29th Annual Report (2016-17)

212 Afresh view of the Universe, at the seminar on Space science and technology in the service of mankind, at the Department of Physics, Hindol College, Khajurikata, Dhenkanal, Odisha, December 18, 2016. A physicist's view of the Universe, at the Annual Convention of the Odisha Physical Society, Berhampur University, February 11, 2017. International character of science: A shared heritage of the human race (inaugural talk), at the International Conference on Organizations Sans Boundaries, organized by Aditya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Borvili, Mumbai, February 18, 2017. Early-type galaxies: Isophote shapes, dust and multiphase ISM, (presidential address), at the inaugural function of ASI - 2017, Jaipur, March 6 - 8, 2017. Understanding the Universe we live in, at the Department of Culture, Government of Chhattisgarh, March 18, 2017. Isophote shapes, dust and complex ISM in nearby ETGs (invited talk), at the National Conference, NSSEMA - 2017, School of Studies in Physics andAstrophysics, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, March 28 - 30, 2017. Visited the Government Primary School, Dhangaon, Chhattisgarh, and interacted with the students onAugust 31, 2016 and February 4, 2017. Delivered a lecture on Ganit,Vigyanaur aur Khagolvigyan (Maths, Science andAstrophysics) , at the Chhattisgarh Science Centre , Raipur on September 20, 2016. Worked as a resource person in Science Popularization workshop for tribal students, at the Government High School, Singhiya, Chhattisgarh, delivered a lecture and organized skywatching programme, during October 15 - 16, 2016. Given a presentation on Light curves of type Ia supernovae in Topical Course in Computational Statistics and Astrostatistics, during January 1 - 10, 2017, at IUCAA, Pune. Delivered a lecture on Particle physics, at Bhilai Mahila College, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh on January 12, 2017. Asky gazing programme was held onMay 9, 2016 towitness the Transit ofMercury at the IRC. The event was viewed using 8 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope available at Professor R.K. Thakur Memorial Observatory of the School. Astandard solar filter was placed in front of collector plate of the telescope for safety purpose. The students and public were curious and excited to see the event. They asked several questions, which were answered by N.K. Chakradhari, L.K. Chawre and Mahendra Verma. The telescope was handled by Amit Tamrakar and Arti Choudhary. The event was broadcasted live by IBC-24-hours, Chhattisgarh TV Channel. Several people from the print-media were also available to cover the news of transit event, whichwas published in local daily on the next day. IRC Activities by N.K. Chakradhari Transit of Mercury