Kapil Rokaya from Bajura bags National Astronomy Olympiad - NAO2014 Logo Competition

The first ever national level National Astronomy Olympiad - NAO 2014  finally is all set to wave the flag from January 2014. With the recent logo competition announced by  NAO 2014 Organizing Committee - Nepal Astronomical Society +NASONepal and ESPRO Foundation, +Kapil Rokaya from Bajura has bagged the grand prize with Rs.5000/- sponsored by Lotus Holdings Pvt. Ltd. 

View Your Choice, outreach partner of NAO2014, interacted with the Winner Kapil Rokaya after he heard about winning the competition and he says - 

"I was very excited when i got the email from NASO that my design got selected for final logo of National Astronomy Olympiad 2014. And when I received the phone call my excitement level got double. It's great achievement that helps me for my further work. I am hearty thankful towards NASO. Thank You again NASO for this award."

View Your Choice on behalf of the organizing committee congratulate Kapil Rokaya.

View Your Choice also interacted with Prabodh Rijal, President of ESPRO Foundation one of the organizers about the participation in the logo competition as he said, "The participation was good. People are creative and responsive." Organizers responded that there was a huge participation and support from amateurs to professionals applying for the competition. Finally out of many contestants Kapil Rokaya bagged the grand prize. Kapil will be acknowledged and handed over the cash prize at the grand ceremony of National Astronomy Olympiad 2014. 

Chair of NAO 2014 Organizing Committee - Rishi Shah, academician at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology - NAST and President at NASO referred on the logos sent by the contestants,

" The young generations interest for astronomy to reach out for the star and know more about the universe and our planet, solar system was very encouraging conformation for organizers like us feels great. We were fascinated by the interest of contestants and their enthusiasm in astronomy. And this is the very encouraging sign for the organizers to conduct such program."

NAO 2014 is designed to encourage Nepalese high school students with good foundations in Physics ,Mathematics and an interest in Elementary Astronomy to pursue further studies in this field are encouraged to participate. The Nepalese delegation will participate in 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) going to be held in Suceava, Romania, 1-10 August, 2014.

Manish Dwa, Project Coordinator at NASO and part of the NAO 2014 organizing committee  said regarding the logo as well as further plan, "Within a short span of time too, we were able to get some very high quality logos from different parts of Nepal. Core members of the organizing team were the jury and the judgement was done without any kind of biasing. The qualities of the logos received were high. And now the applications will open and we are really look forward for a huge participation from high school science students across Nepal. " 

More further information contact - Suresh Bhattarai, Co-Founder/ Secretary - NASO and Secretary of NAO 2014 Organizing Committee

NAO2014 Secretariat
C/o
Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO)
H.B. Complex, Ekantakuna, Lalitpur, Nepal
Email: astro.olympiad@gmail.com
Mobile: +977-9843 70 82 48
Website: nationalolympiad.org

View Your Choice is the outreach partner of National Astronomy Olympiad - NAO 2014

H C Regan Babu Bhatta from SOS HGS Bharatpur selected as one of 5 winners to represent NEPAL at IOAA

National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 ( NAO-2014), first Astronomy Olympiad in Nepal, has finally selected its 5 winners who will participate in the 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) during August in Suceava, Romania. NAO 2014 was launched in the month of January, 2014 and the applications were opened the same time by holding selection exam on March 22 where many participants from all across Nepal participated out of which 20 students were selected. Later in May,  Pre-Closed Camp was held with 12 students  participating and Closed Camp from June 1-7 where 5 winners - Ashirbad Acharya, Bibek Kumar Pandit, H C Regan Babu Bhatta, Kiran Adhikari and Prabesh Koirala selected through our closed camp to represent Nepal at IOAA with the Nepal delegation.

Here is what H C Regan Babu Bhatta has to share with +View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई -

"I am HC Regan Babu Bhatta aged 16. I have been living in Chitwan since my birth.I have completed my +2 science from SOS HGS Bharatpur.  I have always been enticed by the amazement of astrophysics and I have my own story behind it .         

I remember when I was a child my father used to come home late. Me and my my mother would wait for him sitting on a verandah. I always slept with my head on her lap beholding the brightness of the sky.  She used to  pat on my forehead and tell me the tales of sky, gods and stars and most of the time when I uttered the questions from my half broken words, she remained silent and just widened her lips. 

The silence triggered the violence of word in my mind and flushed the curiosity of astrophysics throughout my body. 

My quest for astronomy aroused further when I read about the stars and other heavenly bodies in books of my secondary and higher secondary courses and the very moment after the completion of my course i got selected in NAO-2014 as top 5 candidates. 

I feel immensely pleased to be the part of NAO and extremely delighted to represent my country in international platform. I also fell pleased to get involved with expertise in field of astrophysics in NAO one week closed camp which further enhanced my interest.    

I do not just merely hope such further events to encounter with my life but also strive to bring such events. Such is the value of this program to me. And through such program I one day want to grow up to be the man who could answer every silence of my mother."

+View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई - is the outreach partner of +National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 and will be sharing our conversation with all the five winners in our upcoming post.

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Prabesh Koirala from Budhanilkantha School selected as one of 5 winners to represent NEPAL at IOAA

National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 ( NAO-2014), first Astronomy Olympiad in Nepal, has finally selected its 5 winners who will participate in the 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) during August in Suceava, Romania. NAO 2014 was launched in the month of January, 2014 and the applications were opened the same time by holding selection exam on March 22 where many participants from all across Nepal participated out of which 20 students were selected. Later in May,  Pre-Closed Camp was held with 12 students  participating and Closed Camp from June 1-7 where 5 winners - Ashirbad Acharya, Bibek Kumar Pandit, H C Regan Babu Bhatta, Kiran Adhikari and Prabesh Koirala selected through our closed camp to represent Nepal at IOAA with the Nepal delegation.

Here is what Prabesh Koirala has to share with +View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई -

"I am an ignorant fresh graduate from Budhanilkantha School.  I was born and raised at the foothills of Machhapuchre and at the city of lakes.  

I am ignorant because I take nothing for-granted.  And there is benefit of being foolish- the more you are foolish the more you will learn. I was a ‘why and how’ boy from my earliest childhood. I remember having keen interest in physics. I loved it as it depicted a complete me. Like me, physics never presumed anything instead rummaged for logic, behind the happening.
I have watched the night sky as a child with my grandfather beside me, telling me the story of the stars. Every different stars etched on the sky was a different story. They were not just stars but something more. Till this day, whenever I sit under the stars, I gaze at them like I watched it the very first time, as a naïve child. I seek the stories myself. At times, I feel down for not having my grandfather by me. But then, from the abyss of my heart I know that the brightest one is him. 

I participated in NAO to seek answers about the stars. Are the stories a myth or reality? Why are there stars on the sky? Why is the sky not pitch-black but filled with white dots that twinkle? And from the experience of the closed camp, I am very sure that I would find the answers soon. 

I see myself as a jet of water: powerful, destructive, essential yet very easy to mould. 

The passage that I would be provided will determine my shape. And IOA is the passage that will shape me to a great thinker who wonders on the realm of logic. I cannot say that I am the most powerful jet of water yet I can guarantee that I am the most efficient. Even if I get beaten down by the challenges I would dare to stand up and drive myself beyond my estimated potential .Believe me, every single drop of me will yield its greatest output. 

Forgive me but I will not change for the sake of attending IOAA. I shall still be the naïve child who stares at the stars not to know about their position in space but to know about the story my grandfather would have told me, had he been right by me looking at the same star."

+View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई - is the outreach partner of +National Astronomy Olympiad 2014. More on what has been NAO 2014 doing for its crowd funding campaign.

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Bibek Kumar Pandit from St. Xaviers College selected as one of 5 winners to represent NEPAL at IOAA

National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 ( NAO-2014), first Astronomy Olympiad in Nepal, has finally selected its 5 winners who will participate in the 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) during August in Suceava, Romania. NAO 2014 was launched in the month of January, 2014 and the applications were opened the same time by holding selection exam on March 22 where many participants from all across Nepal participated out of which 20 students were selected. Later in May,  Pre-Closed Camp was held with 12 students  participating and Closed Camp from June 1-7 where 5 winners - Ashirbad Acharya, Bibek Kumar Pandit, H C Regan Babu Bhatta, Kiran Adhikari and Prabesh Koirala selected through our closed camp to represent Nepal at IOAA with the Nepal delegation.

Here is what Bibek Kumar Pandit has to share with +View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई -

" First of all I am very grateful to NASO and NAO for providing me this platform to enhance my talent. And I would also like to thank all other members of NAO for understanding my ability and selecting me among the 5 members who will be representing our nation in the IOAA. 

I'm feeling very happy about being selected and felling more and more responsible today. First of all when I heard the announcement of the NAO on my College's notice board, I thought, "At least there is someone in Nepal too who admire the talent in the field in astronomy" and the very next day I met Kishor Acharya brother who gave me adequate information about the selection process and also gave me a handbook. I read it and filled the form the very next day. I prepared for the exam and then gave it which was fine enough. After one or two months, the result was out and I was very happy to have my name in the list. Then after my board exams when I had already got 2 assignments before the exams, I prepared it and also completed my third assignment. Then arrived the day of initiation of the closed camp. I was ready for it and had already made my mind to give a tough challenge to the other competitors. My dad has been saying me, 

"If you want to be on time be before time."

So, I reached the assigned destination before 1P.M. which was the given time. I'd a good time in the closed camp. I learned many new things and understood the talent of many new faces. 

When I analyze the whole closed camp I think all the competitors were one over the other but I think the judges have selected the best 5 today. 

Today I think I've done 10% of the task for myself and my career in IOAA but I haven't done anything till now for my nation. I along with other four members will be representing our nation in the IOAA. I feel proud of myself that I can do something to contribute to the good name of the nation. I know I will perform excellently there and every bit of my potential and do as good as possible. This would also be a great opportunity for building my career and help in my future too. The travel to Europe would give me a new experience.  Eventually, it would be a prestige feeling to all the Nepalese people and especially the lovers of Astronomy."

+View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई - is the outreach partner of +National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 and will be sharing our conversation with all the five winners in our upcoming post.

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National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 on its run - Logo to be unveil soon

How many of you have heard that Oscars has got it new logo ?

 180LA, was behind the new logo that spotlights the Oscar from above – creating a triangular shape and uniting the "A" of the Academy with our iconic statuette. This design gives the Academy a presence in its own logo for the first time and underscores our efforts to support creative arts and sciences year-round.  - shared by Christina Kounelias
Chief Marketing Officer, The Academy in a statement

What if you were one of such designers whose work would be acknowledged by many ? 

National Astronomy Olympiad Organizing Committee decides on the same encouraging young talents to share their creativity and also get into the rise through a logo competition for National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 -NAO2014. A grand cash prize of NRS. 5000/- is being offered to the winner by the organizers including Nepal Astronomical Society -NASO , ESPRO Foundation and others. The organizers recently called for the logo competition with the theme of Astronomy, Education and Nepal to be included.

Speaking to View Your Choice Suresh Bhattarai, Founder Secretary of Nepal Astronomical Society -NASO said ,"NAO 2014 itself is encouraging high school students to participate which will be launched from the beginning of 2014 while the logo competition has also been launched with the same motive of encouraging freshers from the field of designing as well as creativity to participate. The professional can too apply and we are glad that we been receiving a wonderful response on this regard. " While sharing us about NAO 2014 Logo competition he also said that high school science students must start following to know more as 2014 will bring a big surprise for them. You can follow us - View your Choice for more updates on following days.

The Deadline for submission has been dated Tuesday, 24th December, 2013

We share you the rules set by the organizers that will help you draw and bring wonderful designs together.

Rules & Regulations:

• The logo must include the following themes: ASTRONOMY, EDUCATION &NEPAL and should reflect National Astronomy Olympiad 2014.
• Maximum of three designs can be submitted by a person. Submitted designs must contain the original idea/creation of the designer. Logos must be created in full colour in JPG formats. The logo specification is width 600 pixels.
• Each design must contain a description of no more than 200 words. Design without description will not be accepted for the competition.
• The deadline for submission is Tuesday, 24th December, 2013. Submission after the deadline will not be entertained.
• The best logo will be awarded 5,000 NRs as a cash price.
• The decision of the evaluation committee will be final. The copyright of the selected logo will be of Nepal Astronomical Society -NASO only.

The submission must be done through email: info.naso[at]gmail.com.

View Your Choice is an outreach partner at National Astronomy Olympiad 2014.

Kiran Adhikari from St. Xaviers College selected as one of 5 winners to represent NEPAL at IOAA

National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 ( NAO-2014), first Astronomy Olympiad in Nepal, has finally selected its 5 winners who will participate in the 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) during August in Suceava, Romania. NAO 2014 was launched in the month of January, 2014 and the applications were opened the same time by holding selection exam on March 22 where many participants from all across Nepal participated out of which 20 students were selected. Later in May,  Pre-Closed Camp was held with 12 students  participating and Closed Camp from June 1-7 where 5 winners - Ashirbad Acharya, Bibek Kumar Pandit, H C Regan Babu Bhatta, Kiran Adhikari and Prabesh Koirala selected through our closed camp to represent Nepal at IOAA with the Nepal delegation.


Here is what Kiran Adhikari has to share with +View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई -

"Hi everyone, I am 19yrs old Kiran Adhikari born in Dhading. Ever since, I was a teenager, I tinkered with astrophysics and astronomy. It was my hobby, my passion and my way of learning. Like most kids, I also enjoyed reading biographies of Hawking, Einstein and Newton. By the time , I graduated High School, I knew I wanted to do astrophysics. From that point on, everything fell into place. My life resolved around it. 

Now , my ultimate aim is to become a successful theoretical physicist. 

I was extremely happy to hear about Astronomy Olympiad and thought I should get it. So, I worked hard for it. And finally, I got selected for International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA ) going to be held at Suceava, Romania where I will be representing Nepal. I think this will become my great ladder to climb my mountain and obviously I am so glad that this happiness is getting unable to expressed in few words. I am really so so happy. At the same time , I am also feeling responsible since I am going to represent my nation. I will try my best to give my best in Romania and keep my nation's pride up."

+View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई - is the outreach partner of +National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 and will be sharing our conversation with all the five winners in our upcoming post.

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Ashirbad Acharya from St. Xaviers College selected as one of 5 winners to represent NEPAL at IOAA

National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 ( NAO-2014), first Astronomy Olympiad in Nepal, has finally selected its 5 winners who will participate in the 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) during August in Suceava, Romania. NAO 2014 was launched in the month of January, 2014 and the applications were opened the same time by holding selection exam on March 22 where many participants from all across Nepal participated out of which 20 students were selected. Later in May,  Pre-Closed Camp was held with 12 students  participating and Closed Camp from June 1-7 where 5 winners - Ashirbad Acharya, Bibek Kumar Pandit, H C Regan Babu Bhatta, Kiran Adhikari and Prabesh Koirala selected through our closed camp to represent Nepal at IOAA with the Nepal delegation.


Here is what Ashirbad Acharya has to share with +View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई -

"I am Ashirbad Acharya, studying Science in St. Xavier’s College, on my quest of learning more. Always on the search for truth and perfection, I grew up helping and collaborating with each individual to move forward. My enthusiastic passion and knowledge of Science is proven by my 1st and 2nd rank in National Science and Mathematics Olympiad respectively. My success has come from trying to find an answer to a simple question “How does life exist?” Hence, I keep a keen interest in Biology, especially learning about working of life and its evolution. I also find the idea of life in another form, made up of different building blocks, maybe even different elements quite fascinating. 

The participation in the National Astronomy Olympiad was like a dream come true for me. I always gazed up in the sky amazed by the immenseness of the universe and felt that the secret lied there. Never did I believe in luck, but put a strong trust towards hard work which is my best ally. I believe, 

“Think about what you can do, not what’s not in your hands.” 

I feel myself as a deserving candidate to represent my country in the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics on account of my skills and previous accomplishments. I want to falsify the prevailing notion of poor countries like Nepal being poor in talent. By getting great rank, I wish to prove that curious and intelligent minds are also born in Nepal, just waiting for opportunity."

+View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई - is the outreach partner of +National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 and will be sharing our conversation with all the five winners in our upcoming post.

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National Astronomy Olympiad Deadline in two weeks

Are you looking forward to pursue your higher education in the discipline of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy ? National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 - #NAO2014 is where you seem to be applying if you are 19yrs and below (i.e you are born on or after Jan 1, 1995) and a Nepali citizenship holder. 

Why is that so? It’s because #NAO2014 is looking forward to encourage high school science students (from Grade 11/12 and equivalent) from Nepal with good foundation in Physics and Mathematics along with your interest in Astronomy who are too looking forward to pursue the same in days ahead. While, #NAO2014 is also sharing a wonderful opportunity for you who are applying and get selected after #NAO2014, to train and make you eligible of participating at International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics - IOAA to be held in Suceava, Romania, 1-10 August, 2014.

+View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई -  as outreach partner has been sharing about it on our earlier posts as well. So, you certainly are looking forward to step ahead and give yourself an opportunity of participating too and here’s your next step.

Visit one of the #NAO2014 collection/application centers nearby you to collect the application form. Make sure you contact one of them and visit them for your application as soon as possible by 15th March, 2014 as that has been the deadline set by +NASONepal  and +ESPRO Foundation being the organizers of National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 - #NAO2014.

• Suresh Bhattarai, Cell: +977-9843 70 82 48
  Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO), H.B. Complex, Ekantakuna, Lalitpur, Nepal
   
• Prabodh Rijal, Cell: +977-9851 07 00 48
  ESPRO Foundation, c/o Eureka High School, Nepaltar, Kathmandu, Nepal
•  Sujan Regmi, Cell: +977-9846 17 48 57
  Pokhara Astronomical Society (PAS) ,c/o Chhunumunu Publication Ltd. ,Newroad, Pokhara-08, Kaski, Nepal
•  Devraj Sapkota, Cell: +977-9841 52 12 81
  Damak Astronomical Society (DASO), c/o Department of Physics, Damak Multiple Campus, Damak-14, Jhapa, Nepal
• Ajay Neupane, Cell: +977-9849 14 99 61
  Dang Astronomical Society (DAS), c/o Siddhartha Academy Higher Secondary School, Ratanpur, Ghorahi-11, Dang, Nepal
•  Bikal Ghimire, Cell: +977-9845 18 08 18
  Director, Chitwan Girls Hostel (Behind CMC Hospital), Kalika Chowk, Bharatpur-10, Chitwan, Nepal

Fill in the application form and get endorsed by the college authority

Submit the filled in application form along with mark-sheet of the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) or equivalent with application fee 300 NRs to the collection/application centers or via email – They will mention you regarding it while meeting them.

What next then? Possibly you must be downloading our #NAO2014 Handbook which is available under resources on www.nationalolympiad.org 

Get the handbook, check the syllabus and our model questions and indeed your #NAO2014 exams will all be an objective question and within March, 2014.

The syllabus for entrance exam of NAO-2014 is broadly equivalent to the senior secondary level (up to Class XII) of Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) Nepal. There will be greater emphasis on Physics and Mathematics and Elementary Astronomy. The syllabus covers Mechanics, Heat and Thermodynamics, Nuclear Physics, Wave and Optics, Electricity and Magnetism, The Sun, The Earth, The Solar System, The Stars, Universe, Space Exploration and Mathematics. Please know more about the syllabus in detail here .

Keep subscribing +View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई -  for more updates on National Astronomy Olympiad while also like our #NAO2014 facebook page for more updates 

4th National Call for 'Astronomy Olympiad Teacher' Training 2015!

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) is pleased to announce 4th National Call for 'Astronomy Olympiad Teacher' Training 2015 to select teachers who will help the organizing National Astronomy Olympiad Organizing Committee- Nepal (NAOC-Nepal) to organize 3rd National Astronomy Olympiad 2016- Nepal.

Among all the applicants, five best applicants will be selected based on their motivation, academic history and interviews (both telephone and in person). They will participate in the upcoming Astronomy Olympiad Exposure Camp 2015 which will be held at Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education (HBCSE),Mumbai,India during November 2-5, 2015.

What is the objective of this Training?
The primary objective of this training is to select the five best applicants who will assist NASO to organize NAO-Nepal which is operational in Nepal since 2014. It also aims at productive interaction of our selected candidates at regional level (SAARC) with Olympiad activity at its focus.

What will be there at the training at HBSCE,Mumbai, India?
It will consist of various exposure sessions on theory, data analysis problems as well as night sky observation sessions. Tentative topics include celestial mechanics, observational astronomy, positional astronomy and observable properties of stars.

Who can apply?

Astronomy educators from different sectors i.e. Astronomy outreach personnel from scientific institutions, University / college / high school teachers, staff of planetaria and science museums as well as active amateur astronomers.

What will be the cost of participation?
Selected candidates will be reimbursed to and fro travel fare as per the entitlement (Maximum II AC). Food and accommodation in the HBCSE Guest House will be provided. During the workshop, one may visit HBCSE laboratories, library, History of Science Exhibition, HBCSE “books for sale” section, etc.

How to apply?

Interested candidate need to send their one page (A4 size) motivation letter and latest CV with photo and contact number/s to info.naso[at]gmail.com by 5:00 PM, Monday, September 7, 2015. Incomplete application will not be processed for the selection round!

When will be the selection result available?

The result will be announced at our website on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 and provided with further instruction on the participation in India.

Looking forward to welcome your application!

To know more about NASO and its activities, click here.