On Wednesday, 12 August 2026, faculty members from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, interacted with nearly 400 school students at Atal Sadan, Dhalpur, Kullu, as part of the main outreach event of the DRONE-EDU programme. Dy. Commandant Shri Desh Raj of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Kullu, was the Chief Guest.

The three-hour programme featured lectures, an open interaction session and career guidance aimed at introducing students to India’s space sector and the opportunities available in space science and technology. Prof. Chinmoy Saha, Department of Avionics, provided an overview of IIST, ISRO and the academic pathways that contribute to building India’s space workforce. Prof. Priyadarshanam Hari, Department of Avionics, explained the fundamentals of satellites, their functions and their importance in modern society. Prof. Aravind Vaidyanathan, Department of Aerospace Engineering, delivered a session on rocket propulsion and launch vehicles.

The programme also included an interactive science and drone quiz for the participating schools, followed by live demonstrations of drones and model rocketry conducted by IIST student volunteers. The sessions encouraged active participation, with students showing keen interest and enthusiasm during the interactions.

The outreach programme provided students from the hill district of Kullu with exposure to space science, aerospace technology and potential career pathways, helping demonstrate that opportunities in space science and technology are accessible to students from diverse backgrounds and regions.

The programme was organised by Sampoorna Udaan Charitable Trust with CSR support from Patel Engineering Limited. Agastya Research Collective (ARC) and IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS) served as the technical and training partners