How YATS Guided Barnali From Odisha To A Top University In Italy

Bhubaneswar, Feb 24: For Barnali Das, a 24-year-old PhD scholar from Odisha, who is pursuing her dreams in Computational Astrophysics and Cosmology at Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy, the journey was not an easy task. Hailing from Bandhabahal, a small town in Jharsuguda district, to one of the world’s premier institutions is a testament to perseverance and passion.

Belonging to a middle-class family, with her mother as a schoolteacher and her father as a professional artist, Barnali’s fascination with astrophysics began at a young age. Her first significant break came through Tata Steel’s Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS)—a platform that identifies and nurtures young talents in space science.

This signature program, organized in collaboration with the Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar, which operates under the Science and Technology Department of the Government of Odisha, has been selecting only a handful of students from thousands across Odisha each year for a special visit to an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facility for the past 18 years. YATS provides a unique opportunity for Odisha’s school students like Barnali, in classes 6 to 10 to showcase their talents in space science, astrophysics, and astronomy while also learning about the legacy of Pathani Samanta, the legendary Odia astronomer.

Barnali first attempted YATS in 2013-14 at the age of 13, but she failed. “I was heartbroken, but I learned a lot. I started preparing a year in advance, collecting astronomy articles from newspapers, and studying planets and moons in our solar system,” she recalls.

Her determination paid off. In the 2014-15 edition, she reached the final round again but faced struggles to make it through. “It was Diwali night when we learned I had made it. My father immediately got everything I needed, and we stayed up assembling my project. Thanks to him, I secured a spot in the top 20,” she shares.

Winning YATS strengthened Barnali’s resolve to aim higher. After school, she pursued a BS-MS dual degree in physics at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, graduating in 2023. Later that year, she arrived at the University of Pisa in Italy to pursue her PhD, focusing on galaxy formation and evolution through simulation models. “Using telescopes, we observe galaxies filled with gas and stars. Simulations allow us to study how they formed from the beginning of the universe,” she explains.

Barnali credits YATS for jump-starting her career and believes that success is built on consistent efforts rather than one-time hard work. “The competition in astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology is intense. One needs a winner’s mentality and the will to never give up,” she says. Even after YATS, she faced rejections but remained undeterred. “You never know what lies ahead until you try.”

From a small-town girl with big dreams to an astrophysicist unraveling the mysteries of the universe, Barnali’s journey serves as an inspiration for young minds to reach for the stars.