In an online event organised on January 11, 2021, Department of Space and Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog announced that ISRO will be adopting 100 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across the country, out of which 45 ATLs were adopted in phase 1 on January 11, 2021 and remaining 55 ALTS will be adopted soon, to promote education in the field of STEM, Space education and Space technology related innovations for school students.
An Atal Tinkering Lab provides activity based learning in the identified schools across the country where young minds can give shape to their ideas for societal problems. It also fosters entrepreneurship and innovation, enabling over 3 Million+ students between Grade VI to Grade XII to acquire a problem solving, tinkering and innovative mindset.
The event saw the participation of CEO, NITI Aayog – Shri Amitabh Kant; Secretary, DOS – Dr K Sivan; Mission Director, AIM – Shri Ramanan; Director, Capacity Building Program Office, ISRO HQ – Dr P V Venkitakrishnan and a video message from Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog – Dr Rajiv Kumar.
Gracing the occasion, Secretary, DOS Dr. K. Sivan expressed hope that the step shall help promote innovation and the spirit of experiential learning among the school kids. With today’s adoption, distributed geographically in line with ISRO’s presence across the country in the form of various centers, the organization is taking a small step in engaging with the students, towards giving them direction in pursuing their space dreams as a part of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’. Scientists and engineers from ISRO centers, in close coordination with Capacity Building Program Office, ISRO Headquarters, shall actively mentor the kids as well as interact with teachers in these ATLs – encouraging experiments, brainstorming ideas and spreading awareness about outer space activities. He announced that students involved in these ATLs would be invited as guests to witness future launches from Sriharikota. He also wished students to gain knowledge and skills for becoming future innovators.
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