and space science education and popularization in Indonesia"
Galaxy Forum China 2017 -- Beijing
Monday 5 June (14:00-17:00) @ Beijing International Convention Center, Beijing, China
Sponsored by:
International Lunar Observatory Association
Co-sponsored by:
International Astronautical Federation
Chinese Society of Astronautics
ILOA Galaxy Forum China 2017 on the theme Astronomy from the Moon and International Human Moon Missions is open to GLEX delegates and others. To register contact info@iloa.org. Find out more at https://galaxyforum.org/ or http://iloa.org/
Featured speakers confirmed to date include Andy Aldrin representing Buzz Aldrin's Sharespace Foundation, Steve Durst of International Lunar Observatory Association, Wang Jing of the Lunar Ultra-Violet Telescope program at National Astronomical Observatories of China, Christian Lange of Canadian Space Agency and Dr.Guo Linli of the Institute of Manned Space System Engineering at China Academy of Space Technology, and Hakim Malasan of Bosscha Observatory at Institute of Technology Bandung.
ILOA Galaxy Forum China 2017 on the theme Astronomy from the Moon and International Human Moon Missions takes place 14:00-17:00 on Monday 5 June at the Beijing International Convention Center. It is open to GLEX delegates and others. To register contact info@iloa.org. Find out more at https://galaxyforum.org/ or http://iloa.org/
Featured speakers confirmed to date include Andy Aldrin representing Buzz Aldrin's Sharespace Foundation, Steve Durst of International Lunar Observatory Association, Wang Jing of the Lunar Ultra-Violet Telescope program at National Astronomical Observatories of China, Christian Lange of Canadian Space Agency and Dr.Guo Linli of the Institute of Manned Space System Engineering at China Academy of Space Technology, and Hakim Malasan of Bosscha Observatory at Institute of Technology Bandung.
Galaxy Forum USA 2016 - Bruce Pittman, Chief Systems Engineer NASA AmesILOAHawaii
Background:
Galaxy Forum is the primary education and outreach initiative of ILOA, it is an architecture designed to advance 21st Century science, education, enterprise and development around the world.
Galaxy Forums are public events specifically geared towards high school teachers, educators, astronomers of all kinds, students and the general public. Presentations are provided by experts in the fields of astrophysics / galaxy research, space exploration and STEM education, as well as related aspects of culture and traditional knowledge. Interactive panel discussions allow for community participation and integration of local perspectives.
Stats:
Almost 70 Galaxy Forums, with a total of about 300 presentations to date.
Held in 26 locations worldwide including Hawaii, Silicon Valley, Canada, China, India, Southeast Asia, Japan, Europe, Africa, Chile, Brazil, Kansas and New York.
Started with Galaxy Forum USA, July 4, 2008 in Silicon Valley, California.
International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) is an interglobal enterprise incorporated in Hawaii as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to expand human knowledge of the Cosmos through observation from our Moon and to participate in internationally cooperative lunar base build-out, with Aloha – the spirit of Hawai`i.
ILOA Galaxy Forum China 2017 - Global Networking Forum Update - Steve DurstILOAHawaii
"Global Networking Forum Update"
Galaxy Forum China 2017 -- Beijing
Monday 5 June (14:00-17:00) @ Beijing International Convention Center, Beijing, China
Sponsored by:
International Lunar Observatory Association
Co-sponsored by:
International Astronautical Federation
Chinese Society of Astronautics
ILOA Galaxy Forum China 2017 on the theme Astronomy from the Moon and International Human Moon Missions is open to GLEX delegates and others. To register contact info@iloa.org. Find out more at https://galaxyforum.org/ or http://iloa.org/
Featured speakers confirmed to date include Andy Aldrin representing Buzz Aldrin's Sharespace Foundation, Steve Durst of International Lunar Observatory Association, Wang Jing of the Lunar Ultra-Violet Telescope program at National Astronomical Observatories of China, Christian Lange of Canadian Space Agency and Dr.Guo Linli of the Institute of Manned Space System Engineering at China Academy of Space Technology, and Hakim Malasan of Bosscha Observatory at Institute of Technology Bandung.
ILOA Galaxy Forum China 2017 on the theme Astronomy from the Moon and International Human Moon Missions takes place 14:00-17:00 on Monday 5 June at the Beijing International Convention Center. It is open to GLEX delegates and others. To register contact info@iloa.org. Find out more at https://galaxyforum.org/ or http://iloa.org/
Featured speakers confirmed to date include Andy Aldrin representing Buzz Aldrin's Sharespace Foundation, Steve Durst of International Lunar Observatory Association, Wang Jing of the Lunar Ultra-Violet Telescope program at National Astronomical Observatories of China, Christian Lange of Canadian Space Agency and Dr.Guo Linli of the Institute of Manned Space System Engineering at China Academy of Space Technology, and Hakim Malasan of Bosscha Observatory at Institute of Technology Bandung.
John A Chapman mining the moon 20060723John Chapman
NASA has announced a schedule and plan for the creation of a lunar base within 16 years as a precursor to establishing a base on Mars. Space agencies from Europe, Japan, India and China have expressed support for the NASA plan and/or their separate plans for a lunar base. This plan to explore and inhabit the Moon and then Mars is driven by the triple goals of scientific research, lunar/asteroid resource extraction and saving the earthbound human species from eventual extinction by asteroid/comet impact or super-volcano eruption. This paper proposes the application, on the Moon, of equipment and mining methods already well proven on Earth in very cold and dusty environments. The authors present an innovative combination of existing technologies for exploration and mining, including: mobile equipment, spare parts, sample analysis, remote controls, semi-autonomous controls, remote equipment "health" monitoring, real-time precision location and guidance, and the use of broadband WiMAX for communication to and from the proposed lunar base and Earth's Internet.
Presentation on Space pollution, the genesis of space debris, history, future implications, recent events, growing concern and threats.
It will be helpful for the students of science streams, disaster management courses.
Contact sujaypaulfb@gmail.com to get full access and copy of the file.
Is Space Exploration Worth the Money (in 3d)Rahul Jaiswal
The ppt is actually in 3D so put on your 3D (red and cyan) glasses to watch it properly.
The images may seem to have copyright problem so dont claim it yours.
this is a presentation about invention of telescope. i have placed many information about telescope invention. and ancient world about telescope also. i hope this will usefull to you.
ASTRONOMY, THE REVOLUTIONARY JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF KNOW...Faga1939
This article aims to present the contribution of astronomy and, in particular, the James Webb telescope to the advancement of knowledge about the Universe. Astronomy is the study of the Universe that exists beyond Earth's atmosphere. This includes objects that can be seen with the naked eye, such as the Sun, Moon, planets and stars. It also includes celestial bodies that can only be observed with telescopes or other instruments, such as distant galaxies and small particles, and it also includes things we cannot see, such as dark matter and dark energy. The main goal of the James Webb Telescope is to peer into the past, looking back a few hundred thousand years after the Big Bang. One of the James Webb Telescope's key abilities is its ability to look back through time to the beginning of the Universe, observing the first galaxies and stars. The telescope, which is 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, has already spotted the most distant and oldest galaxy found so far. The James Webb Telescope also made the first detection of a “molecule of life”. The James Webb super telescope, with its great discoveries, shows the importance of the telescope by revealing, with unexpected speed, a series of information that can call cosmological theories into question.
Michelle Feder offers her perspective on this intersection of faith and science.
Register to explore the whole course here: https://school.bighistoryproject.com/bhplive?WT.mc_id=Slideshare12202017
THE GREAT INVENTIONS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE UNIVERSE AND ...Faga1939
This article aims to present the great inventions that are contributing to the advancement of knowledge about the Universe throughout history represented by the telescope, the space rocket, the artificial satellite, the space capsule, the space station and the space probe, among which rovers stand out and to point out the scientific and technological advances that need to be developed to provide the conditions for humanity to colonize celestial bodies in the solar system and outside it and overcome the threats to its existence from outer space. The inventions that may occur in the future will be fundamental to enable the increase of knowledge about the Universe in order to contribute towards humanity being able to overcome the threats to its existence represented by the collision on planet Earth of bodies coming from outer space (comets, asteroids, planets of the solar system and orphan planets), by the emission of cosmic rays, especially gamma rays with the explosion of supernova stars, by the continuous distancing of the Moon in relation to the Earth, by the death of the Sun, by the collision of the Andromeda and Milky Way galaxies and by the end of the Universe.
Meghnad Saha in context :Work, life, and timesRajesh Kochhar
2019 is the 100th anniversary of Saha’s equation. It is also the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1. Is this a mere coincidence? Or, are the two events physically connected in some indirect way? I would argue that there indeed was a connection.
Meghnad Saha in context : Work, life, and timesRajesh Kochhar
This year is the 100th anniversary of Saha’s equation. It is also the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1. Is this a mere coincidence? Or, are the two events physically connected in some indirect way? I would argue that there indeed was a connection.
Bengal and Modern Science: Beginnings, accomplishments, and shortcomingsRajesh Kochhar
India was the first country outside the Western world to take to modern science. Within India the lead came from Bengal. JC Bose and PC Ray are the non-West’s first modern scientists. MN Saha’s and SN Bose’s theoretical contributions are fundamental and at the Nobel-prize level. The first Nobel science prize to go outside the West went to the physicist CV Raman for his work in Calcutta. Normally, an activity begins modestly, reaches a peak, declines somewhat and settles on a plateau. Indian science started at the top and had no place to go except downwards. India had an early start but it frittered away the advantage. It would be instructive to find out what happened.
Traditional Indian plant medicine:Western notice and mainstreamingRajesh Kochhar
Oceanic voyages, multi-point maritime trade, colonial settlements, and long-distance empires expanded Europe’s economy; introduced it to new ecology, geography and people; and, as time progressed, weakened classical and Biblical authority, making it receptive to new things and ideas. Health-care considerations compelled Europeans in distant lands to learn about plants and plant medicines for reasons of their own survival and for commerce. Medical botany was a colonial necessity. General scientific botany came out of it and went hand in hand with it.
Charity Schools for the Half-Castes:Race, education and the British EmpireRajesh Kochhar
The White man’s first burden in India was his illegitimate offspring. The first British educational concerns in India arose from genetic considerations rather than the administrative. They pertained to half-castes or Eurasians, the offspring of Protestant European fathers and local women who were either Roman Catholics of Portuguese extraction or low class/low caste Hindus and Muslims. The Whites despised the half-castes, but would not leave them either on the street or in the care of their maternal side.
Rahu and Ketu in scriptures, astronomy and astrologyRajesh Kochhar
Astronomy, as a study of cosmic environment, was part of scriptures and mythology. Even when Indian astronomy developed as an intellectual discipline in its own right, it consciously sought to maintain links with the sacred literature. Mythology in turn modified itself to take note of scientific advancement.
Ketu figures in literature from Rigvedic times, and Rahu from the time of Atharvaveda. Their meaning however has not remained static. Before 499 CE, Rahu is a demon while Ketu denotes phenomena like comets and meteors. There is no connection between the two. After 499 CE, Rahu and Ketu become part of the navagraha, while in addition Ketu continues to be used in the old sense also.
Rise and decline of modern science in IndiaRajesh Kochhar
JC Bose became the first Indian mainstream modern scientist in 1895 with the publication of his first experimental paper on mm-wave radio waves. I discuss 12 decades of Indian pursuit of science by identifying three sequential stages: nationalist phase(1895-1945); international phase (1945-(say) 1990); and the current global phase. The year 1945 is important because this is the year Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Bombay was established.
Scriptures, science and mythology: An ancient Indian astronomical interplayRajesh Kochhar
We discuss how the development of mathematical astronomy has been influenced by thethe cultural baggage of sacred knowledge it carried. also, how in turn mythology modified itself to take note of scientific developments
Making of scientific, industrial and arrogant Europe (Paper presented at the ...Rajesh Kochhar
Throughout the 19th century in its encounters with the East Europe was in a learning mode. Cultural superiority and racial arrogance set in in England in the 1830s.
Francesca Gottschalk - How can education support child empowerment.pptxEduSkills OECD
Francesca Gottschalk from the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation presents at the Ask an Expert Webinar: How can education support child empowerment?
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
Honest Reviews of Tim Han LMA Course Program.pptxtimhan337
Personal development courses are widely available today, with each one promising life-changing outcomes. Tim Han’s Life Mastery Achievers (LMA) Course has drawn a lot of interest. In addition to offering my frank assessment of Success Insider’s LMA Course, this piece examines the course’s effects via a variety of Tim Han LMA course reviews and Success Insider comments.
Palestine last event orientationfvgnh .pptxRaedMohamed3
An EFL lesson about the current events in Palestine. It is intended to be for intermediate students who wish to increase their listening skills through a short lesson in power point.
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
Operation “Blue Star” is the only event in the history of Independent India where the state went into war with its own people. Even after about 40 years it is not clear if it was culmination of states anger over people of the region, a political game of power or start of dictatorial chapter in the democratic setup.
The people of Punjab felt alienated from main stream due to denial of their just demands during a long democratic struggle since independence. As it happen all over the word, it led to militant struggle with great loss of lives of military, police and civilian personnel. Killing of Indira Gandhi and massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other India cities was also associated with this movement.
Kodaikanal Observatory as a world astronomy heritage site
1. Rajesh Kochhar
President IAU Commission 41: History of Astronomy
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
Mohali
rkochhar2000@yahoo.com
Colloquium given at Indian Institute of Astrophysics Bangalore,
25 September 2012
Kodaikanal Observatory as a
potential world astronomy
heritage site
2. As is well known, Unesco has a mission to
safeguard and preserve world heritage
sites. Towards this end, it prepares a
World Heritage List, in which cultural
properties from all over are inscribed ( that
is included) . Additionally, Unesco
encourages international cooperation in
heritage conservation.
3. Unesco has now undertaken a Thematic
Initiative on ‘Astronomy and World
Heritage’. It has enlisted technical
assistance from International Astronomical
Union for this purpose. Within IAU, the
responsibility has been entrusted to>
4. Commission 41: History of Astronomy.
Phase I of this Initiative aims at ‘acquiring
an in-depth knowledge of the outstanding
properties connected with astronomy in all
geographical regions through their
identification, study and inclusion of the >
5. most representative of these properties on
the national tentative lists. Phase II aims at
promoting the most outstanding of these
properties which recognize and celebrate
achievements in science through their
inscription on the World Heritage List.
6. In simpler words, an astronomical property
must first enter its nation’s tentative list
and then campaign for inscription in the
World List. Note that Unesco does not deal
with individuals, only with member
countries.
7. You are all familiar with the rust-free iron
pillar in Delhi near Qutub Minar. It is
famous the world over for its metallurgy.
What is not so well known is its
astronomical significance. It was brought
to Delhi in relatively recent times, that is
1233 CE. >
8. It was originally installed in about 400CE
in Udaigiri, Central India, on Tropic of
Cancer, as a gnomon. If this pillar had
remained at its original location, it would
have been an obvious choice as a world
astronomical heritage property.
10. As things stand, I think the only candidate
for astronomical world heritage list from
India is the Solar Physics Observatory
Kodaikanal ( est 1899 ), which now has
solar picture data with the same instrument
for the longest period in the world (since
1912), with some short interruptions due to
11. maintenance/ upgradation.
Since you are all practitioners of science
( and not merely historians), I will try to
place Kodaikanal in the larger context of
development of solar physics as a
scientific discipline.
12. By the middle of the 19th
century, physical
astronomy, as distinct from positional
astronomy, had already taken some shape,
thanks to advent of solar spectroscopy and
photography.
13. There were a number of solar eclipses in
quick succession and visible from India :
1868, 1871 and 1872. These eclipses
attracted observers from Europe, and gave
a fillip to solar instrumentation and studies
the world over.
14. In 1868, the French astrophysicist Pierre
Jules Cesar Janssen discovered helium
from Guntur . During his post-eclipse stay
at Simla, Janssen created the first spectro-
helioscope, which facilitated daily
examination of the sun.
15. Then came the 1874 Transit of Venus. The
scientists’ agenda for it ran deep. What
was advertised was the brief passage of
Venus in front of the solar disc; what was
planned was a long-term study of the disc
itself.
16.
17. The British Association for the
Advancement of Science passed a
resolution asking the Government of India
to make arrangements for observing the
event and to provide instruments which
were afterwards to be transferred to a solar
observatory.
18. Such was the prestige enjoyed by science
and scientists in Europe at the time that the
British Empire, as the owner of the most of
the world’s sunshine, agreed to help,
though partially.
19. The 1874 transit eventually led to regular
solar physics studies in India, even though
the exercise took 25 years. The initiative
came from the influential British scientist
of the time , Sir Norman Lockyer.
To sum up in advance, the step-wise
developments were as follows.
20.
Observation of the 1874 event.
Creation of interim facilities for
collection of data and its transmission to
Europe.
Permanent facility in India.
21. The 1874 event
It is noteworthy that Survey of India
( and not Madras Observatory) was
asked to make transit observations.
More than 100 photos of the sun were
taken at Roorkee and sent to the
Astronomer Royal Sir George Biddell
Airy.
22. Photos from all over were reduced by
Captain G. L. Tupman who wrote:
‘There is only one really sharp image
in the whole collection, including the
Indian and Australian contingents, and
that is one of Captain Waterhouse’s
wet plates taken at Roorkee’.
23. Dehra Dun Observatory (1878-1925)
Lockyer used his equation with Lord
Salisbury, the Secretary of State for
India, for making arrangement for
solar photography in India.
24. Salisbury wrote to the Viceroy on 28
September 1877: ‘Having considered
the suggestions made by Mr. Lockyer,
and viewing that a study of the
conditions of the sun’s disc in relation
to terrestrial phenomenon has become
an important part of physical
investigation, I have thought it
25. desirable to assent to the employment
for a limited period of a person
qualified to obtain photographs of the
sun’s disc by the aid of the instrument
now in India’.
26. From the technical details given in the
letter , it is clear that it was drafted by
Lockyer himself.
Accordingly, starting from early 1878,
solar photographs were regularly
taken at Dehra Dun under the auspices
of Survey of India,
27. and sent to England every week. Dehra
Dun continued solar photography till
1925, but more out of a sense of duty
than enthusiasm.
28. The larger of the two photoheliographs
fell into disuse, and in 1898, Lockyer
was stung by on-the-spot discovery
that ‘the dome has been taken
possession of by bees’.
The arrangement was discontinued in
1925, and equipment sent to
Kodaikanal.
29. St Xavier’s College Observatory, Calcutta
(1879)
Sunny India caught the attention of
astronomers in the continent also. The
Italian transit-of-Venus team led by
Professor P. Tacchini of Palermo
Observatory stationed itself in Bengal,
30. its Chief instrument being the
spectroscope, `an instrument not
recognized in the equipment of any of
the English parties’. A co-opted member
of the Italian team was the Belgian Jesuit
Father Eugene Lafont (1837-1908), the
popular professor of science at the elitist
31. St. Xavier’s College. Lafont was no
researcher himself was an inspiring
educator and science communicator.
32. Tacchini suggested to Lafont ‘the
advisability of erecting a Solar
Observatory in Calcutta, in order to
supplement the Observations made in
Europe, by filling up the gaps caused in
the series of solar records by bad
weather’.
33. Lafont used his influence with
Europeans, Anglo-Indians (half-castes),
rajas, zamindars, and Indian men of note,
and soon collected a substantial sum of
Rs 21000 through donations, including
Rs 7000 from the Lieutenant Governor of
Bengal.
34. A 9 in refractor by Steinhill of Munich
was purchased and housed in a spacious
dome constructed for the purpose.
No research or teaching use was ever
made of this facility. This is unfortunate.
If the experiment had succeeded,
observational astronomy
35. might have become part of Indian
education system. As it is, astronomy has
largely remained decoupled from
college/ university teaching.
36. Takhtasinghji's Observatory Poona
(1888-1912)
It was a Government Observatory, named
after the principal funder, Maharaja of a
princely state, Bhavnagar. It was India’s
first modern astrophysical observatory.
Unfortunately, it was created for an
individual
37. and did not last long. The original plan
was to establish a spectroscopic
laboratory at Elphinstone College
Bombay for use by the students. The
initiator of the proposal was a
38. lecturer in the College, Kavasji Dadabhai
Naegamvala (1857-1938), who obtained
seed money of Rs 5000 from the
Maharaja of Bhavnagar and a matching
grant from the Bombay Government.
39. While in England in 1884 for buying the
equipment, he was persuaded by the
Astronomer Royal and Lockyer to build
a spectroscopic observatory instead.
40. Since Poona was a better astronomical
site than Bombay, in 1885 Naegamvala
was transferred there to College of
Science where the Observatory came up
in 1888.
Its chief instrument was a 16½ inch
aperture silver-on-parabolic glass
Newtonian made by Grubb.
41. In addition, Lockyer equipped Poona as a
satellite facility. A six-inch Cooke
equatorial purchased by the Government
for the 1874 transit observation from
India had been loaned to Lockyer’s
Observatory in South Kensington.
42. The India Office also purchased two
spectroscopes from Hilger (one solar, the
other stellar) for his use. The equatorial
and the spectroscopes were given to
Naegamvala so that he could observe
with them and send raw data to Lockyer.
43. Similarly, data was received by Lockyer
and more generally in England from
Kodaikanal and Mauritius.
44. Not surprisingly, relationship between
Poona and South Kensington was non-
symmetrical. Whenever South
Kensington found fault with data
collection at Poona, it did not write
directly to Naegamvala, but formally
complained to >
45. his British superiors. Yet, when
Kodaikanal Observatory was being
planned, Lockyer suggested
Naegamvala’s name for the directorship.
The position was however offered to an
Englishman, Charles Michie Smith, a
non-descript physics professor at
Madras.
46. Lockyer and Astronomer Royal
constituted two independent centres of
power in England, and Kodaikanal came
under the latter’s sphere of influence.
Naegamvala took observations till the
very last date of his employment, 11
January 1912.
47. The Observatory was officially abolished
on the day of his retirement and all
equipment was sent to Kodaikanal.
Thus instead of creating a permanent
educational facility, a temporary research
centre was created for the primary
benefit of European solar physicists.
48. Kodaikanal Observatory (1899)
If the 1874 transit of Venus was
important for solar physicists, so was the
severe famine of 1876-77 in the Madras
Presidency. Monsoons fail at times, but
the severity of famines was
49. particularly high in the colonial period
because of large-scale export of food
grains from India to Britain in utter
disregard of local requirements.
Astronomers of course would not worry
about avoiding famines, but in predicting
monsoon behaviour.
50. In 1879, Lockyer presented a report to
the Indian Famine Commission claiming
that famines were correlated with
sunspot minima.
There is no doubt that Lockyer and
many others genuinely believed in a
correlation with solar activity and
terrestrial weather.
51. But it is also a fact that the practical
benefits to be derived from a study of the
sun were exaggerated to gain
Government support.
52. In 1881, Government of India’s chief
meteorologist Henry Francis Blanford
reported to the Famine Commission that
no such simple sunspot-monsoon
correlation as suggested by Lockyer
existed.
53. In any case, the Government decided to
go ahead with the Solar Observatory. It
was however decided to wait till the
neurotic Madras Astronomer Pogson was
dead. This happened in 1890.
54. Kodaikanal started shakily. The first task
was the acquisition of instruments.
A photoheliograph (Dallmeyer No. 4)
originally made for the 1874 transit was
given on loan by Greenwich to
Kodaikanal. It was used till 1912.
55. Madras had acquired a 6 in telescope on
English mounting, by Lerebours and
Secretan of Paris, in 1850. It was
remodelled in 1898 by Grubb of Dublin
who provided it with an electric drive,
and mounted a 5 in aperture a 5 in
aperture Grubb photographic lens on the
frame.
56. The telescope has been in use for solar
photography since 1912, from the North
Dome.
Kodaikanal has the unique distinction of
possessing an unbroken series of solar
pictures from the same instrument for an
extended period of 100 years.
57. These and other pictures have now been
digitized.
George Evershed arrived in 1907 no
doubt to be able to work in solitary
splendour. Kodaikanal rose to great
heights under him.
58. His first task was the installation of Ca-K
spectroheliograph that had been received
in 1904. His 1909 discovery of the radial
flow in sun spots_ the Evershed Effect_
is the only major discovery ever made
from Kodaikanal.
59. In 1911, Evershed made an auxiliary
specroheliograph and bolted it to the
existing instrument. The Sun could now
be photographed not only in Ca-K light
but also in H-alpha.
This is the only time a state-of-art pure
astronomical instrument was ever made
in India.
60. The Spectro building has a priceless
clock from the 18th
century. It is among
the dozen odd gridiron pendulum clocks
made by John Shelton for the 1761 or
1769 ( probably the latter) transit of
Venus. It is not known when and how
one of the Sheltons ended in India.
61. The clock was one of the original
instruments at Madras Observatory (est
1787). It was transferred to Kodaikanal
in 1899. It is still working, and is in use
as an ordinary clock.
62. These old twin spectroheliographs are no
longer in use. The H-alpha pictures were
discontinued in about 2005, and the Ca-
K in about 2007. In the mean time, in
1995, as a back-up, Ca-K line filtergrams
using a CCD camera were begun.
63. Finally, in 2008 a newly constructed
twin telescope was commissioned to take
pictures in Ca-K and white light. In other
words, Kodaikanal does not take H-alpha
pictures any more. It takes Ca-K pictures
all right, but with a new equipment, as in
the Spectro building and white-light
pictures at two places ( North Dome and
64. In 1933, a Hale spectrohelioscope was
received as a gift from Mount Wilson
Observatory.
Next, International Geophysical Year
1957-1958 provided an opportunity for
ordering three new instruments. Two of
these, Lyot heliograph, and Lyot
coronograph,
65. were never really utilized. The third
instrument, acquired on turn-key basis,
was the Solar Tunnel Telescope which
was commissioned by M. K. Vainu
Bappu, who joined as Director in 1961.
This was the last time Kodaikanal got a
new instrument.
66. Over the years many minor instruments
were obtained; and new temporary
activities initiated ( radio,
magnetic/ionospheric).
At present, the Tunnel Telescope,
‘Spectro’, and the North Dome are the
only regular activity centres of
Kodaikanal Observatory.
67. Kodaikanal was never a well-endowed
Observatory. There was therefore lot of
improvisation; cutting up of old
instruments to make new ones for solar
eclipse expeditions, e. g.
About 25 years ago, I traced the history
of almost every instrument, or parts
thereof, that was in actual existence or >
68. was mentioned in the Stores Stock
Register. Many of these details have
been published ( eg in Vistas in
Astronomy). Here I have drawn attention
to only some of them.
69. • IIA has a priceless instrumentation
heritage. It deserves to be documented
case by case and preserved.
• Kodaikanal Observatory has always
been an important feature on the town’s
tourist map. The Observatory however
needs to revamp its Outreach
Programme, combine it with education,
70. • Many buildings in the Kodaikanal
campus are lying unused .Utilizing them
for a combination of heritage, education
and science popularization will help
preserve the buildings also. The
Kodaikanal Observatory needs to be
protected not only as culrural property
but as real estate also.
71. Concluding remarksConcluding remarks
Kodaikanal Observatory is a respected
name in the world solar physics. Many
better-known observatories have
discontinued their old programmes, or
even shifted to new locations, and
become more high tech.
72. It is the continuity in Kodaikanal that
makes its history so interesting.
Whether it should be inscribed in the
Astronomy and World Heritage List or
not is for IIA to decide. The procedure
is simple.
73. IIA should prepare a detailed dossier
on the Observatory.
Persuade MHRD ( Indian node for
UNESCO) to include it in the national
list.
Get it inscribed in the UNESCO
World Heritage List.