| Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology Thiruvananthapuram |
|
|---|---|
| भारतीय अंतरिक्ष विज्ञान एवं प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान (Hindi) | |
 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] IIST offers regular engineering undergraduate courses (Bachelor's of Technology) and graduate programs including master's and doctorate degrees. IIST is rated as one of the most prestigious engineering institutes in India admitting a little more than 150 students to its undergraduate courses every year. All undergraduate students are granted full scholarships during the entire four-year period. Complete boarding and lodging are offered to the students inside the campus at no cost, provided they meet prescribed academic standards. The students meeting these standards are then recruited as scientists and engineers in the Department of Space facilities and Indian Space Research Organization centres all over India.
Contents |
History[edit]
Envisioned to fulfill the requirements of scientists and engineers in the Indian Space Program, by offering undergraduate and postgraduate education and research programmmes in space science and technology, the institute started functioning from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) campus, Thiruvananthapuram, on September 14, 2007 with an initial investment of 
270 crores and annual recurring cost of 40 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 meeting a prescribed criteria are subsequently absorbed into ISRO as scientists.[4][5] It is the only institute of its kind in India, which offers a B.Tech. degree in Space Technology, and subjects exclusive to the arena of space science and technology.[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 ATF Campus, under Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala.
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.[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 which is under construction.
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.
Admissions[edit]
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. However, applicants will need to qualify the JEE Advanced exam, and marks obtained in the same will be used in determining the eligibility of the candidate [13] IIST offers 156 seats for admission to its B.Tech programmes in Aerospace Engineering, Avionics and Physical Sciences. Over 1,20,000 aspirants applied for these seats in ISAT 2012 making IIST one of the most selective institutes in India.
The applications for admission to M.Tech. courses[14] are invited directly and students are shortlisted based on their semestrial performances, GATE score and projects undertaken by them.
Departments[edit]
Science[edit]
- Department of Mathematics
- Department of Physics
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences
Technology[edit]
- Department of Aerospace Engineering
- Department of Avionics
Humanities[edit]
- Department of Humanities
Rankings[edit]
Being a specialized institution under the Department of Space, IIST does not participate in any rankings by private organizations.
Observatory[edit]
IIST also has a small observatory on campus equipped with a 8 inch Newtonian telescope.[15] A 14 inch telescope will replace the 8 inch telescope in the near future. The telescope is housed in a dome on top of the Physical Sciences academic block. The dome is powered by two sets of solar panels.[16]
Student activities[edit]
Student projects[edit]
VYOM ('sky' in Sanskrit) is the Sounding Rocket designed by the B.Tech students of IIST. Vyom had its maiden flight on the 11th of May, 2012 when it took to the sky from TERLS. and the mission was a total success.The objective of the launch was to flight-test the solid rocket motor and the accelerometer payload developed for the project.[17] Vyom is the first student made sounding rocket in Asia and the Vyom Mk II is planned for launch in 2014.[18] IIST also runs a student satellite project, which is also slated for launch in 2014-2015 on-board the PSLV.
Student 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. The club also runs an observatory on campus.
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 also conducts quizzes during Dhanak, the cultural festival and Conscientia, the technical festival. Every year, QC organizes QCFixion, its annual general quiz in Thiruvananthapuram. Previous editions of QCFixion have seen participation from colleges all over Kerala.[19]
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 are dealt with in the Physics club through weekly seminars by students and faculty.
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.
Student Festivals[edit]
The following student festivals are organized at IIST every year.
Conscientia[edit]
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. The 2010 edition[20] was inaugurated by IIST's Chancellor, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India.[21] In just a few years, Conscientia has evolved to become the largest technical festival in the state of Kerala.[22]
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[23] 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 Satish Dhawan fellowship at CALTECH was announced by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Chairman, ISRO on June 3, 2013.[24] The fellowship provides an opportunity every year starting from the winter session of the academic year 2013-14 to one meritorious graduating student from the Aerospace Department of IIST to be sponsored by the Department of Space, Government of India to pursue Masters in Aerospace Engineering at CALTECH.[25] Preliminary talks are on for an MoU with EADS and École Polytechnique
See also[edit]
- List of universities in India
- List of autonomous higher education institutes in India
- ISRO
- Indian Institutes of Technology
- Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica
References[edit]
- ^ "A new trajectory". The Hindu Business Line. September 24, 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ^ a b "An educational hub in the making". The New Indian Express. 2009-08-30. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
- ^ "Kalam appointed IIST Chancellor". The Hindu. 2008-09-09. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ^ "Setting up of Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST)". Union Human Resource Development Ministry, Press Information Bureau. April 26, 2007.
- ^ "Indian Institute of Space Science & Tech to take off on Sept 14". Financial Express. August 31, 2007.
- ^ "Beyond engineering and medicine". The Hindu. April 20, 2009.
- ^ "A launch pad for space scientists". The Hindu. August 7, 2007.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "IIST gets deemed university status". The Hindu. July 15, 2008.
- ^ "Manmohan inaugurates new IIST campus". The Hindu. 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
- ^ "Admission to Under Graduate Programmes (B.Tech. 2013)". IIST. November 28, 2012.
- ^ "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.
- ^ http://admission2013.iist.ac.in/template/default/downloads/brochure.pdf
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ http://iistsky.weebly.com/the-observatory.html
- ^ http://iistsky.weebly.com/the-observatory.html
- ^ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/iist-students-launch-sounding-rocket/article3410956.ece
- ^ http://www.iist.ac.in/vyom/future.html
- ^ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/from-the-diary/article2873393.ece
- ^ "Conscientia 2010 (The Annual Science & Technology Festival of IIST)". Retrieved 2 March 2010.
- ^ http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/04/stories/2010030463530200.htm
- ^ http://www.yentha.com/news/view/news/conscientia-2013-citys-biggest-college-fest-
- ^ "Dhanak". dhanak.co.in. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
- ^ http://www.isro.org/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Jun03_2013
- ^ http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/international/satish-dhawan-endowed-fellowship-established-at-caltech/article4777859.ece
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