* Astronomy

I first heard about Anushandhitsu Chokro ("Circle of Inquiring Minds", henceforth abbreviated as Achokro) from Dr. Dipen Bhattacharya, who teaches physics and astronomy at California's Riverside Community College. Dipen is also a research professor at University of California Riverside, author of two science fiction novels, a climate-change activist and an avid outdoorsman. He and five others founded this science club in 1975.
Achokro has over 600 members throughout Bangladesh. Their activities in astronomy, physics, chemistry and agriculture are distinguished by a hands-on approach at rural grass-roots level. Their shoe-string budget is provided by members.
Among Achokro's astronomical accomplishments are collection of the largest meteorite to fall in Bangladesh (handed to museum authorities for safekeeping), construction of a refracting telescope (8", weighs a ton, uses a rare Zeiss lens), and the 2009 solar eclipse camp in Panchagarh attended by 20,000 people.
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