National Institute of Science Education and Research

National Institute of Science Education and Research
ଜାତୀୟ ବିଜ୍ଞାନ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଏବଂ ଗବେଷଣା ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନ
राष्ट्रीय विज्ञान शिक्षा एवं अनुसंधान संस्थान
Motto विध्याऽमृत मश्नुते
Motto in English
 Knowledge Imparts Immortality
Type Public
Established 2006
Chairman Shri Krishna Joshi[1]
Director V. Chandrashekar [2]
Postgraduates 380[3]
120[4]
Location Jatani[5], Odisha, India
20°10′18″N 85°41′05″E / 20.171683°N 85.684782°E / 20.171683; 85.684782Coordinates: 20°10′18″N 85°41′05″E / 20.171683°N 85.684782°E / 20.171683; 85.684782
Campus 298 acres[6]
Affiliations Homi Bhabha National Institute [7]
Website www.niser.ac.in

The National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) is a research institution in Jatani (Khordha) Odisha, India. The Prime Minister of India laid the foundation stone on August 28, 2006, establishing the institute along the lines of the IISc in Bangalore, and its seven sister institutions, the IISERs, established at Pune, Mohali, Kolkata, Bhopal, Brahmapur, Tirupati and Thiruvananthapuram in India.[8]

Unlike the IISERs, which will be governed by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, government of India, NISER operates under the umbrella of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The government of India has earmarked an initial outlay of ₹823.19 crore (US$120 million) during the first seven years of this project, starting from September 2007.

The then Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has stated that NISER will compare with the best institutions in the country in terms of facilities and faculty.[8] This move will help elevate the standard of research and education in Odisha.[9]

On 7 February 2016 the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi dedicated the institute to the nation. In his address at NISER, he had called to make NISER the greenest academic campus in the country.[10]

Academics

The National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) is dedicated to graduate education and research only. It offers a five-year integrated M.Sc. as well as Ph.D. degrees in pure and applied sciences. Those performing well in M.Sc. have a chance to be absorbed in R & D units and autonomous research institutions of the Department of Atomic Energy.

NISER is in the process of starting an Integrated post-B.Sc PhD programme.

NEST

The National Entrance Screening Test or NEST[11] is a compulsory test for admission to the 5-year Integrated MSc programme in basic sciences - Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics - at National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar and University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy Center for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CBS), Mumbai. Both NISER and CBS are autonomous institutions established by the Department of Atomic Energy, government of India, in 2007.

Academic programmes

Integrated MSc Program

Students get selected for integrated M.Sc. programs through a competitive annual examination, the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST). The first batch was admitted in September 2007. From 45,000 applicants nationwide in 2015, 100 were qualified for admission.

Curriculum

To broaden the intellectual horizon of the students, there are compulsory liberal arts courses drawing from Humanities and Social Sciences areas such as; Technical Communication, Sociology, Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, etc. Each of the undergraduate students carries out research projects that last more than a year. The training makes them ready to embark on a research career by the time they graduate from NISER.

Scholarships

NISER has been included in the list of a selected few institutions where students directly qualify to receive a scholarship under the Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) category of the INSPIRE(Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research)[12] programme launched by Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.

All admitted students receive a scholarship of ₹5,000 (US$74) per month which should be sufficient to meet the course fees and boarding costs. Students also receive a contingency grant of ₹20,000 (US$300) per year to facilitate their academic pursuits.[13] [14]

PhD Program

In 2010 January, NISER started offering a Doctoral Programme under the guidance of faculty members of NISER to students with a Master degree in basic sciences, e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. To get admission, students have to qualify the - NET(CSIR/UGC)/GATE/ NBHM or equivalent examination valid for the current year in the relevant area of research.

List of schools and departments

NISER has five schools. They are:

The logo of the institute symbolizes the important arenas of science, i.e. Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. According to the institute, "The central dividing strip is a DNA. The story of DNA is like thriller as has been narrated by Crick and Watson. On the left side is a Benzene ring. Kekule's idea revolutionised understanding of organic chemistry. The study of the nature of chemical bond, in the optics of quantum chemistry, has occupied several generations of chemists. The picture on the right hand side represents horizon of a black hole. Physics of the black hole is not understood completely to-day and it presents major challenges to conceptual foundations of physics. The ornamental fractal like structure with eight arms inside the circle is of deep mathematical significance. It represents a genus 2, compact Riemann surface of constant negative curvature. The theory of Riemann surfaces marks a significant advancement in various branches including physics and imaging human brain. The beauty of the above curve represents the beauty and elegance of mathematics.[15]"

Campus and township

Campus

the construction phase of the permanent campus, the institution functioned out of the Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar (IOPB).

The Odisha government had provided 300 acres (1.2 km2) for the permanent campus near Barunei Hills, between Bhubaneswar, the state capital and Khurda. This location is a few km southwest of Bhubaneswar. The institute is located at Jatani, about 20 km away from Biju Patnaik International Airport.

The campus has been built on 298 acres of land and houses both academic and residential complexes. The academic complex consists of a total built up area of 72700 m2 spread in 11 buildings, major amongst which are the Administrative block, Schools of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and Humanities and Social Sciences, Library, Auditorium and Meditation Centre. The residential township has a built up area of 102000 m2 comprising nine buildings for hostels, adequate numbers of faculty and staff quarters and one Director’s bungalow.

A view of the campus of National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar

NISER started shifting to the new campus during the summer vacation after 2014-15 academic session. The new batch of students joined the permanent campus at Jatni and academic activities for the session 2015-16 have started from the permanent campus. A separate 3-acre (12,000 m2) campus near the Bhubaneswar city center is also being contemplated.[16]

Education hub

Several other universities and research institutions are present in the vicinity, including IIT Bhubaneswar, XIMB, IIIT, AIIMS Bhubaneswar and one of the Indian government's proposed National Universities of international calibre,[17] Institute of Mathematics and Applications and the Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar. In fact NISER's campus is located 2 km away from the IIT Bhubaneswar.[18][19] An 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.[20] 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.[21] An estimated INR 7.8 billion will be invested by the Indian government within the next few years in order to develop the institute.

Annual festival

The students of NISER hold an annual cultural festival called Udbhava, usually in the months of September/October. Many activities like fashion show, Abhivyakti a street dance competition where some of the best dancer and dancing group take part from all over Odisha, General Quiz show, debates and discussion on current issues are held.

See also

References

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