14 सितंबर को केंद्र मे अवकाश होने के कारण, होमी भाभा विज्ञान शिक्षा केंद्र (टी. आई. एफ. आर.) द्वारा हिंदी दिवस 10 सितंबर 2026 को मनाया जाएगा|

राजभाषा कार्यान्वयन समिति ने इस उपलक्ष्य में निबंध-लेखन, सामान्य हिंदी ज्ञान, श्रुतलेखन, आशुभाषण तथा काव्य पाठ प्रतियोगिताओं का आयोजन करने का निर्णय किया है|

यह प्रतियोगिताएं क्रमशः 04, 07, 08 तथा 10 सितम्बर, 2026 को आयोजित की जाएंगी|

As part of the HBCSE Postdoctoral visiting fellow recruitment process, Dr. Sneha Pandit will be delivering a seminar on Monday, September 7, 2026, at 11:30 AM in Room G1, Main Building, HBCSE. The details of the program are as follows:

Name of the candidate:

Dr. Sneha Pandit

About the candidate:

Dr. Sneha Pandit is a solar and heliospheric physicist currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at IUCAA, Pune. She completed her BS-MS Dual Degree in Science from IISER Bhopal and her PhD in Solar Physics at the Rosseland Centre for Solar Physics, a Centre of Excellence supported by the European Research Council, at the University of Oslo, Norway. Her research spans solar and stellar atmospheric activity, the connection between the solar corona and solar wind, and the evolution of magnetic structures in the heliosphere. Alongside her research, she has been actively involved in teaching, student mentoring, science outreach, astronomy Olympiads, and science communication. These experiences have gradually developed her interest in science education and in exploring how individuals can engage with science not only as a body of knowledge, but also as a process of observation, questioning, analysis, and discovery.

Title of the talk:

From the Solar Atmosphere to the Solar Wind: Connecting Solar–Stellar Physics with Science Education

Abstract of the talk:

The Sun provides a unique laboratory for understanding solar-like stars because its atmosphere can be studied through spatially and temporally resolved observations. In the first part of this talk, I will present my work on solar and stellar atmospheric activity using chromospheric diagnostics, including H alpha, Ca II H & K, and the Ca II Infrared Triplet, together with millimetre/submillimetre observations from ALMA. Using radiative transfer modelling and a Bifrost-based network atmosphere, I compare synthetic spectral diagnostics with ALMA observations to investigate temperature stratification, magnetic structures, and mass-density variations. I will discuss correlations between chromospheric activity indices and different atmospheric layers.

Switchbacks are sudden deflections of the magnetic field that are ubiquitous in the inner heliosphere. However, there is no consensus on their origin, with proposed sources ranging from local in-situ processes to deeper coronal dynamics. The key question we investigate is whether the properties of switchbacks carry the signature of the ~11-year solar Schwabe cycle, which would provide constraints on their possible origins. To address this, we consider a large statistical ensemble of switchbacks observed by Parker Solar Probe (PSP) and evaluate the cycle dependence of their physical properties, including deflection amplitude, duration, waiting time, and related parameters associated with the observing conditions.

Finally, I will briefly discuss how my experience as a researcher, teacher, mentor, and science communicator motivates my proposed work in science education, particularly the use of astronomy, authentic scientific data, and inquiry-based activities to develop scientific reasoning among students and teachers.

Candidate Name:

Ms. Anupama Souri Das

Ph.D. Thesis Title:

Vaccination Knowledge, Attitude and Decision-making among Higher Senior Secondary Students

Abstract:

This thesis examines the knowledge, attitudes, and decision-making of higher secondary school students regarding vaccines, vaccinations, and vaccine-hesitancy. Although adolescent vaccination is essential for national immunization strategies, most research has focused on parental perspectives and early childhood immunization, leaving adolescent experiences underexplored. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the lack of vaccination education in schools. To address this gap, the study investigates students' vaccination-related knowledge, attitudes, and decision-making using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods research design.

The thesis presents two major studies. The first is a qualitative study with 16 higher secondary students, which provided critical insights, identified key themes, and informed the subsequent quantitative phase. Based on the qualitative findings, a cross-sectional survey was developed and administered to 542 students to generate more generalizable results. The survey focused on COVID-19 vaccines, general vaccination knowledge, and the newly introduced adolescent-specific HPV vaccine in India. After data-cleaning, the 506 residual responses showed a significant level of misconceptions in students’ knowledge and perceptions on vaccines and vaccination, pointing to a need for better vaccine education for adolescents at the high school level.

The study draws on public health and science education theories to frame research questions, identify gaps, and guide the design and development of data collection tools and analysis. Conducted after the phased introduction of COVID-19 vaccines for adolescents in India, the research provides timely insights into students’ vaccination experiences, concerns, and information needs. The thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of adolescent perspectives on vaccination and offers important policy implications for strengthening vaccination education and supporting informed decision-making among school students.

Zoom Meeting Link:

https://hbcse-tifr-res-in.zoom.us/j/96479876558?pwd=xBzW9uZkwzKCjba0QZx7LdKziD5KMa.1

Meeting ID:

964 7987 6558

Passcode:

736716