Registration for the Astronomy and Space Science Youth Congress opens today

The Tamil Nadu Astronomy and Science Society (TASS) is all set to organize the second edition of the Youth Astronomy and Space Science Congress (YASC) 2026, an initiative aimed at fostering student interest in astronomy, space science, scientific research and innovation.

The event will provide a platform for undergraduate students to present research, discuss new discoveries and interact with experts in astronomy and related sciences. The program will be conducted at regional and state level in Tamil Nadu.

Research paper presentations, exhibitions, poster presentations, demonstrations of scientific models, interactive sessions, workshops and lectures by experts are planned.

J. Manohar, Secretary General of TASS, said there has been a noticeable decline in the number of students opting for physics, chemistry and mathematics courses in higher education, which could affect future scientific research. “Through YASC, we aim to foster scientific curiosity and encourage more students to pursue careers in science and research,” he said.

Registration for YASC 2026 will open on June 1. Participants go through an online orientation program and receive training from subject matter experts before the selection process.

Approximately 30 projects will be selected from each of the 10 regions, each covering four districts. Almost 200 projects are expected to advance to the national competition, from which 40 projects will be selected.

Students selected in the final stage will have the opportunity to undertake internships at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru, the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Chennai and the Tamil Nadu State Council of Science and Technology.

The regional level congress is scheduled to be held in August in Tiruchi while the state level congress will be held in October in Coimbatore.

Published – 31 May 2026 20:22 IST