To raise awareness and support sustainable lunar exploration, students in Thimphu participated in the International Moon Day celebrations, yesterday. It was held for the first time in the country by the Division of Telecom and Space of GovTech Agency.
As part of the event, participating teams took part in a science exhibition showcasing models of the Moon and the Universe highlighting the importance of the Moon in science, technology, and culture.
The Education Minister along with officials from the Education and Skills Development Ministry, Royal University of Bhutan, Pangrizampa School of Astrology, and students and teachers from schools in Thimphu attended the event.
The theme for this year’s event ‘Illuminating the Shadows,’ was set by the Moon Village Association, to encourage collaboration for a peaceful return to the Moon by humans.
Bank of Bhutan and Tashi Infocomm provided the financial support to organise Bhutan’s first celebration of International Moon Day.
“It is not enough for only us to promote events like these. So, to let more children participate, they should also equally show interest. So, in the future, we hope to be able to coordinate even better than we have done this time,” said Dechen Wangmo, event coordinator of GovTech Agency.
The event also included presentations on The Moon in modern astronomy and the Moon in Bhutanese astrology.
“Over the last few years, I have organized numerous events for youth and every single time I’m mesmerized by their creativity and innovation. So even today it was the same and even more so because we were organizing the International Moon Day for the very first time so I was a bit skeptical about what kind of models they would bring about. And the winning team, if you see their model, it was so extensive and well-curated, as if, you know, we could just take this piece and put it in a science exhibition centre altogether,” said Yeshey Choden, Dy. Executive Engineer of GovTech/Member of Bhutan Astronomical Society.
“Whatever may be the understanding of the people across the world on the Moon or the Sun or eclipses, even according to Buddhist texts I found that there is not much of a difference. Youths in the future, if they can take part in these types of events, they will get to learn a lot,” said Phurba Dorji from Pangrizampa School of Astrology.
A total of 10 teams with 30 students of classes 10 and 11 from high schools within Thimphu took part in the exhibition.
Wangbama Central School came in first, and Dechencholing Higher Secondary School and Motithang Higher Secondary School bagged the second and third positions, respectively.
The winning teams were awarded cash prizes along with data packages from TashiCell.
In addition, all the participating teams were given a consolation prize of Nu 1,000 each and e-certificate from the Moon Village Association.
“In schools, we only learn through science. While coming here many teachers taught us, and also students presented their views on the Moon and the universe from a Buddhist perspective. So, I got a chance to learn a lot,” said Bhim Kumari Subedi, Wangbama Central School’s student.
The event concluded with a session on moon and stargazing using the Celestron CPC800 telescope, coordinated by the members of the Bhutan Astronomical Society. The members demonstrated the process of assembling the telescope, and the functions and features of the different parts of the telescope.
Bhutan is one of the 18 countries approved by the Moon Village Association to host the event.
The annual International Moon Day celebration was first proposed by the Moon Village Association, a non-governmental organization formed in 2017 in Vienna, the capital of Austria. The celebration was officially endorsed by the United Nations in December 2021 to conduct major events on the 20th of July to commemorate the anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon.
Sonam Dendup
Edited by Phub Gyem
