Professor V Chandrasekharis not only a noted scientist of the country but also a researcher of international repute, who heads the NISER (National Institute of Science Education and Research), Bhubaneswar as its Director. He did his PhD. from the Indian Institute of Science in 1982 and his postdoctoral research from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He joined IIT Kanpur in 1987 as a fulltime professor and became the head of the Department of Chemistry there from 2008. He was the Dean of Faculty Affairs, IIT Kanpur in 2011-12. He also had his stint as a professor in Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and in Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Hyderabad as a senior professor before he joined as Director, NISER, Bhubaneswar. Recipient of many national and international awards like Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, the Friedrich-Wilhelm Bessel Award and the national JC Bose Fellowship, he is also a fellow of all the academies of sciences in India as well as the academy of sciences of the developing world, Trieste, Italy. His works have been documented in over 260 international publications. In an interview to The Pioneer, he spoke to Sugyan Choudhury along with Chief Coordinator NEST, NISER, Prof Pranay Kumar Swain and Registrar, NISER, Dr Abhaya Kumar Naik.
What are the visions behind the NISER’s establishmentIJ
Generally speaking, the concept of science teaching in India is fragmented. We have a study of Biology as separated, mathematics separated, physics, chemistry and the like subjects all separated. But all these subjects overlap one another. That’s why the NISER intends to impart teaching and training in an integrated manner. We have five years’ integrated course leading to Msc which teaches science in its entirety. Secondly, the purpose of establishing such an institution is to inculcate a spirit of inquiry and research mentality among young learners. They are given to understand about a recent happening or what is happening in a current situation as science basically not only means understanding or knowledge but advancement of knowledge. At a later stage, when they choose research as their career, this training will be of great help to them. Besides, we also have elective subjects in humanities to give a complete knowledge to the products of science to become complete men in future.
What are the plans on your agenda to realise the missionIJ
Our plans are very clear. We want to recruit the best of the faculties. We have also recruited such faculties who are willing to conduct research and impart teaching. The structure of NISER is well nigh pronounced. Our Academic Council is the highest body and our Governing Body helps us tone up of our administration. Three batches have passed out. They are either suitably placed or doing research in famous universities across the globe.
What is the curriculum which makes the NISER different from other universitiesIJ
Here, a faculty or a scientist or a teacher has the freedom and flexibility to float a new subject depending on his or her areas of research. Thus, when a new faculty joins, he can float an elective subject for students and teach them. Besides, the existing faculty can also have new courses judging from the movement of the subject as and when they require. This cannot be available in other universities, where they have a set syllabus. Here, we do have the contents, but our faculties can add new subjects depending on their higher research. We have vast areas subject-wise in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and even in Humanities.
Will the NISER rise to the level to disprove the old popular western misconception that Indian science is funIJ
I do not know where from you got the idea about such misconception. As you told, it was prevalent before Sir CV Raman’s days, I must say that the three great scientists of India like Raman himself, Meghanad Saha and SN Bose who had already proved it wrong. Even, we had a great mathematician like Ramanujan. Researchers like Sir JC Bose have missed the Nobel Prize. You see, in pre-Independence days, science in India was not structured. In the post-Independence era, we have the opportunities to structure science. The Government of India is spending money towards infrastructural developments for competing with others worldwide. The NISER’s aim is to produce top-class scientists who will be second to none in the world.
Dr Pranay Kumar Swain with a PhD in Social Sciences from the IIT, Kanpur is a senior faculty in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the NISER and is the Chief Coordinator, NEST. Proficiency in programme management, need and impact assessment, quantitative and qualitative research, topical deep dives, business intelligence, market facts and trend analysis, etc., have been his forte. He also had his stint in Bangladesh before coming back to explore further in the areas of cutting edge research and worked in Microsoft Consumer Research Extension Team at Cross-tab, Bangalore. He also had dealt with the finer nuances of development policy at the IIM, Kolkata for two years before his homecoming to Odisha for putting his efforts towards development of the NISER.
Would you please throw light on the selection of candidates to the NISERIJ
We have two different programmes. One is for the PhD programmes which are done at a different level by receiving applications from eligible candidates and after conducting interview. The other is a five-year integrated MSc programme conducted through a nationwide entrance test called the National Entrance Screening Test on the last Saturday of May. This test is also meant for CBS (Centre for Basic Science) courses in Mumbai.
This year, reportedly you have received more applications compared to last year. What’s your opinionIJ
Our application window has been closed by now. This year, we received around 47,000 applications compared to last year’s 33,000 plus. The year before, we had received some 24,000 applications. This proves that science education has not lost its sheen; rather it has gained ground. Obviously we are in a happy mode.
Why is there a clamour for the NISERIJ
This is basically for the credit I would like to give to the designing of courses which attracts candidates. The five-year integrated programme is truly integrated. While doing MSc in Physics, besides the core subject there would be many elective subjects which will fortify one’s mental horizon. This would give a holistic approach to science studies. Besides, three batches of our students have already passed out and they are doing their research in famous universities abroad and in India. Thus NISER creates mandatory manpower for science and attracts the best talents to its streams.
Dr Abhaya Kumar Naik is a man of many parts combining in him the zeal of a reformer, the passion of a writer and the iron will of an administrator all rolled into one. After having had his PG in Economics, from the Utkal University, he had his MPhil in Economics from the Berhampur University and earned his PhD from the Sambalpur University. He has also MCA and MBA degrees to his credit besides llB in Civil law. Prior to joining the NISER as the Registrar, he had his stint as Assistant Registrar and Deputy Registrar IIT, Kanpur. His book Socio Economic Impact of Industrialisation published by the lap lambart Academic Publishing House, Germany has created ripples among the thinking circles of developing nations. He is also a forerunner for his creative writings with Indian cultural and spiritual ethos in Odia language.
What are the various procedures for selection of candidates adopted for the NISERIJ What is the strength of faculties and students in the NISERIJ
We have our programmes for the five-year integrated courses through the NEST and for PhD programme through the NET conducted by the CSIR, through GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineers, JEST(Joint Entrance Screening Test) and through our own at the NISER. In a full-fledged scenario, the student strength will be approximately around 3,000 and the strength of the faculties around 250.
Please tell us about the administrative environment prevalent at the NISER here these daysIJ
Since we are operating from a temporary campus at the Institute of Physics, we have only a hundred faculties and around seventy nonacademic staff members. By the time we shift to our own place, we would have 250 faculties, 450 members of scientific and technical staff and 100 administrative staff there.
What about the future of the students passing out from your instituteIJ
Three batches of students have passed out by now and they have joined many reputed universities of the world like Stanford, Zurich University and in other universities in Germany and Italy. At home, they have joined the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai.
Is the flow of Central aid sufficientIJ Are you getting the necessary cooperation from the Odisha GovernmentIJ
The flow of Central funds is adequate by now. The cooperation from the State Government is very cordial. The academic and the administrative leadership given by our director will certainly help catapult the NISER to a sublime position.