Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata
Motto	Towards Excellence in Science for an Innovative India
Established	2006
Chairman	Pankaj Patel
Dean	Prof. Tapas K Sengupta. Prof. Narayan Banerjee, Dr. Ananda Dasgupta, Prof. Soumitra Banerjee
Director	Prof. R. N. Mukherjee
Academic staff	91
Students	556
Location	Haringhata Mohanpur (Transient), West Bengal, India 22.963767°N 88.524613°E / 22.963767; 88.524613
Campus	201 acres
Website	www.iiserkol.ac.in

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata (Hindi: भारतीय विज्ञान शिक्षण एवं अनुसंधान संस्थान, कोलकाता, Bengali: ভারতীয় বিজ্ঞান শিক্ষা ও অনুসন্ধান সংস্থান, কলকাতা; IISER-K; also referred as IISER - Kolkata) is an autonomous institute located at Nadia district, West Bengal, India. It currently has five departments with several sub-divisions and research group with strong emphasis on basic science, research and education.

It was established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India in 2006 in response to incorporate research in basic science at undergraduate and graduate level with equal emphasis on higher education for research and education in science. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in science. It is the first institute in India which offered a BS (Bachelors of Science) and MS (Masters in Science) degrees which has more compatible course structure with international standards unlike the previous degrees offered across the country.

Within a small period of existence the institute has produced many notable alumni and affiliates which include 1 Rhodes Scholar, 4 Commonwealth Scholarship fellows and 3 Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (SPM) Fellows.

Campus

The IISER-K campus encompasses approximately 201 acres located near Kalyani in Nadia district. The nearest railway station, Kanchrapara, is located on the Sealdah-Kalyani main line, about 9 km from the campus. The National Highway 34 (NH34) passes through a nearby crossing, Barajaguli, and connects the campus to Kolkata, roughly 50 km away. This campus is a temporary arrangement within the campus of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya. The permanent campus is coming up nearby at Haringhata.

JC Bose Lecture hall building

Currently the campus have a main lecture hall complex called J.C. Bose Building with several other classes in Birla building. Research labs are mainly located in Life and Earth laboratories (LEL), CV Raman Building, Mathematical and Theoretical science building (MTS) which are equipped with latest equipment required to deal with current research. The institute has also come up with three Pre-fabricated blocks in the new campus which is mainly dedicated to freshmen and sophomore education and laboratory. The new campus also has a field station meant for ecological and field studies. The institute has also established a Broadband Seismological Observatory in the main campus at Mohanpur.

The institute currently have 2 boys and 2 girls hostel respectively. The new hostels are almost ready and expected to be used soon.

Most of the main administrative and academic sections of IISER Kolkata is located at Mohanpur campus and the main campus. Some administrative work is also carried out at the Salt Lake office of IISER Kolkata which also has a guest house.

Research

The institute have a wide range of laboratories which are trying to deal the questions at the level of basic science. The institute is still expanding and focusing to cover a wide range of research topics proving an interdisciplinary environment for a sustainable and robust research growth.

Academic Facilities

The main lecture halls, classrooms, library and teaching laboratories are located in the J. C. Bose building. These include two lecture halls (capable of accommodating more than a hundred students), two smaller classrooms (capable of accommodating twenty students), labs, the server room, and various academic, administrative and personal offices of the researchers and professors.

Each lecture hall is equipped with a projector, screen and presentation accessories, a desktop PC, and microphone-speaker systems for larger classes. First- and second-year classes, which are attended by the entire batch, are usually taken in these lecture halls.

The smaller classrooms are also equipped with projection equipment. These rooms are generally used for teaching higher years, where courses are opted for by smaller groups of students.

There are two teaching labs for physics, and one each for biology, chemistry, earth science and electronics. Additionally, there are research labs in physics (laser optics and atomic force microscope) and biology. The library is open on all weekdays (9 am – midnight) and on weekends (10 am – midnight). It has a collection of hard prints as well as online subscriptions to various internationally renowned journals.

The original Salt Lake section of the IISER-K Knowledge Centre has been shifted and housed in a building adjacent to J. C. Bose. The Life and Earth laboratories, computer centre machining workshops and MTS building are located nearby. Network connectivity on campus is provided by a Wi-Fi internet connection, in addition to Linux (Debian) terminals at the computer centre that are always online. Most research laboratories are located in the C. V. Raman building.

Academic programs

Integrated Bachelors-Masters (Int. BS-MS)

Admission to this program is after 10+2 years of school training. The admission is through these channels:

1. Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) (SA,SB,SX)
2. Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination Merit List
3. Board (regional state boards, CBSE, CISCE) toppers

In the first year, students study mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, earth science and computer science (one course each for every semester). Three pre major subjects are chosen at the end of the first year from physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology or earth science. At the end of the second year the major subject is chosen. The MS degree is awarded in this major subject. Along with the major courses in each semester, one takes minor courses which can be chosen from any of the remaining subjects. Each minor course lasts a semester, after which one chooses a new set of minor courses. The final year is devoted to a thesis in the major subject.

Doctoral Program (PhD)

Admission to the doctoral program is after a Master's degree in science. Besides the students of the Integrated BS-MS program, postgraduate students with a Master's degree in science from other universities or institutes are also admitted to the doctoral program. The program involves coursework, a qualifying examination, thesis work, open seminar and a thesis examination. The amount of coursework varies depending on the background of the student. Besides individual research, students of this program shall be involved in various seminars, workshops, presentations and review meetings. All doctoral students assist faculty members in teaching during the course of their doctoral programs.

Integrated Doctoral Program (Int. PhD)

Admission to this program is after a BSc degree in any of the basic sciences. Engineering students having BE, B.Tech degree can also join this program.

Postdoctoral Studies

Postdoctoral programs are offered in physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology.

Student life

IISER Kolkata Clubs | clubs.iiserkol.ac.in

Inquivesta

The institute have an annual science fest, Inquivesta. The fest is organised to promote science and innovation among students and allow other institute to participate and know about the cutting edge research going on.

Clubs

Currently the institute has 17 clubs functioning. These clubs organize several events throughout the year which include many competitions, trips, workshops, fun projects and informal events. Most of the sport clubs organize annual tournaments where students from different year-batches compete. Institute also has a physical trainer who daily organizes body conditioning program for sports clubs. Apart from this, cricket club and volley ball club also organize an annual series on IPL format. Music club organize open air musical evenings at regular intervals which gives opportunity to budding singers to exhibit their talent. Science club offers small fun projects to students and organizes colloquiums at regular intervals. Literary club organizes several competitive events like open air debate, compatibility meter and creative writing. Trekking clubs offers annual trip during vacations and small weekend trips to several trekking hot spots. Athletics club organize annual athletics tournament, kabbadi and kho-kho tournament.

Gymkhana

A student body is elected every year in order to mange events pertaining to students and address the problems of the students to the institute. The body comprises of office bearers of different clubs, class representatives, canteen committee and hostel committee.

Sports meet

IISER-K initiated IISM (Inter-IISER Sports Meet) in 2012. In the sports meet students from all IISERs as well as NISER participated.

Annual Cultural Meet

A cultural meet is organised annually where students exhibit their talents. Students who won in several events throughout the year are also awarded during the meet.

See also

• List of universities in India
• List of autonomous higher education institutes in India