Sun Sep 14 17:27:53 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**SRM University-AP Ignites Student Curiosity with “Phy-Spark 3.0” Astronomy Outreach Program**

**VIJAYAWADA, September 14, 2025** – SRM University-AP hosted a successful astronomy outreach program, “Phy-Spark 3.0: Stars, Scopes and Spacetime,” on its campus this Sunday, inspiring young minds from across Guntur. The event, aimed at bridging the gap between theoretical science and practical application, drew students from Geetanjali School, Kunchana, K.V. School, Nallapadu, and Vijetha School.

Shivaraj Kandhasamy, a scientist from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, captivated the audience with his explanation of gravity’s role in shaping spacetime and a comprehensive introduction to gravitational waves. He detailed the historic Michelson-Morley experiment and the workings of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), highlighting the challenges and triumphs of detecting these elusive signals. Kandasamy also covered the pivotal detections of gravitational waves emitted from black hole mergers and binary neutron star collisions.

Expert faculty members from SRM AP’s Department of Physics, including Gangireddy Salla, Ashmita Das, and Krishna Prasad Maity, delivered engaging sessions on topics such as telescope fundamentals and designs, binary star systems, and the General Theory of Relativity.

Following the lectures, students participated in a lab visit featuring live demonstrations of telescopes, a binary star experiment using LED bulbs, and a Michelson interferometer. This hands-on experience allowed them to translate theoretical knowledge into practical understanding of astronomical observations and scientific equipment.

“Phy-Spark 3.0” was coordinated by Pranab Mandal, Gangireddy Salla and Soumyajyoti Biswas of SRM-AP University, who are committed to making science more accessible to the student community. The university hopes the program will inspire a new generation of scientists and astronomers.

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