19 August, 2025
The Science and Humanities Department of Vishwakarma Government Engineering College, Chandkheda, organized an expert talk on Interplanetary Dust Science on 19th August 2025. The talk was delivered by Prof. Jayesh Pabari, a distinguished scientist from the Planetary Sciences Division at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad. The session aimed to provide students and faculty with insights into the fascinating domain of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), their origins, behavior, and scientific significance.
Prof. Jayesh Pabari is an accomplished researcher with 24 years of research experience and 3 years of teaching experience. His academic journey includes Ph.D. from IIT Bombay. His multidisciplinary expertise covers interplanetary and planetary dust, planetary lightning, remote sensing, sensor development, wireless communication, and signal processing. He is the winner of the Young Scientist Award (2003) for his work in Microwaves, Antenna, Propagation, and Remote Sensing and received first prize in Digital Signal Processing competition at IIT Bombay. He has authored 150+ research papers in reputed journals and conferences and a book “Investigation of Wireless Sensor Network for Exploration of Lunar Ice.” He also serves on various academic and advisory boards at GTU, LD College of Engineering, and CHARUSAT, contributing to research and innovation ecosystems.
Prof. Pabari began the lecture by highlighting the importance of dust particles in the solar system, emphasizing their role in shaping planetary environments and contributing to the understanding of solar system formation. He explained that IDPs are found everywhere—from near-Earth space to the outer reaches of the solar system.
These microscopic dust grains primarily originate from:
- The Asteroid Belt – fragments generated by collisions among asteroids.
- The Kuiper Belt – a distant region beyond Neptune hosting icy bodies.
- Comets – as they approach the Sun, sublimation releases dust into space.
Prof. Pabari described how IDPs evolve dynamically under the influence of gravitational forces, solar radiation pressure, and electromagnetic interactions.
The session also focused on the scientific challenges in understanding IDPs. While measurements exist near Earth and in interplanetary space, the flux, distribution, and properties of these particles at other planetary locations are still not fully understood.
Key points highlighted:
- IDPs can enter planetary atmospheres, sometimes influencing weather or surface features.
- Dust impacts can cause erosion of spacecraft materials, posing risks to space exploration.
- Observations from missions and ground-based telescopes continue to refine our understanding of dust density and particle size distribution across the solar system.
Prof. Pabari also shared recent research opportunities, emphasizing how interplanetary dust studies contribute to planetary science, astrobiology, and space technology development.
The expert talk was highly insightful, bridging the gap between theoretical understanding and real-world research in planetary science. Students gained awareness of how tiny dust particles can reveal critical secrets about the origins and evolution of the solar system.
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, where students posed questions about the applications of dust studies in space missions, planetary atmospheres, and future exploration prospects. The event successfully enhanced scientific curiosity and reinforced VGEC’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, research, and academic excellence. The event was convened by Dr N C Chavda, Head, S&H Dept and coordinated by Dr M A Yeolekar, Asst Prof, Maths.
