34th Annual Report (2021-22)

77 (I) POPULAR/PUBLICLECTURES (j) RADIO/TVPROGRAMMES DebaratiChatterjee Neutron Stars: Astrophysical Probes of Extreme Physics , Physics & Astronomy Club, IITDelhi, March 11, 2022 Future opportunities for Indian girl students in Mega-Science projects: LIGO-India , Women's Day at Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai, March 3, 2021. From Nuclei to Neutron Stars: Probing nuclear matter , Horizon Astronomy Club of IITMadras, Sept 13, 2020. ApratimGanguly A gravitational-wave peak at the stellar graveyard, LIGO-India National ScienceDay 2022. NeerajGupta Square Kilometer Array (SKA): the largest radio telescope, IUCAA ScienceDay, Feb 28, 2022 SanjitMitra An eventful beginning of Gravitational Wave Astronomy , Cosmology Club, Delhi Technological University, Oct. 28, 2021. [Online] SurhudMore Ask an Astronomer series , by the ASI public outreach andeducation committee, Jan 8, 2022 D.J.Saikia Non-violent conflict and social justice , International conference on impact of conflict on humanities, St. Pauls College, Bengaluru, June 25, 2021 Developing empathy and the importance of studying literature , Faculty Development Programme on New Trends in English studies, Tezpur University TLC and Department of English, Tezpur, January 17, 2022 Towards holistic liberal education, Faculty Development Programme, Exploring dynamics of the classroom NEP and NAAC perspective, St Pauls College, Bengaluru, January 25, 2022. KanakSaha Astrophysics of Galaxies , ABN Seal College and Breakthrough Science Society, Coochbehar, Dec. 21, 2021 DebaratiChatterjee Listening to the Cosmos , podcast (4 interviews) of international Gravitational Wave experts for the LIGO-India podcast channel: 1. Dr. Karan Jani (Vanderbilt University, Nashville) 2. Prof. Sanjeev Dhurandhar (IUCAA, Pune) 3. Prof. AnnaWatts (University of Amsterdam) OtherPedagogical activitiesbyLIGO-India: LIGO-IndiaInstrumentScienceTrainingatIUCAA The LIGO-India team at IUCAA has been engaged in imparting training to college students fromacross India to foster an interest in Gravitational Wave Detector related physics and technology. We have equipped a Design Cell with COMSOL, Solid Works, LabView software and related data acquisition hardware. These tools are being used to develop the apparatus we plan to build in the various laboratories where student projects are being undertaken. Over the past year we have built six single stage Suspension TrainingModules (STM) and designed and fabricated the analog circuits that interface these suspensions to a LabView based control and data acquisition system. In addition, we have also built a Mock Advanced LIGO Control room in the Design Cell and also put together a stand alone Control and Data System (CDS) that is analogous to the CDS used on the LIGO sites. These various training modules are used by both undergrad students and our in-house LIGO-India personnel to impart to them the skills needed to commission and operate an Advanced LIGOdetector. We are engaged in building several laboratory facilities to house our experimental activity. A laboratory has been built in the Teacher Learning Center, IUCAA, which includes a cleanroomfor an advanced optics laboratory. A laboratory for training teachers and engaging students in interferometry has also been developed in the same facility. Another laboratory for Gravitational Wave detector related instrument science is under development in the SITARA facility on the S. P. Pune University campus. These laboratory facilities would be used for both advanced research as well as training of personnel who would go on to contribute to the installation, commissioning and operation of the LIGO-IndiaObservatory. LI-EPO Blog “ Gravity Matters ” on LIGO-India website and social media channels continued to promote GW related sciences among general public, including features about Gravitational Wave science, Women in GW Astronomy, SciArt, articles in vernacular languages and more. Some of the new highlights include podcasts by distinguished gravitational wave personalities like Prof. Sanjeev Dhurandhar and Prof.TarunSouradeep, Behind-the-Scenes interviewswithGWresearchers and students. https://www.ligo-india.in/gravitymatters/ “Listen to the Universe” children's book launch on GW discovery anniversary An illustrated children's pop-up book in Marathi - “AikaBrahmand Kay Mhante'' (Listen to the Universe) was launched on the occasion of the anniversary of the first direct detection of gravitational waves by LIGO. This book was written by the University of Glasgow, IUCAA SciPOP in collaboration with LIGO-India EPO (Manasadevi P Thirugnanasambandam) and supported partly by the Newton Bhabha Fund. The book has initially been published in Marathi, the native language of school children in the vicinity of the LIGO-India observatory site in Maharashtra. The book reading videos were premiered on LIGO-India EPO's YouTube channel on 14th September, 2021, in three languages, including Marathi, English as well as Hindi, in spirit of the Hindi Divas which was also celebrated on the same day. LIMMA2019conferencevideos A series of videos shot during the LIMMA conference in 2019, where the world's leading experts on gravitational wave detectors had gathered to discuss the new physics and astrophysics they may