April 21, 2014

A team of twenty undergraduates of Physics from Kirori Mal College are set to participate in a NASA sponsored international aerospace competition RASC-AL (Revolutionary Aerospace Systems and Academic Linkage). The Robo Physicist Society of Kirori Mal College, under the guidance of Dr. Sumitra Mohanty (Department of Physics), submitted one of the seven papers on Enabling Long Duration Missions through Holistic Habitat Design which were shortlisted for the further competition.

The competition RASC-AL will be held from 17th to 19th June, 2014 in Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA. Being the only Indian team among the fourteen other shortlisted teams from all over the world, they will be working on designing a transit habitat for astronauts enabling them to stay longer in the space. The project will be partially funded by Delhi University, although there is lack of funds and the college is looking for sponsors.

The Robo Physicist Society of KMC, in the past five years has participated in NASA Great MOONBuggy Race, Lunabotics, the Rover Challenge and for the first time in RASC-AL. “Being the only team to win two awards last year at Lunabotics gave us the confident to participate in RASC-AL this year for the first time.” said Dr. Sumitra Mohanty, “Our team got selected and we are really proud of that.” According to Rashi Monga, a second year student of Physics of the college, they had to study the basics of astronomy and other technical terms to get a better understanding of their project. “Once getting selected in the competition, we were given a call in which we were described what we had to do and what were the requirements from the NASA site. The language was not related to physics basically so we had to start our study from the basics.” If they win the competition, they will be given a presentation slot in the aerospace conference organized by two of the major aerospace societies including AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) enabling them to present their views to scientists and astronauts.

Apart from RASC-AL, the team will also be participating in the annual University Rover Challenge at Mars Desert Research Station in deserts of southern Utah. “This is a completely KMC based project involving no other team.” Said Rashi Monga, “Unlike previously, we have to build a robot which could not only dig but also walk on the rugged terrain of Mars along with conducting scientific data like being able to distinguish which type of bacteria is present in the soil.”

The Robo Physicist Society and the Department of Physics are proud to a part of the competition and plan to do well.
Image credits: KMC Robo Physicists Facebook page

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Disclaimer: Bazinga is DU Beat’s weekly column of almost believable fake news!

Yes, you probably saw it right! St. Stephens College and Shri Ram College of Commerce have finally given in to the much absurd reforms being brought into India’s top ranked varsity, the Delhi University. According to our sources at SRCC, the authorities had sought an expert panel discussion last week and a subsequent move-out from the aegis of the university was finalised.

The problem and the consequent action is not being seen as a move in haste but a planned event. Both the colleges were already wary of the newly yet naïvely introduced Four Year Undergraduate Programme and had aired their possible move-out last year just after the introduction of this much controversial programme.

After the shocking news, which hit headlines yesterday, reactions are still coming in. A teacher from St. Stephens College who talked to us after we promised anonymity, said, “I have been an admirer of this new concept, FYUP, but the way in which it is being implemented has created an amount of havoc among the students as well as the teachers. Hence, I totally support my college’s move.” When we asked her, if the college’s future would become uncertain on opting out of DU, she said, “St. Stephens is ranked amongst the best in India, not because of the DU tag, but due to the efforts of college authorities, its teachers and its excellent students, and none of them would go after we move out, hence we will retain our position at the top.”

Another teacher Ms. Rotu Hasta of SRCC said, “The admiration we have received till date is partly because of the college’s own efforts and partly due to Delhi University’s legacy and position. I am unsure if we will be able to survive without the university’s tag.”

Students of both the colleges are facing a dilemma on the same. With some supporting the move and others against it, mixed reactions are being seen. Protest marches have been arranged by the unions of both the colleges who are against the decision. “We will not turn down our protests till the decision is revised. They are putting our future in danger”, said a senior member of St. Stephens’ union.
DU authorities who might be a bit worried as of now, have refused to comment. Though sources tell us that constant phone calls are being made to the authorities of both the colleges through back channels to instigate them to revert the decision. Speculations have it, that a possible retraction of the FYUP has also been offered by DU to both the colleges. Keep tuned to the latest updates on the same.

Disclaimer: Bazinga is DU Beat’s weekly column of almost believable fake news!

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