Need for Space-based Studies’, to brainstorm on the scientific contexts and possibilities of the Venusian science. The event witnessed active participation from several academic and research institutes, that included eleven scientific lectures from IIT-Delhi; IIT-Bombay; IIT-Roorkee; IIA, Bangalore; IISER, Kolkata; IIG, Mumbai; CUSAT, Kochi; SPPU, Pune; Amity University, Noida, and more; and four lectures from ISRO/DOS. The event was inaugurated by Shri Somanath S., Chairman, ISRO / Secretary, DOS, in the presence of Shri Shantanu Bhatawdekar, Scientific Secretary, ISRO, and Dr. Tirtha Pratim Das, Director, Science Programme Office, ISRO Headquarters. During the inaugural address, Chairman, ISRO / Secretary, DOS mentioned that ISRO has conceptualized an orbiter mission to Venus, with a set of scientific instruments to study the Venus system science. He emphasized the need for the synergy between the academicians, scientists and engineers to ensure effective scientific planning for the country’s Venusian endeavor. He stressed bringing out unique scientific results from the proposed Venus mission and urged the scientists, and academicians of the Nation to invest their intellect and efforts to bring out the best scientific outcome. Shri Shantanu Bhatawdekar, Scientific Secretary, ISRO, mentioned that this meeting would provide a platform for the sustained association between the academia/institutes and the scientists and engineers of ISRO/DOS.

This national meet comprised three sessions. The first session was dedicated to the scientific context of the Venus exploration, and the mission challenges. The second session focused on the science expected from the space-based experiments from the proposed Venus mission, on the facets of the Sun-Venus connection, Venusian atmosphere and ionosphere, and Venusian surface and subsurface. The third session, titled ‘Opportunities for the User Community’ was dedicated to opening up the opportunities to establish an association between ISRO/DOS scientists and the scientists/academicians from the academic institutes. This session aimed at laying the plan for synergizing the experience, wisdom and expertise of the scientists of the country, to build an effective Venus science community, to take the flag of the future Venus missions forward.

During the third session of the meet, scientists from ISRO/DOS spoke about the scientific experiments envisaged to perform from the proposed Venus orbiter. They highlighted the domains and specific problems in which contributions from academia / institutes are solicited. Dr. Tirtha Pratim Das concluded the meeting seeking proposals from the scientists from academia and institutes to work jointly with ISRO/DOS towards the Venusian endeavor.

The event was live-streamed to the ISRO website, and the ISRO social media platforms. The recording of the meet can be viewed on

Youtube/ISRO Official