Diversity in science

Updated on: Monday, September 20, 2010

The first and oldest higher education institute in India, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is not only known for its 400 acre lush green campus, but also for its diversity in science with nearly 40 departments comprising both applied and fundamental science. The 100-year-old institute has renowned names such as Sir CV Raman, Dr Homi J Bhabha, Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Professor Satish Dhawan, and Professor CNR Rao associated with it. IISc’s contributions range from establishing the Central Power Research Institute in Bangalore, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, working on cosmic ray experiments and a light combat aircraft apart from combined efforts to set up ISRO.

A research-focused deemed university, IISc’s collaborations with Indian and international academic institutes has raised the standard of the learning experience, said Professor S Mohan, Department of Instrumentation. “Recently, student exchange programmes have been strengthened to encourage adapting to a global environment. Students travel to other universities to learn about their culture and the technology present there. The academic-industry interface has also begun to provide more opportunities,” he added.

IISc’s alumni have all done very well in their chosen career paths. Says Neeraja Yadwadkar, who graduated from the 2009 batch, “Whatever we required as students while we were at IISc was provided. The environment for knowledge was positive and inspiring with professors always accessible to students.”

According to the Director Professor P Balaram, the cast of characters in the drama that led to the establishment of IISc include, besides its charismatic founder Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, figures from Indian history. Today, IISc not only contributes to pure science, but also on resolving urban infrastructure problems as it works closely with the Karnataka government through the Centre for Infrastructure and Sustainable Transportation & Urban Planning. As per expansion, it will open up the campus to undergraduate courses from the coming academic year and set up an exclusive nanotechnology centre for research.

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“In the times of changing science and engineering research, IISc has initiated many new activities, notable among them are the interdisciplinary Ph.D. programmes. These programmes intend to blur the traditional boundaries between disciplines, thereby promoting cross-disciplinary research.”
- Professor P Balaram, Director, IISc

“IISc has a reputation to be associated with. The institute is well known both in the country and abroad, and the opportunities after postgraduation and/or a Ph.D. are immense. Carrying the tag itself brings in a whole lot of respect into one’s life/career.”

Diversity in science

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