AR_final file_2018-19

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018 - 2019 Astronomy Centre for Educators An Astronomy Centre for Educators (ACE) has been established at IUCAA with the primary objectives of promoting the growth of teaching and research in Astronomy and Astrophysics in our institutions of higher education via training and allied programmes such as workshops and schools, and development of appropriate resource material. These have been among the core objectives of IUCAA as outlined by its Founder Director, Jayant V. Narlikar. The two main constituent units of ACE at present are the National Resource Centre (NRC) for developing the Annual Refresher Programme In Teaching (ARPIT) for teachers, and the Teaching Learning Centre (TLC) for further developing astronomy teaching in the country with an emphasis in the higher education sector.The programmes are being funded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India, under the aegis of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching (PMMMNMTT) Scheme. Chairperson of the University Grants Commission, Professor D. P. Singh, laid the foundation stone for the new building funded by the TLC grant on the January 4, 2019. The construction is making steady progress, and the building is expected to be completed before the end of 2019. Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT) The NRC has developed a broad-based course on Astronomy and Astrophysics for ARPIT, consisting of 57 videos spread across 11 modules, along with multiple-choice questions for each video and suggestions for further readings. The modules covered a wide range of topics which included the general theory of relativity, gravitational waves, quantum gravity, cosmology and large scale structure, galaxies and clusters of galaxies, physics of compact objects, the Sun, solar wind and planetary systems, observational astronomy, astronomy from archival data, time-domain astronomy and astrostatistics. These video presentations were made by 27 resource persons from 11 institutions of higher education and research spread across the country. They have highlighted recent developments in the respective areas while also touching upon the basic required pedagogy, and emphasising emerging areas in the field. About 1350 participants have registered for the course, which was well received with the course being rated as 4.8 out of 5. ( 31 )