May 19, 2025

The Space Applications Centre (SAC) Ahmedabad, organised a National Space Science meeting- SAMHITA (SAC Astronomy Microgravity Heliophysics Ionosphere vaarTA) during May 5-6, 2025. The meeting was attended by 150 delegates including scientists from ISRO/DOS and experts from academic institutions- IIST, TIFR, IIT-M, IIT-K, NISER, ARIES, NIRMA University, IIG, SPU, CVMU & Ahmedabad University.

Chairman ISRO / Secretary, DOS, Dr. V Narayanan addressed the participants of the meeting, and emphasized on the importance of the confluence of community wisdom in shaping up the roadmap for the space science exploration activities of the country. Director, SAC, Dr. Nilesh M Desai delivered the opening remarks. Deputy Director- EPSA/SAC Dr Rashmi Sharma set the context of the meeting and elaborated on the expectations from the space agency-academia synergy. Dr Tirtha Pratim Das, Director, Science Programme Office, ISRO Headquarters presented a brief account of the space science research being carried out in ISRO/DOS. Dr Mehul R Pandya, Group Director, Space Applications Centre, presented an overview of Space Science research activities and initiatives at SAC.

During the national meet, a total of 40 eminent national speakers delivered talks in 9 sessions on topics ranging from astronomy, astrophysics, experiments in micro-gravity conditions, Heliophysics, magnetosphere, space weather, and Ionosphere - Thermosphere. The deliberations were focused towards initiatives and research outcome of studies being carried out in the specific domains, towards ISRO’s current and future space science missions.