All About Space Travel, an experiential session by ISRO

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the national space agency of India, headquartered in Bangalore collaborated with Vision Empower to share the knowledge of science and space among students with visual impairment studying in grades 5, 6 and 7.

A team of ISRO professionals conducted the sessions with 3 schools, VE works with, on the 2nd and 3rd of March 2023. The first session was conducted on 2nd March at Jyoti Seva School while on 3rd March, the sessions took place at Mathruchhaya School where students from Karnataka Welfare Association for the Blind also joined in.

The scientists from ISRO brought various accessible models through which they taught the children concepts of space, gravity, orbits, etc.
The children touched the satellite models to understand the various features of a satellite as the ISRO scientists shared about their uses in communication, military and fishery.

While highlighting the importance of satellites, they shared with the children a recent incident of how five fishermen who couldn’t find their way back to the port in the Indian Ocean were rescued through the satellite tracking system installed in the ships.

The children showed great energy and enthusiasm in learning about space and the work ISRO does. Children clarified their doubts about terms like ‘failure in space missions’, ‘satellite launching’, etc

Post this, the girls from these schools stayed back for another session conducted by ISRO as part of their campaign for the upcoming Women’s Day on 8th March 2023. The girls were given awareness of menstruation, female hygiene and taboos associated with periods. They were encouraged to talk openly about menstruation and always voice their concerns.

VE is grateful to ISRO for sharing their work with the students with visual impairment.