Indian, US students to 'hack' space tech for environment

Sixteen students from India and the US will brainstorm to come up with innovations on tapping space technology for environmental sustainability, it was announced here on Thursday.

Termed "Hacking Space: A Student Partnership To Sustain Life on Earth", the project is a collaborative effort between Science City, Kolkata (a unit of National Council of Science Museums) and Chabot Space and Science Centre, US.

Beginning in September this year it will go on till August 2016, said National Council of Science Museums director general G.S. Rautela.

"Eight students between 15 to 18 years of age from each country will be selected to co-develop potential strategies for environmental sustainability on earth focusing on the lessons learnt from space travel. The participants will examine what elements are necessary for ecologically sustainable life in their local communities and will educate their counterparts regarding their unique obstacles," said Rautela.

Eight adult advisors will guide the students who will share insights and experiences from two different cultures to provide diverse perspectives.

A series of demonstrations and activities, exploring the solutions that space travel innovations offer for the environmental and sustainability challenges people face in Kolkata and California, will be developed by the young participants, said Rautela. Guest lectures and Skype sessions will assist the students.

The conclusion of the project will be a travel exchange in the spring and summer of 2016, sharing the work with the community in Kolkata and Oakland, in California.

The works will be presented at least once in each country to museum visitors during the funding period to educate the community on sustainability.

Rautela was talking to the media on the sidelines of the launch of a new large format film "Adrenaline Rush: The Science of Risk" at the Space Theatre in Science City.

Science City director A.D. Choudhury said the film looks at skydiving and base jumping.