Urbanisation occurs through the growth of cities, which harbour employment opportunities for the nearby rural regions. The employment-driven mass migrations are common and occur seasonally in the most populated state of Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. With few urban centres in UP, the pressure of migration is quite high in Kanpur, which is an old industrial city well-versed with seasonal migration and its challenges, especially in education. Kanpur attracts numerous migrants from surrounding villages and neighbouring states such as Bihar and Chhattisgarh. Whole families, along with children, migrate for a period ranging from a few months to years dictated by employment opportunities, which highly compromises children’s education. Generally, the state of UP has one of the lowest literacy rates among Indian states. The education system in UP faces a combination of systemic issues, resource constraints, and socio-economic factors. So, children from unprivileged backgrounds, both in migrant families and the local population, are deprived of quality education and are in danger of getting into illegal child jobs.
The project targets schools catering to labour communities and migrant children, offering hands-on astronomy activities to foster scientific literacy and curiosity. Astronomy is the most basic, practical, and intuitive field of science and a relatively inexpensive way to demonstrate scientific outlooks. In fact, astronomy formed the basis of the scientific and technological renaissance in 15th-century medieval Europe, demonstrating its fundamental role in developing scientific thinking. The sky is open to all, and children naturally feel associated with astronomical objects from a very young age through many folk stories. If explained to them, it will not only foster a deep sense of curiosity and wonder but can also cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills. However, because of a lack of information, they associate Astronomy-related objects mostly with superstitions and heavenly bodies beyond their understanding.
The mobile observatory will bring astronomy to schools across Kanpur and surrounding areas, offering interactive workshops, telescope observations, and educational kits to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The project is led by the Department of Space, Planetary & Astronomical Sciences & Engineering (SPASE) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IITK). We will partner with local organizations like Ranjit Singh Rozy Siksha Kendra (RSK), Opportunity School, and Apna Skool which have successfully run similar outreach programs, resulting in many students excelling in their studies and careers. The project aims to create a sustainable impact through inclusive outreach strategies, bridging educational gaps and inspiring the next generation of STEM enthusiasts.
