On 18 April 2026, we successfully deployed a multi-campus astronomy workshop in Jalna district, Maharashtra. By coordinating logistics across three separate educational institutions in a single day, our team brought hands-on solar observation and rigorous space science concepts to nearly 750 rural students and educators.
When educational institutions think about hosting a major science outreach event, they often worry about the sheer logistical strain. How do you keep hundreds of students engaged simultaneously? How do you ensure safety during practical, telescope-based learning?
Following our record-breaking, 7,200-student milestone at Shripatrao Bhosale School in Dharashiv earlier this month, we wanted to demonstrate a different kind of operational capability: extreme agility.
By designing a highly synchronized, multi-school curriculum, we proved that high-impact experiential physics can be seamlessly delivered across an entire district in less than 24 hours. Here is how we executed our latest astronomy workshop in Jalna, and why this multi-campus model is the future of rural STEM education.
The Astronomy Workshop in Jalna: 3 Campuses, 750 Minds
To maximize our reach within the district, we partnered with three key institutions, adapting our layout to the unique grounds of each school:
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Jeevanrao Pare Vidyalay (Chandanjhira): 195 students
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Late Baburao Jafrabadkar High School: 200 students
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Shanti Niketan Vidya Mandir Vidyalay (Jalna): 250 students
Led by our core team from Mumbai Aman Singh, Meet Panchal, and Abhishek Panchal, we set up continuous, daylight observational laboratories on the grounds of all three schools.
Safe Solar Observation & The Physics of Sunspots
Looking directly at our nearest star requires absolute precision. We deployed professional optical setups fitted with certified solar filters to ensure 100% safe viewing. Under expert guidance, students stepped out of their traditional routines to observe solar phenomena firsthand.
(If you are an educator looking to source safe equipment for your own institution, you can read our definitive guide on the Best Telescopes for Schools in India to view our certified gear recommendations).
But passive viewing isn’t enough to build deep retention. To bridge the gap between observation and data analysis, we integrated a two-step pedagogical workflow:
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Classroom Sundial Construction: Before stepping out to the field, students gathered in their classrooms for a hands-on workshop. Each student built a functional sundial model at their desk, transforming an abstract concept into a physical tool that tracks the Earth’s rotation via shifting shadows.
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Solar Observation Sheets: At the eyepieces, students utilized custom observation sheets to visually sketch active sunspots. They didn’t just look; they analyzed, comparing the scale of solar magnetic storms directly against planetary dimensions.
Forging Synergies: The Jalna Education Board Laboratory
A true highlight of our visit went beyond the school gates. We had the distinct privilege of visiting the Jalna Education Board Laboratory to meet a true visionary in Indian science education, the respected retired Professor Suresh Kulkarni Sir.
Professor Kulkarni has single-handedly established a modern, next-generation laboratory infrastructure designed specifically for underserved schools that lack their own lab facilities. Making this facility available entirely free of cost is a monumental service to grassroots science, and our interaction with him provided invaluable insights for our own curriculum design.
As a gesture of academic collaboration and mutual respect, our team gifted him a copy of the official telescope manual authored by the Astrophiles team.
The Path Forward: 10,000 Students and Counting
This successful astronomy workshop in Jalna was made possible through the incredible leadership of Ashok Madhawale Sir (Shanti Niketan Vidya Mandir), who initiated and coordinated the entire program. We extend our deepest thanks to his key collaborators, Sandeep Ingole Sir (Late Baburao Jafrabadkar High School) and Subhash J. Pare Sir (Jeevanrao Pare Vidyalay), along with their exceptional teaching staff.
Interestingly, the inspiration for this entire initiative sparked after local educators viewed our earlier outreach work at Ujjwala Wadekar Madam’s ZP School in Pathari, Jalgaon. It proves that inspiration has a domino effect.
Over the last two months alone, we have brought rigorous space science to more than 10,000 students across Jawhar, Dharashiv, Jalgaon, and Jalna. Our core belief remains unshakeable: high-level science should never be restricted to privileged urban centers. It belongs in every village, every section of society, and every eager young mind.
Sponsor an Astronomy Campaign or Equip Your School
Are you an educational trust director, a corporate CSR partner, or a school principal looking to bring this level of academic rigor and operational excellence to your district?
Whether you want to commission a multi-school workshop campaign or permanently install a high-end space laboratory on your campus, we handle the complete blueprint, from logistics to custom curriculum design.
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Bring the Cosmos to Your Institution: Get a Custom Workshop Quote
- Upgrade Your Campus Infrastructure: Read our comprehensive breakdown on the School Space Lab Setup Cost to see how we build permanent observatories for schools.