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National Institute of Science Education and Research

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National Institute of Science Education & Research (NISER)
NISERlogo
TypePublic
Established2007
DirectorT. K. Chandrasekhar, Ph.D.
Location
Bhubaneswar 751 005
,
Orissa
,
India
CampusUrban
Websitewww.niser.ac.in/

The Prime Minister of India laid the foundation stone of the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) on August 28, 2006, in Bhubaneswar, Orissa. NISER is a newly established, premier research institution in India along the lines of the internationally reputed IISc in Bangalore, and five sister institutions, the IISERs that are being established at Pune, Mohali, Kolkata, Bhopal and Thiruvanthapuram in India[1].

However, unlike the IISERs, which will be governed by India's Ministry of Human Resources Development, NISER operates under the umbrella of the Indian Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The government of India has earmarked an initial outlay of Rs. 823.19 crores (INR 8.23 billion) during the first seven years of this project, starting from September 2007.

The institute is making efforts to recruit talent in all branches of science as faculty in NISER. Special arrangements are being made for the accommodation for the second batch of graduate students within Bhubaneswar city. The NISER hostel is just at a stone throw distance from the institute. Additionally, the Institute of Physics is also taking care of NISER's future infrastructure needs. Its scientists are regularly visiting other established institutions within India as well as leading universities abroad, such as Princeton University, Caltech and École Polytechnique.

According to Prof. Viyogi, the former director of the Institute of Physics, NISER's excellence in research and education and the synergy thereof will be ensured by the rigorous standards put forth by the Department of Atomic Energy.

The Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has stated categorically that NISER will compare with the best institutions in the country in terms of facilities and faculty. If so, this move will help elevate the standard of research and education in Orissa, a state that has for several decades been severely discriminated against by the government of India while setting up academic and research institutions of national importance[2].

Academics

The National Institute of Science Education and Research is dedicated to graduate education and research only. It offers 5 year integrated M.Sc. as well as Ph.D. degrees in several areas of pure and applied sciences.

Students graduating from high school are admitted into NISER's integrated M.Sc. programs through a competitive annual examination, the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST). The first batch was admitted in September 2007. As of 2009, the obtaining a seat in NISER has become highly competitive. From a total of 16,000 applicants nationwide, only 0.325% could qualify for admission, making it more difficult to qualify than the IITs[3].

List of schools and departments

Presently, NISER has four schools in different areas of the sciences. They are:

  • Physical sciences
  • Chemical sciences
  • Mathematical sciences
  • Biological sciences

The following schools will be added at a later stage:

  • Computer Science
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences
  • Engineering Sciences

Campus and township

Campus

NISER's location in Bhubaneswar, India's emerging knowledge and IT hub, is a distinct advantage

During the construction phase of the permanent campus, the institution is functioning under the Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar (IOPB).

The Orissa government has provided 300 acres (1.2 km2) free of cost for the upcoming campus, in Barunei Hills, between Bhubaneswar, the state capital and Khurda. This location is only a few km southwest of Bhubaneswar. Dr. Kakodkar, the chairperson of DAE has also indicated that the campus would be upgraded to the level of a science city.

The campus will contain academic as well as residential areas. The academic township will have a total building area of 56,500 m² consisting classrooms, faculty offices, a computer centre, a central library, administrative offices, a cafeteria, a workshop complex, an auditorium, and teaching and research laboratories. The sports complex, which would include aquatic facilities and a playground, would occupy 20,000 m².

Residential buildings, including hostels, apartments, faculty and staff housing of different categories, a guest house, a medical center (with 20 beds), a community center with shopping arcade, a gym, children's school etc., would occupy an area of 1,02,000 m².

The entire NISER township is stipulated to be completed within 36 months. A separate 3 acre campus near the Bhubaneswar city center is also being established[3].

Education hub

The IIT is located in the vicinity of several major academic institutions in Bhubaneswar, India's emerging education and IT hub. XIMB (Inset)

Several other world class universities and research institutions are either present or being established in the vicinity, including IIT Bhubaneswar, XIMB, IIIT, and one of the Indian government's proposed National Universities of international calibre[4], an AIIMS-like medical institution, and the Institute of Physics. In fact NISER's campus is located only 2 km away from the IIT. Other major upcoming prominent institutions, such as Sri Sri University as well as the world's biggest academic institution, Vedanta University, will be in the neighboring places of Cuttack and Puri respectively[5][6]. The proximity of these establishments is expected to stimulate academic excellence in NISER. A major advantage of this institution is its location at Bhubaneswar, an emerging education hub, that is being promoted as an Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) by the government[7]. A total of 40 km2 of land has been allocated for the purpose, out of which about 60% will be devoted to research and development[8]. An estimated INR 7.8 billion will be invested by the Indian government within the next few years in order to develop the institute.

Surroundings

The Orissa state government is constructing a four-lane expressway directly from National Highway No. 5 (a part of the Golden Quadrilateral) to the vicinity of NISER for increased connectivity. Furthermore, Khorda railway station is merely 4 km away from the campus, and the Biju Patnaik airport is 25 km away. A new international airport is being constructed even closer to the NISER campus at a distance of 12 km.

Other advantages of NISER's location in Bhubaneswar include the presence of major steel, power, petrochemical, and other heavy industries, major ports including the one at Paradip, as well as the emergence of Bhubaneswar as one of the IT hubs of the nation[9]. Furthermore, within the vicinity are located major tourist attractions, including the Konark temple, Puri sea beach, Chilka lagoon, gorges, a waterfall, and other natural wonders.

Proposed National Institute of Technology Education and Research

The Central government is considering the establishment of the National Institute for Technology Education and Research (NITER), a sister institution of NISER, in Bhubaneswar. In contrast to NISER which is aimed towards education and research in the pure sciences, the academic focus of NITER will be in engineering. NITER will also be administered by DAE and will be set up in the vicinity of NISER's campus.

See also

References

  1. ^ "PM announces setting up of National Institute of Science Education and Research at Bhubaneswar".
  2. ^ "Cry to End Higher Education Divide".
  3. ^ a b "Govt committed to support educational ventures".
  4. ^ "Setting up World Class Universities".
  5. ^ "Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Urban Complex" (PDF).
  6. ^ Nirmalya Mukherjee, Business Standard (Mar-19-2007). "Plan to develop Bhubaneswar, Cuttack". {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "IL&FS to prepare DPR for Bhubaneswar ITIR".
  8. ^ "IL&FS-IDC submits final report on IT investment region".
  9. ^ "Orissa attracts maximum investment in Q4".

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