Astroquiz 2024 - Preliminary Result Declaration

Preliminary Result Declaration Ceremony of Aryabhat Astronomy Quiz 2024-25.
Chief Guest for the ceremony: Prof. Carlos J. Vargas
Dr. Vargas is the Principal Investigator of the Aspera SmallSat Mission. He studies the relationship between star formation and the diffuse inner halos of spiral galaxies. He has led studies analyzing the cycling of gas and cosmic rays between galaxy disks and halos and large observational campaigns at optical wavelengths. Dr. Vargas is committed to advancing UV space astrophysics on small and large platforms.
Dr. Vargas received a bachelor’s degree in Astrophysics from Rutgers University in 2012. He then entered a Ph.D. program at New Mexico State University to work with Prof. Rene Walterbos on the interaction between gaseous galaxy halos and star formation within galaxy disks. He finished his Ph.D. in Astronomy at NMSU in 2018. Dr. Vargas then moved to the University of Arizona for a postdoc position working with Prof. Erika Hamden.
Dr. Vargas is committed to removing systemic barriers preventing marginalized groups from advancing in STEM and has been a member of the AAS Committee for the Status of Minorities in Astronomy (CSMA) since 2020. He is the program administrator for the CSMA Micro-grants Program, which awards small grants to graduating seniors pursuing graduate degrees in Astronomy to go toward graduate school application costs