Pujya Bhaishri visits The National Space Centre in the UK

Pujya Bhaishri was invited to tour and give a talk on science and religion at The National Space centre on the 24th of July 2007.

The Chief Executive of the Space Centre along with representatives of the Kalpana Chavla Foundation welcomed Pujya Bhaishri in a traditional manner with flowers and a tilak. The Kalpana Chavla Foundation was set up to honour the life of NASA astronaut, Dr Kalpana Chavla, the Indian-born American scientist who died in the Columbia Shuttle disaster in 2003.

The Foundation is using her achievements to celebrate diversity in science and to inspire children to aim higher by offering them National Space Centre educational experiences.

Pujya Bhaishri found himself immersed in an awe-inspiring journey, taking in six differently themed galleries, seeing amazing space rockets, satellites and capsules, taking part in interactive hands-on activities and experiencing the latest in audiovisual technology. He also experienced life as an Astronaut in which he experienced grips with the realities of space travel.

On his tour Pujya Bhaishri spoke of the Hindu Vedic scriptures and how they relate to much of the themes within the exhibition gallery such as “Exploring the universe: when and how the universe began and how might it end?” and how the Orbiting Earth: is used as multitude of ways to enhance life here on Earth.”

Bhaishri ended his tour by addressing a guest audience invited by the Kalpana Chavla Foundation to give a brief talk on the relationship between religion and science. He spoke of his keen interest in science from childhood and how studying Vedic philosophy with an eye on scientific evidence further helps to enhance faith especially with the younger generation. Bhaishri proudly spoke of the developments within Sandipani Vidyaniketan’s science gallery, and how he was keen to develop the project further.

A presentation on Sandipani Vidyaniketan by Priti Raichura complimented Bhaishri’s talk.