Training Workshop: Radio Astronomy - RADIIO — A Modern ‘Silk Road’ via Radio Astronomy Education

On 4 April 2026, the team from the Space Research Center (SRC), University of Central Punjab (UCP) participated in a truly unique event — the concluding workshop of the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) project titled “Training Workshop: Radio Astronomy” in Pakistan, organized by the Khwarizmi Science Society (KSS) at the Divisional Public School & Intermediate College, Township Branch, Lahore.

The event was part of the international RADIIO project — Radio Astronomy for Development, Intercultural Innovation, and Outreach — a global initiative connecting Pakistan, Greece, and China through a modern ‘Silk Road’ of radio astronomy education. The SRC-UCP team was invited to conduct the flagship hands-on session: “Make Your Own Radio Satellite” — bringing their CANSAT Explorer kits and satellite models to school students for the very first time.


Participants in front of Divisional Public School Township Branch, Lahore 

About the RADIIO Project

The workshop was part of the RADIIO (Radio Astronomy for Development, Intercultural Innovation, and Outreach) project, funded and supported by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD). Led internationally by Dr. Eleni Vardoulaki (Principal Investigator, Greece) and Dr. Hongming Tang (China), the Pakistan chapter was coordinated by Dr. Faisal ur Rahman and Ms. Hira Fatima.

The project envisions radio astronomy as a bridge between nations and cultures — a scientific ‘Silk Road’ connecting young learners across continents. The Lahore concluding workshop brought this vision to life for school students from Divisional Public School, Township, giving them a taste of both the universe above and the satellite technology that helps us explore it.

Programme of the Day

Time

Session

9:30 AM

Registration and arrival of participants

10:00 AM

Welcome Note — Khwarizmi Science Society & the RADIIO team

10:15 – 11:15 AM

Introduction to Astronomy — Ms. Hira Fatima

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Introduction to Radio Astronomy — Dr. Syed Faisal ur Rahman

12:15 – 12:45 PM

Introduction to Radio Telescope — Mirza Sarim Ahmed Beg (LUMS & KSS)

12:45 – 1:00 PM

Assessment

1:00 – 1:30 PM

Field Activity — Abubakar Siddiqi, Ayyaz Mehmood & Mirza Sarim Ahmed Beg

1:30 – 2:00 PM

Lunch and Break

2:00 – 4:00 PM

Make Your Own Radio Satellite — Dr. Kamran Saleem (SRC-UCP & KSS) 

Morning Sessions — From the Stars to the Radio Waves

The day opened with a welcome by the Khwarizmi Science Society and the RADIIO team, setting the stage for an ambitious programme that would take school students from the basics of stargazing all the way to building their own satellite prototypes.

Ms. Hira Fatima opened the academic sessions with an engaging introduction to astronomy, captivating the young audience with questions like “Why do Stars Twinkle?” — explaining atmospheric refraction and the wonders of the universe in a way that made science feel immediate and personal.


Ms. Hira Fatima presenting ‘Why do Stars Twinkle?’ 

Dr. Syed Faisal ur Rahman then delivered an inspiring talk on radio astronomy, introducing students to the invisible universe — the radio waves that travel billions of light years and can be captured by antennas right here on Earth. His session sparked curiosity and wonder in equal measure.


Dr. Faisal ‘A Modern Silk Road via Radio Astronomy Education’s 

Mirza Sarim Ahmed Beg of LUMS and KSS followed with a practical introduction to radio telescopes, before a hands-on field activity led by Abubakar Siddiqi and Mirza Sarim gave students their first real taste of operating radio astronomy equipment.


Sarim Baig, on Radio Telescope.  




Participants with radio telescope dish equipment at their activity station


hands-on field activity during the session.



Students and teachers with radio telescope dish setup 

SRC-UCP at the Workshop: “Make Your Own Radio Satellite”

The highlight of the afternoon was the two-hour flagship session led by Dr. M. Kamran Saleem of SRC-UCP and KSS: “Make Your Own Radio Satellite.” The SRC team arrived with their full display of aerospace educational models — CANSAT prototypes, CubeSAT models, breadboard circuits, and the CANSAT Explorer Kit — transforming the school hall into a miniature space engineering lab.

 Dr. Mustafa initiating ‘Hands-On Workshop: SRC and KSS Present — Build Your First Satellite’ session

Dr. Kamran presenting ‘Satellite Subsystems’  and radio satellite components for hand on session.

CANSAT Explorar Kit (CK-2508) with ground Station antenna. 

 Dr. M. Kamran Saleem walked the students through the  — on-board computers, attitude determination, power systems, communication, payload, and thermal control — using the SRC’s custom Satellite Subsystems slide deck. For many of the school students, it was their very first encounter with real satellite engineering.

The hands-on component was where the magic happened. Students gathered around the display tables, picking up CANSAT components, examining the stacked PCB structure, and marveling at the CubeSAT frame models. The SRC team guided them through the assembly concepts, explaining how each layer of the satellite serves a specific mission function.




Students examining CANSAT and satellite models during a hands-on session.

Distinguished Professionals and Collaborators

Beyond the student sessions, the event brought together a remarkable group of professionals and academics under the leadership of Dr. Sabieh Anwar, fostering meaningful discussions about the future of science education and outreach in Pakistan.

Name

Role / Session

Dr. Sabieh Anwar

Event Leader

Dr. M. Kamran Saleem

Satellite Session Lead, SRC-UCP

Dr. Muhammad Mustafa

Chief Organizer KSS

Dr. Syed Faisal ur Rahman

Introduction to Radio Astronomy

Mr. Mirza Sarim Ahmed Beg

Introduction to Radio Telescope (LUMS & KSS)

Ms. Hira Fatima

Introduction to Astronomy

Mr. Abubakar Siddiqi

Field Activity, KSS

Ms. Amna Lal Hussain

KSS Volunteer Coordinator

 Special gratitude goes to Ms. Amna Lal Hussain and all KSS volunteers whose dedicated efforts made this event a great success.

A Shared Vision for Pakistan’s Youth

The workshop was a vivid demonstration of what becomes possible when institutions with a shared mission come together. The IAU OAD’s global reach, KSS’s community roots, and SRC-UCP’s hands-on satellite expertise combined to give school students in Township, Lahore an experience they are unlikely to forget.

The shared vision driving this collaboration remains clear: “to promote science and technology and enhance its accessibility for the youth of Pakistan and across the globe.” For the SRC-UCP team, participating in this workshop was not just about building satellites — it was about building futures.

SRC-UCP Team Members at Training Workshop Radio Astronomy event as trainers.

Organizing Partners

•      Khwarizmi Science Society (KSS), Lahore

•      IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD)

•      RADIIO — Radio Astronomy for Development, Intercultural Innovation, and Outreach

•      Space Research Center (SRC), University of Central Punjab (UCP) — Satellite Session

•      Lahore Science Foundry

•      National Center for Big Data and Cloud Computing (NCBC)


#RadioAstronomy  #RADIIO  #KSS  #IAU #OAD  #SRC #UCP  #STEMeducation  #spacetechnology  #CANSAT  #scienceforall  #LahoreScience  #KhwarizmiScienceSociety

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Making Space Technology Accessible: SRC’s Showcase at Lahore Science Mela 2025

Image
We were thrilled to represent the Space Research Center (SRC) , of the University of Central Punjab , at the Lahore Science Mela 2025, organized by the Khwarizmi Science Society . The event, held on 25–26 October at Crescent Model Higher Secondary School, Lahore, brought together inquisitive students, dedicated educators, and innovative thinkers under one dynamic roof. Over the course of two high-energy days, our team showcased forward-thinking research projects, functioning prototypes, and hands-on science demonstrations to hundreds of students, teachers, and science enthusiasts . Our interactive educational satellite models and other STEM activities made space technology fun, accessible, and inspiring. Remarkably, we welcomed more than 2,500 visitors across the two-day event. During the event, our SRC-UCP team demonstrated a hands-on activity using the CANSAT Explorer Kit : a STEM-based educational satellite kit designed to provide insight into satellite systems and subsystems, incl...
Read more

Seminar Highlights | SPACE4ALL: Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers

Image
The Space Research Center (SRC) at the University of Central Punjab (UCP) , in collaboration with RESOLVE and the National Space Agency SUPARCO , successfully organized an insightful seminar titled “SPACE4ALL: Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers”. The event aimed to spark curiosity and passion for space technology among students and aspiring engineers. The seminar was dedicated to Electro Optical (EO-1) satellite Team - SUPARCO. Dr. M. Kamran Saleem from UCP, along with his team of young engineers, presented various student-developed satellite prototypes, including CanSat, CubeSat, and FloatSat. These innovative models demonstrated the practical applications of satellite technology and provided a hands-on learning experience for students . In addition, the team showcased a basic model rocket prototype and the CanSat deployment mechanism, offering an exciting glimpse into real-world aerospace engineering projects. One of the seminar's key highlights was the exhibition o...
Read more

UCP’s Space Research Centre (SRC) Rocketing to Success at NICAT Cohort 6

Image
 T he University of Central Punjab’s Space Research Centre (SRC-UCP) has achieved yet another milestone in Pakistan’s growing aerospace ecosystem. The SRC-UCP , h as secured a desirable spot in Cohort 6 of the National Incubation Center for Aerospace Technologies (NICAT) , Pakistan’s premier aerospace and deep-tech incubator . At the pitch session, Dr. Muhammad Kamran Saleem , Associate Professor and Director of SRC-UCP, delivered a compelling presentation of their innovative space-technology products. The NICAT judges were highly impressed by the research and innovations, recognizing SRC-UCP’s immense potential to contribute to aerospace R&D and commercialization. NICAT is a high-impact incubator powered by Ignite, National Technology Fund, and the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecom. It supports start-ups via access to advanced labs, high-performance computing resources, mentorship, industry networking, legal & administrative support, and more . NICAT spe...
Read more