National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar

Infobox_University
name = National Institute of Science Education & Research (NISER)
established = 2007
type = Public
city = Bhubaneswar 751 005
state = Orissa
country = India
campus = Urban
website = [http://www.niser.ac.in/ www.niser.ac.in/]

The plan

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. 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 all out efforts to recruit world class 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 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 [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070201/asp/nation/story_7333969.asp severely discriminated against by the government of India] while setting up academic and research institutions of national importance.

Academics

The National Institute of Science Education and Research is dedicated to graduate education and research only. It offers 5 year integrated M.S. 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), that is conducted jointly with the UM-DAE Center of Excellence in Basic Science. The first batch was admitted in September 2007. Until a separate campus is established, the present students of NISER will obtain their degrees through the Homi Bhabha National Institute, which is already a deemed university for post-graduate studies.

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

List of schools and departments

Presently, NISER has four schools in different areas of the sciences. They are:
* Physics
* Chemistry
* Mathematics
* Biology

The following schools will be added at a later stage:
* Computer Science
* Earth and Planetary Sciences
* Engineering Sciences

Campus and township

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

The Orissa government has provided 300 acres 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 48 months.

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.

UM DAE CBS

The DAE has also set up a similar college in Mumbai, the Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, in collaboration with the University of Mumbai. It also admits students via the NEST examination. CBS and NISER are sister institutes.

See also

* Indian Institute of Science
* Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar
* Homi Bhabha National Institute
* Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
* Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research
* Orissa IIT Controversy
* Higher education in Orissa
* UM DAE CBS

References

* [http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=20345 PM announces setting up of National Institute of Science Education and Research at Bhubaneswar]
* [http://niser-bbsr.blogspot.com/ NISER Bhubaneswar, India]
* [http://orissamatters.com/news/index.php/2006/10/11/niser/ NISER project report to be ready in a week - Prof. Viyogi]
* [http://www.kalingatimes.com/orissa_news/news1/20070910-NISER-inaugurated.htm NISER inaugurated in Orissa]

External Links

* [http://www.niser.ac.in/ National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) official website]