How about instructing a robot in Switzerland through a few commands from your computer at home in India! No need to scratch your heads because your Swiss counterparts are here to make this true. " I am eager to collaborate more with India. How interesting it would be for students in

Ms Noca along with Swiss Astronaut Claude Nicollier is on a four-day visit to India till August 13 during which she will be delivering lectures on Astronomy in Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore.

She was in the Indian Capital frecently to interact with school students in New Delhi about the satellite, which is scheduled to be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, towards August-end.

''The students will gain a lot of experience during this as it provides a dynamic and realistic learning environment for them,'' she said as she showcased a small satellite, Cubesat, made by Swiss students, who were from different backgrounds and schools.

Replying to a question about how the students could go about it now to pursue the project in future also, she said, ''the school teachers can be of great help if a proper structure is made between them and students in the form of clubs. Better if they could get funding for it too.'' Explaining the scientific significance of the project, costing about Rs 2 crore, she said it observed oxygen emission in order to characterise the airglow intensity, which occurs at approximately 100 km altitude, as a function of the observation angle, the altitude, the latitude and the local time.

''It is the way to educate students about space better,'' she said.
Switzerland is celebrating this year as the ''Year of Science and Education of Switzerland in India''. The vibrant Indo-Swiss collaboration over the years has already yielded several joint ventures and now, a Scientific Counsellor and Director of Swiss Honorary Consulate Swissnex, Mattia Celio, has also been appointed at the Swiss Embassy in the capital.

Prof Nicollier, who has logged more that 1000 hours in space including one spacewalk, gave certain 'Golden Rules' for spacewalkers like a spacewalker cannot afford to be a claustrophobic, he has to stabilise his body to do any useful work, he has to be patient, to name a few. To inculcate such qualities, spacewalkers are often given training under water too.

Sharing his fascination with space, he said he was thrilled to see the black sky around him when he first landed in space. ''As I looked down, huge blue-coloured earth was rotating in front of me. It was simply unbelievable,'' he said as his eyes glowed with excitement.

The lecture was held in Delhi Public School, R K Puram, which also organised with an exhibition-cum-competition from August 6 , 2009 in association with the Swiss Embassy on working models of Astronomy and Space Research.

As many as 38 schools participated in it, comprising 11th and 12th class students. The top three positions for the best models went to Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidhalaya, Vasant Kunj, Harbhagwan Memorial DAV School, Daryaganj and Delhi Public School, R K Puram respectively. The prize distribution took place and all the participants were given certificates by the Swiss dignitaries.

Rahul Tiwari, Ashu and Mayur, who came second, were really happy to receive the award and said they looked forward to such kinds of projects in future. Their physics teacher, Ms Vandana, also expressed her pleasure, as she helped one of them in explaining the model.