Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology

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Indian Institute of
Space Science and Technology
Thiruvananthapuram

भारतीय अंतरिक्ष विज्ञान एवं प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान (Hindi)

ഭാരതീയ ബഹിരാകാശശാസ്ത്രസാങ്കേതികവിദ്യാ പ്രതിഷ്ഠാനം
തിരുവനന്തപുരം (Malayalam)
IIST Logo.png
IIST logo
Motto विद्या सन्धिः। प्रवचनं सन्धानम्।
Motto in English Knowledge is the joint. Discourse is the process of joining.
Established 2007
Type Public University
Chancellor A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Director K. S. Dasgupta
Academic staff 80 (approx)
Admin. staff 100
Undergraduates 600 (approx)
Postgraduates 50
Doctoral students 30
Location Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Campus Urban
Website www.iist.ac.in

The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) is India's national institute for the study and development of space science, located at Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It was inaugurated on 14 September 2007 by G. Madhavan Nair, the then Chairman of ISRO.[1] IIST is sponsored by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Space, Government of India.[2] A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, is the Chancellor of IIST.[3]

Contents

History [edit]

Envisioned to fulfill the shortfall in scientists and engineers at ISRO, by offering undergraduate and postgraduate education and research programmmes in space science and technology and integrated Masters in space science, the institute started functioning from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) campus, Thiruvananthapuram, on September 14, 2007 with an initial investment of INR270 crores and annual recurring cost of INR40 crores by the Union Government. The expenditure of each student during the course is supported by ISRO in the form of scholarships or assistantships, and successful students are subsequently absorbed into ISRO.[4][5] It is the only institute of its kind in India, which offers a B.Tech. degree in Space Technology, and subjects suited to the requirements of ISRO.[6][7] B. N. Suresh, former director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, is the founding director of the institute.

On 14 July 2008, the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, on the advice of the University Grants Commission (UGC), conferred deemed university status, under a new category, to the institute for a period of five years.[8][9]

Campus [edit]

At its inception, the institute started functioning at the Antennae Training Facility (ATF) Campus, under Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala.

IIST campus at ATF Area
The IIST Campus at ATF Area.

A state-of-the-art residential campus built near Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Valiamala, Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram was inaugurated by Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India on August 25, 2009. The Prime Minister was not present for the inauguration, but unveiled a plaque remotely from New Delhi through video conferencing.[10] The institute started functioning in its new campus from 15 August 2010. The campus has an extension in the picturesque Ponmudi Hills, Thiruvanathapuram, for an observatory.

Academics [edit]

IIST offers undergraduate (B.Tech.), master's (M.Tech.) and Ph.D. programs in space science and technology, and also serves as a research center.[2] Doctoral programmes in basic sciences and post-doctoral programmes are also offered.

The admissions to the undergraduate (B.Tech.) programmes for 2013[11] will be made through the All India Rank List prepared and published by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), based on the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) - Main. Previously, IIST admitted students through the IIT-JEE rank lists from 2007 to 2009, and conducted its own entrance exam called ISAT[12]) from 2010 to 2012. IIST offers 156 seats for admission to its B.Tech programmes in Aerospace Engineering, Avionics and Physical Sciences. Over 1.2 lakh students contested for these seats in ISAT 2012.

The applications for admission to M.Tech. courses[13] are invited directly and students are shortlisted based on their semestrial performances and projects undertaken by them.

Departments [edit]

Science [edit]

  1. Department of Mathematics
  2. Department of Physics
  3. Department of Chemistry
  4. Department of Earth and Space Sciences

Technology [edit]

  1. Department of Aerospace Engineering
  2. Department of Avionics

Others [edit]

  1. Department of Humanities

Student activities [edit]

 This college or university section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia guidelines for college and university articles. Please improve this section if you can. (April 2010)
Academic cap

Student projects [edit]

There are two students projects under development. The first project[14] consists of design and implementation of a low cost aerial surveillance UAV capable of reconnaissance at Warfield. The other project is on building an intelligent robotic sub-system with manual logic control.

Project Skyliner [edit]

Project Skyliner is a student project taken up with the objective of designing and implementing a low cost surveillance aircraft. The project is presently in full swing as the design has been completed successfully. Ongoing work includes the assembling of airframe with the mounting of onboard electronics, together with the surveillance payload.

Clubs [edit]

We, the Stargazers (Astronomy Club) [edit]

This club exposes students to the wonders of space. In 2009, the club organized Aparimit, an astronomy festival, to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy, the activities of which have since then been integrated into Conscientia, the Science and Technology Festival. Members of this club have organized two telescope-making workshops apart from night-sky observation sessions and invited many eminent astrophysicists and space scientists for seminars and talks.

QC (Quiz Club) [edit]

This club conducts weekly quiz sessions where members challenge each other on a variety of topics like art, literature, sports, science and technology, films, politics, etc. QC has conducted quizzes during Dhanak, the cultural festival, as well. The questions are uploaded on their blog[15] for reference.

Physics Club [edit]

Started in 2010, this club is a gathering ground for students who like to question the challenges of science. A wide variety of topics is dealt with here through weekly seminars by students and teachers alike. One of the topics of discussion in the past was "Impossibilities of Physics", inspired by the book Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku.

Vox Materia (Material Science Club) [edit]

Under the Department of Chemistry, this club works on student projects on fabrication and development of advanced materials. It was set up in 2009 with the efforts of IIST's third batch of undergraduate students and the Chemistry department. The members of the club presented two posters, "Study on Polystyrene Aluminum composite for Launch Vehicle Applications" and "Synthesis and characterization of 1-2-3 YBCO superconductor" at the International Conference on Recent Trends in Materials Science and Technology (ICMST) 2010 held in Thiruvananthapuram.

Sports Clubs [edit]

Sports clubs run by students include the IIST Cricket League and the IIST Badminton Club, apart from clubs for basketball and football.

Festivals [edit]

The following festivals are organized at IIST every year.

Conscientia [edit]

Website: http://www.conscientia.co.in

Conscientia is the Annual Science and Technology Festival of IIST. Conscientia offers various challenging events in different fields of engineering and science, including aerospace engineering, electronics, computer science, mechanical engineering, robotics, etc. From the year 2010, the astronomy festival Aparimit has been incorporated into Conscientia.

Conscientia is a tribute to man's inquisitive nature and his constant urge to seek answers to the questions that flood his mind. The 2010 edition[16] was inaugurated by IIST's Chancellor, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India.

Subsequent editions of Conscientia have been successfully organized in the month of March every year.

Konchords [edit]

Website: http://www.facebook.com/groups/konchords/

"Konchords" is the informal cultural evening of IIST that is organised twice in a semester. Through Konchords, the IISTians get a precious chance to showcase their talents in the field of music, dance, drama, poetry etc. The venue for the same has been the lush green lawns in front of the student hostels. Students can be seen practicing in whole heartedly for it.

Dhanak [edit]

Dhanak is the Annual Cultural Festival of IIST. Named after the Urdu word for 'rainbow', it stands for the splash of colour and sunshine that this festival brings with it. It[17] spans all facets of cultural activity, including dramatics, fine arts, literature, quizzing, Music, dance, film-making, and photography.

International collaborations [edit]

IIST has collaborations with Universities Space Research Association and CALTECH. The student exchange program with these organizations has already started. An MoU between IIST and EADS is also likely to be signed in the near future.

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "A new trajectory". The Hindu Business Line. September 24, 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-28. 
  2. ^ a b "An educational hub in the making". The New Indian Express. 2009-08-30. Retrieved 2009-09-07. 
  3. ^ "Kalam appointed IIST Chancellor". The Hindu. 2008-09-09. Retrieved 2009-02-28. 
  4. ^ "Setting up of Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST)". Union Human Resource Development Ministry, Press Information Bureau. April 26, 2007. 
  5. ^ "Indian Institute of Space Science & Tech to take off on Sept 14". Financial Express. August 31, 2007. 
  6. ^ "Beyond engineering and medicine". The Hindu. April 20, 2009. 
  7. ^ "A launch pad for space scientists". The Hindu. August 7, 2007. 
  8. ^ "Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IISST) Thiruvanathapuram Declared as Deemed to be University". Union Human Resource Development Ministry, Press Information Bureau. July 14, 2008. 
  9. ^ "IIST gets deemed university status". The Hindu. July 15, 2008. 
  10. ^ "Manmohan inaugurates new IIST campus". The Hindu. 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2009-09-07. 
  11. ^ "Admission to Under Graduate Programmes (B.Tech. 2013)". IIST. November 28, 2012. 
  12. ^ "ISAT2012. From 2013,the admission into IIST will be through JEE Mains where 60% weightage is for the JEE Mains and 40% for 12th board.". Iist.ac.in. Retrieved 2012-07-23. 
  13. ^ [1][dead link]
  14. ^ "Project Skyliner". Freewebs.com. Retrieved 2012-07-23. 
  15. ^ "Conscientia 2010 (The Annual Science & Technology Festival of IIST)". Retrieved 2 March 2010. 
  16. ^ "Dhanak". dhanak.co.in. Retrieved 2009-10-31. 

External links [edit]

Universities in Kerala

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