National Points of Contact Nepal
	Rijendra Thapa This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Suresh Bhattarai This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

SGAC Nepal

Nepal is situated between India and China, two giants in terms of space science. Surprisingly, despite this fact, the present status of space science and technology in Nepal is very poor. With the goal of changing this, SGAC Nepal in collaboration with the Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) is initiating a nationwide campaign promoting space science and astronomy in Nepal. So, please come and join us! Let us be a skilled workforce to contribute together to the development of space sciences on a national and international level.

Young Space Activities Overview in Nepal

SGAC Nepal has a vision of creating awareness for space in Nepal, and focuses on outreach activities to connect students, the general public and decision makers. It also frequently organises observations sessions, talk programmes, interactions, poster sessions and documentary shows in different parts of Nepal. SGAC Nepal had another successful year 2011 in promoting space science and astronomy through various educational outreach activities throughout the nation in collaboration with the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Tribhuvan University (TU) and Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO). During 2011, SGAC-Nepal members were successful in attending relevant conferences in space science and astronomy held in China, Germany, India, Italy, South Africa and the United Kingdom. It was able to expand its activities in Eastern, Central and Western Development Regions of Nepal amongst school students, youth and general public.

In 2012, we are looking forward for another successful year with many more exciting and informative programmes on space science education and astronomy in Nepal.

Country-Specific Events in 2012

• HighNoon Workshop on Glacier, Snow Melt and Runoff in the Himalayas (Kathmandu, Nepal, February 6-7): The EU-FP7 project HighNoon, with the support of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the British Department for International Development (DFID) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), organises a Trans-Himalayan workshop on "Glacier, Snow Melt and Runoff in the Himalayas" on 6–7 February 2012, at ICIMOD in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• 4th International Conference on Wireless Information System & Business Information System (WINBIS-2012) (Kathmandu,  27-28 February): WINBIS will take place at the Hotel Marshyandi, Kathmandu, from 27^th to 28^th February 2012. Since 2009, the Open Learning Society is organizing WINBIS and it's series every year. WINBIS'2012 aims at bringing together researchers, engineers and practitioners interested on Wireless Information, Communication technologies and Business Information.
• 51^st IFATCA Annual Conference 2012 (Kathmandu, 12-16 March)
• Nepal Air Traffic Controllers Association will is hosting 51st Annual Conference of IFATCA in Kathmandu during march 12 to 16, 2012. The International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA) is a nonpolitical, non-industrial organization with a membership of over 50,000 air traffic controllers. IFATCA was founded in 1961 by air traffic controllers from 12 European countries. Subsequently, it was grown in stature and now represents 140 member associations from its four regions: Africa & Middle East, Americas, Asia & Pacific and Europe. IFATCA enjoys a worldwide reputation amongst all partners in Air Traffic Management with representation in many areas including ICAO and Euro-control working groups.
• International Conference on Astrophysics & Cosmology (ICAC2012), (Kathmandu, March 19-21): The conference is open to experts, researchers and students of Astronomy & Cosmology or related areas affiliated to Research Institutions, Universities and Colleges. The purpose of this conference is to bring together experienced as well as young scientists who are interested in working actively on various aspects of astrophysics & cosmology, to exchange their research findings and to expose young minds in the field of astrophysics & cosmology from Nepal.
• Global Astronomy Month 2012, April 2012: Global Astronomy Month 2012 (GAM 2012) in April is the world's largest global celebration of astronomy since the unprecedented International Year of Astronomy 2009. GAM 2012 brings new ideas and new opportunities, and again brings enthusiasts together worldwide, celebrating One People, One Sky.
• International Conference on Cryosphere of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas: State of the Knowledge (Kathmandu, May 14 - 16): This conference will be hosted in Kathmandu by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). ICIMOD is a regional intergovernmental knowledge development and learning centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan – and based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Globalisation and climate change have an increasing influence on the stability of fragile mountain ecosystems and the livelihoods of mountain people. ICIMOD aims to assist mountain people to understand these changes, adapt to them, and make the most of new opportunities, while addressing upstream-downstream issues.
• The Sixth National Conference on Science and Technology: Economic Growth though Science, Technology and Innovation (Kathmandul, June 6-8): The National Science Conference is one forum of the areas for scientists and technologists from all disciplines. The conference provides an opportunity to the scientists and technologists not only to present their research findings but also to share their experiences and views about the national policies on S &T and its relevance for the development of the nation. NAST organized five national conferences in the past. The congress is usually held in interval of each four years. The last conference was organized in 2008. Following its tradition, the Academy is pleased to announce to hold the Sixth National Conference on Science and Technology from June 6-8, 2012. “Economic Growth through Science, Technology and Innovation” has been coined as the theme of the sixth conference. The conference will seek to showcase how the broad range of research programs in the field of S&T along with innovation contributes to the economic growth and national development. It aims at bringing the scholars, scientists and experts together on the same platform in order to discuss, interact and debate about the plausible explanation of the economic growth through the innovation of S&T.
• World Space Week 2012 (October 4-10): Nepal is celebrating WSW2012 during October 4-10, 2012 with the theme Space for Human Safety and Security as announced by the WSW Celebration Committee for the year. World Space Week is observed annually from October 4 to October 10 as announced by the United Nations General Assembly and has been considered as an International Celebration of Science and Technology. This day is observed for its contribution to the improvisation of the human condition. World Space Week is supported by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs with the assistance of World Space Week Association, an NGO.

Honorable president Dr. Ram Baran Yadav ready for the observation of the giant planet with the telescope and waits for  the instruction from Ir. Jean-Luc Dighaye, president of EurAstro Association, Germany in November 2011.

Mr. Suresh Bhattarai, NPoC for Nepal in a group photo with the poster of Yuri’s Gagarin in hands during a programme for the celebration of  50th Anniversary of First Man in Space: Yuri Gagarin organized at Russian Center for Science (RCSC) and Culture in April 2011. From right: Mr. Stanislav Simakov, Director of RCSC, Mr. Suresh Bhattarai, H.E. Dr. Sergey Vasilievich Velichkin, Russian Ambassador for Nepal and Mr. Rijendra Thapa.

Interesting Web Links for the Young Generation in Nepal

Groups / People

Nepal Astronomical Society: http://astronomy-nepal.blogspot.com

Studies

Astrophysics and Cosmology Research group: http://astronepal.webs.com

Institutions

BP Koirala Planetarium Observatory and Science Museum Developmental Board: http://www.planeta-observatory.gov.np

Documents

National report of Nepal 2009 and 2010