Monday, July 24, 2006
The next 2 iisers in Kerala and central India -- what will be in BBSR?
The Scientific Advisory Council to the PM (SACPM), which has over 30 eminent scientists from all over the country, has recommended setting up of three IITs including one in Karnataka. The state’s pending demand for an IIT is finally being pushed forward by the eminent scientist from Karnataka.
“Though there are a number of engineering and technical institutes, there is just one IIT in South India. We need more premier institutes here,’’ said Rao, who also heads the standing council of IITs.
The SAC-PM’s recommendations come at a time when anti-quota activists were silenced with the Centre promising them more IITs and IIMs.
The Karnataka government has already submitted a proposal to the HRD ministry expressing its interest to house an IIT. If accepted, the existing National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Suratkal would be upgraded to an IIT.
“We’ve been pushing for an IIT for years. Since Bangalore has an Indian Institute of Management, the Centre is hesitant to sanction another institute of national importance,’’ said D H Shankaramurthy, higher education minister.
With the scientific adviser himself recommending it, the minister hoped the Centre would respond positively. Shankaramurthy will meet Rao to extend all possible support from the state for establishing an IIT.
Two high-powered committees under M Anandakrishnan and S K Joshi have recommended granting IIT status to seven institutes in the country, including two in the South. The institutes are AMU’s Engineering College and Jadavpur Engineering College, Cochin Engineering College, Bengal Engineering College in Shivpur, Osmania Engineering College, University College of Engineering , Hyderabad, and Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University.
To promote science education, two more Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) would be set up, apart from the ones at Kolkata, Pune and Mohali.
“The fourth institute will be set up in Kerala as the state doesn’t have a central university. Another would be in central India,’’ said Rao.
Friday, July 21, 2006
IISER classes start on August 16th
From August 16, IIT of science to begin classes
Express News Service
Pune, July 21: A DAY after the Independence Day, when nearly 70 students walk into the National Chemical Laboratory campus on August 16, it will be a new dawn for science education in the country. For, the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) — touted as the IIT of science education — will start its academic session.
To begin with, it will be based at the NCL’s Innovation Park and classes and labs will be held here till the institute shifts to a permanent campus. IISER in Pune and Kolkata was formed on the recommendations of the C N R Rao-led Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister. On October 4, 2005, Pune Newsline had reported about the scope and functioning of the institute.
‘‘The institute is at an embryonic stage and NCL will provide support in the form of administration, finance, engineering services as well as infrastructure,’’ IISER project director and NCL chief S Sivaram said.
The 100-acre permanent campus that will come up in the NCL premises itself, will be ready in 15 months. ‘‘The academic building of IISER, with more than 30,000 sq ft of built-up area will be ready in the next 15 months. A 100-room hostel, with twin accommodation will also be built on the campus,’’ eminent scientist and the first director of IISER, Pune, K N Ganesh said.
The first batch of students is being drawn from the extended IIT-Joint Entrance Examination list. ‘‘There was a counselling session at the IIT-Kharagpur extension centre in Kolkata, which was attended by 180 students,’’ Ganesh said.
Call letters have been sent out to 83 students, while 10 seats (five each) have been reserved for Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojna scholarship holders and winners of Olympiads in mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry. The IISER students will receive Rs 3,000 as fellowship per month.
‘‘We have sent out more call letters than our capacity because many selected students might not turn up as they have taken admission in other institutes,’’ Ganesh explained. IISER, Kolkata has sent out call letters to 79 students.
In the first year of its existence, a team of seven in-house faculty members, who have a background in research and teaching will guide the students at IISER. Besides, a list of eight adjunct faculty members, comprising prominent scientists, have also been finalised.
At full capacity, IISER, Pune will have close to 3,000 students, who will be guided by 200 faculty members.
The IISERs
IISERs are a new experiment in the science education field as they will have an inter-disciplinary approach. The institute will offer an integrated five-year Master of Science degree as well as PhD programmes. The financial outlay for each of the IISERs is Rs 500 crore for a period of five years. For the first two-and-a-half years, the students will be taught various topics related to mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. Stress will be on research and hands-on experience in various areas of science. Student to faculty ratio will be 10:1. After building a firm base in the subjects, the students (with counselling) will be able to choose from a wide array of subjects for specialisation. More information is available on http://www.iiserpune.ac.in
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Sambada: Dept of Atomic energy is preparing the details of the proposed "National Institute of Technology & Science"
Chitta
Samaja: PM gives assurance to JB on a high quality science and tech institution in Bhubaneswar
similar to the IIST short proposal that we sent in? Or is it a typo
by the news paper.
Whatever it is we would be happy if it is in the scale of an IISER or IIT or IISc.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
NewIndPress: Sahu on PM's assurance for NIS
Saturday July 15 2006 13:25 IST
BHUBANESWAR: Centre has approved the proposal for upgrading four ITIs in the State into centres of excellence with World Bank assistance this fiscal. The ITIs are located at Berhampur, Balasore, Hirakud and Talcher.
Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Chandrasekhar Sahu on Friday announced this at a news conference here. A National Institute of Science (NIS) would also be set up in Bhubaneswar.
Sahu said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave this assurance to a delegation of State Congress, which called on him in New Delhi recently.
The NIS issue had sparked off a controversy after the UPA Government dropped a proposal floated by the preceding NDA government for setting up such an institute in the City. The State Government had identified 75 acres of land for this on the request of the University Grants Commission.
Besides, the ESI hospital at Rourkela would be converted into a model hospital with central assistance.
The Labour and Employment Ministry has decided to open a sub-regional office of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation at Keonjhar, Sahu revealed. This was a long-standing demand of the employees of the area.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Pioneer: IISc to be set up in State, says Union Minister
| IISc to be set up in State, says Union Minister | |||
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| Addressing a Press conference here on Friday, Sahoo said that he had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi in this connection. According to him, the PM categorically assured him that the institute would be set up in the State. | |||
| Taking the Prime Minister's assurance, no one should be worried about the IIIS any more, he said. He further said the UPA Government has given due priority to the setting up of such an institute in the State. | |||
| He further said the Centre this year has accorded status of Centre of Excellency to the four ITIs of the State. These ITIs are Berhampur, Balasore, Talcher and Hirakud. | |||
| The Berhampur ITI will be treated as a centre of Excellency for Instrumentation, Balasore as Eelctrtcial, Talcher as Production and Manufacturing and Berhampur as Automobile. The Centre would provide Rs 3 crore to each of these institutes. | |||
| He further said the Centre is actively considering giving more assistance to the ITIs of Bhawnipatna and Puri for infrastructure development. He further informed the Centre has no plan to take off the Revised Long Term Action Plan (RLTAP) from the KBK area. | |||
| He also announced the sub-regional office of Provident Fund would be opened in Keonjhar.Pradesh Congress President Jayedev Jena, who was present in the conference, said steps have been taken to prepare the Congress for the upcoming Panchayat elections with 30 observers appointed for the purpose. | |||
Prime Minister is reported to have sounded positive consideration on NIS request by Naveen -- New India Press
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Friday July 14 2006 09:34 IST
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday reiterated the demand for extending the Revised Long Term Action Plan (RLTAP) being implemented in KBK districts to the Eleventh Five Year Plan. Naveen raised the issue during his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.
He said while the RLTAP had a positive impact on the living condition of the people of the area, continuance of the programme is imperative for improving the human development indicators in the KBK region, which is one of the poorest region in the country.
The Chief Minister expressed concern over reports that the Centre is considering to discontinue the programme after the 10th Five Year Plan on the ground that the development needs of the area would be addressed by the newly-formulated Backward Region Grant Fund Scheme (BRGFS).
He maintained that the RLTAP has enabled major interventions at the regional-level for food security, health services, rural connectivity and literacy drive. This would not be possible under the new scheme, he said.
The Vijayawada-Ranchi Security Corridor proposal, which has already been approved by the Planning Commission and ministries of Home Affairs and Road Transport, was also raised by the Chief Minister.
Requesting the Prime Minister to clear the proposal, Naveen said the proposed highway, which would pass through the extremist-affected states of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand, would enable better policing and improve the economic lot of the people.
Besides, Naveen iterated the demand for establishment of a National Institute of Science (NIS) in Bhubaneswar for which 75 acres of land have been identified by the State Government.
The proposal was dropped on the ground that the University Grants Commission is not competent to set up such institutes.
The Chief Minister demanded that the proposal should be revived and a NIS set up a la centres in Pune and Kolkata through the Human Resources Development Ministry. The Prime Minister is reported to have sounded positive consideration.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Pioneer: Naveen wants KBK programme extended, urges PM (mentions NIS)
| Naveen wants KBK programme extended, urges PM | |||
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| Patnaik informed the PM that the on-going Revised Long Term Action Plan (RLTAP) for KBK region, has had a positive impact on the living conditions of the people. | |||
| "The continuance of the programme is imperative to improve human development initiatives in the KBK region," he said. | |||
| Patnaik said the present programme has enabled major interventions at the regional level such as food security, health services, rural connectivity, literacy driver, which would not be possible under the new Backward Region Grant Fund Scheme. | |||
| Patnaik also requested the PM to clear the Vijayawada-Ranchi security corridor proposal, which has already been approved in principle by the Planning Commission and by the administrative ministries like Home and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The road would enhance the economic potential of the tribals. Chief Minister also took up the issue for establishment of a National Institute of Science in Bhubaneswar. He requested the Government to revive the proposal. | |||
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Manmohan for reconstruction of university system
Manmohan for reconstruction of university system
Special Correspondent
| Underlines need to recognise private sector contribution in its expansion |
Kolkata: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for the "reconstruction" of the university system in the country and stressed the need to recognise the contribution of the private sector in its expansion. "We must evolve a cooperative partnership for harnessing all possible resources," he said here on Tuesday, after laying the foundation for the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research. "The deteriorating health of our universities in the past two decades has hobbled our scientific research base" which has not grown fast enough, commensurate with need. The reconstruction of the university system "must be a top priority and the issue has to be addressed comprehensively, not in a piecemeal fashion, he said. Dr. Singh said: "We will promote public-private partnerships to increase funding for frontier areas of scientific and technological research, de-bureaucratise science and technology institutions and ensure their academic autonomy. "We cannot have pretensions about being a leading `knowledge power' if we do not substantially upgrade our scientific and technological expertise — both in quality and quantity. "We will commit adequate resources for a massive expansion in our higher education system so that every section of society has adequate opportunities for fulfilling their educational needs." Referring to the findings of Rand Corporation which ranks India as a scientifically proficient nation, Dr. Singh said: "We must ask ourselves how we move from the `scientifically proficient' category to the rank of scientifically advanced nations." Increasing disconnect
Regretting that the weakness of the Indian scientific system has been the increasing disconnect between teaching and research, he said "universities teach, national laboratories do research, this dichotomy must end." Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said the new institute would come up on 220 acres of land being provided by his Government at Kalyani. It is necessary to lay stress on higher studies and research in the basic sciences to accelerate the pace of economic development.Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, and Union Minister of State, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Mohd. Ali Ashraf Fatmi, were among those present. A similar institute would be set up in Pune and another near Chandigarh next year, C.N.R. Rao, Chairman, Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, said adding two more were expected during the next Plan period. |
Monday, July 10, 2006
PM laid foundation stone of an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Kolkata
[ 11 Jul, 2006 1024hrs ISTIANS ]
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KOLKATA: Laying the foundation stone of an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Kolkata by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday marks the beginning of a new initiative in science education in India.
Though the human resource development (HRD) ministry had announced October 30, 2005, as the date for laying the foundation stone, the function got delayed due to political reasons.
According to official sources here, the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister had recommended the creation of two new autonomous institutions under the HRD ministry devoted to science education and research to be named Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) and located in Kolkata and Pune.
IISER-Kolkata, like its Pune counterpart, is a unique initiative in science education in India since it will be a research university of the highest caliber in which teaching and education will be totally integrated with state-of-the-art research, nurturing both curiosity and creativity.
Though the foundation stone is being laid at the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics at Salt Lake in Kolkata, the institute will be located in Kalyani on the outskirts of the city in Nadia district, about 40 km from here.
The West Bengal government has already given land for the institute - the main objective of which would be to improve the standards of science education in the same way as that of IITs (Indian Institute of Technology).
IISER will be devoted to teaching of five-year integrated Masters and post-bachelors and post-Masters PhD programmes in integrative sciences in an intellectually vibrant atmosphere.
One of the objectives of IISER is to make education and career in basic sciences more attractive by providing opportunities in integrated learning of sciences and break the barriers of traditional disciplines. Therefore, IISER will promote a flexible and borderless curriculum in all disciplines of basic sciences.
Consequently, all students of the integrated Master's programme will be required to take courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology for the first two years of the curriculum.
Apart from classroom instructions, IISER will promote the skills of students in areas such as scientific inquiry, problem solving, communication skills, computational sciences, electronics and instrumentation, workshops and glass blowing practices.
IISER proposes to create advance teaching and research laboratories where students will have an opportunity to pursue laboratory experiment as well as advanced research under the mentorship of world-class faculties.
The academic programme will be divided into semesters and students can choose courses for specialisation in one or more disciplines of basic sciences based on a flexible credit system.
PM to inaugurate IISER Kolkata on Tuesday: Indian Express
Express News Service
Kolkata, July 10: The Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics at Bidhannagar will have a visitor in Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who would be in the city on Tuesday. After his engagement with the institute is over he will visit Raj Bhavan. The area around the institute has been cordoned off for security reasons.
“The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research tomorrow,” said Supriyo Gangopadhay, security officer at Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics. Gangopadhay said: “The stone-laying ceremony of IISER will be held within the premises of Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics. It has been possible to organise the event due to the active involvement of SINPÕs director, Bikash Sinha, in this project.”
“Around 250 acres of land in Kalyani have been purchased for constructing the campus of the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research. The institute is temporarily housed at Rajarhat,” Gangopadhay told Newsline.
Prior to this visit the Prime Minister had visited Kolkata in November 2005 for the same purpose. However, he had to return to Delhi immediately after the capital was hit by serial bomb blasts.
The Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics was founded in 1949. It grew out of the Palit Research Laboratory of the University of Calcutta and was accorded autonomy in 1951.
Research in areas of physical electronics and biophysical science is carried out at the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics. At present the institute boasts of about 125 faculty members, 20 post-doctoral fellows and 80 graduate students.
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=192258
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
PM may visit Orissa on July 10th
Chitta
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Various news regarding PM giving assurance to Union State Minister of Labor Mr. Sahu on NIS
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=306127&sid=REG
Samaja (in Oriya); front page of Samaja showing the placement
Pioneer, June 30 2006
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Govt to consider IIT status for Burla College: PM
consider any collge for an IIT. Just considering or seriously considering
does not mean much. If they decide to make it an IIT then
its a real news.
Chitta
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| Govt to consider IIT status for Burla College: PM | |||
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| According to an official release here on Friday, Sahu had argued that in the KBK region 89 per cent of the population are tribals and 46 per cent are Harijans. | |||
| Therefore, there is a requirement of a Central University there for achieving the ultimate objective of poverty alleviation of tribals. | |||
| Similarly, the University College of Engineering at Burla is the State's first technical university set up in 1956, two years after IIT was established at Kharagpur. | |||
| The alumini of the college have played pivotal role in the development of the country, Sahu pointed out. | |||
