UGC NETWORKING RESOURCE CENTRE IN PHYSICAL SCIENCES
The University Grants Commission initiated the Networking Resource Centre (NRC) program in the year 2006. It was planned to establish 10 Networking Centres (2 each in 5 of the areas of Physical Science, Chemical Science, Life Science, Mathematical Science and Material Science) throughout the country and an Empowered Committee was set up to select the centres. Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics was selected as the first Networking Resource Centre in Physical Sciences (NRCPS) with the following mandates:
- To help faculty and research scholars to do research, give them training and help them to develop their skill, through periodic discussions, workshop and summer/winter schools.
- To engage in capacity building by adopting faculty and departments for augmenting their research skills and to mentor them.
- To host researchers from other institutes/ universities and facilitate their research to carry out key experiments in our Centre.
- To augment information resource facility of the department to provide quality research information to other institutes/researches.
- To enhance and build state-of-the art in-house research infrastructure and other research facilities in the department
In addition to the above, the Institute proposed to organize outreach programs of typically i-week duration once every year, in the North-Eastern ststes of the country. The proposal was approved by the Empowered Committee.
The NRCPS of the Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, University of Calcutta started the Journey from April 2008.
ABOUT US
The Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, a department of Calcutta University, was established in 1949. It was the first University department to teach and conduct research in Electronics, Communication, Computers, and all branches of Radio Science. Under the direction of the great visionary Prof. Sisir Kumar Mitra, FRS, the founder of this Institute and the dynamic leadership of Prof. Jatindra Nath Bhar, the Institute earned the status of Centre of Advanced Study (CAS) in Radio Physics and Electronics (RPE) from the UGC in 1963. Thus, it is perhaps the only department under the Special Assistance Program (SAP) of the UGC, which is enjoying the CAS status uninterrupted for more than 50 years.
During this period the Institute did many pioneering work in the field of Radio Science in India, e.g., development of the first valve C80, magnetron, first analog computer, recording of ionosonde, fabrication of Gunn oscillators. Later, research work carried out in the Centre on semiconductors, including quantum nanostructures, microwaves, devices, communication, computers and system science, earned international acclaim.
The Institute had been offering the post-B.Sc. 3-year B.Tech. degrees in Radio Physics and Electronics (RPE) and in Information Technology (IT). The 3-year degree has recently been replaced by the 4-year B.Tech. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, in conformity with the AICTE curriculum. Thereafter, students may pursue the 2- year M.Tech. degree in RPE and in VLSI Design. The courses meet international standards and may be useful for faculties in Science and Engineering departments as well as Scientists/Engineers. The Institute, as a University department, offers a Ph.D. program in different and associated areas of Electronics and Radio Science.
In 2005, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) felt the need to impart training in the basic sciences and on the recommendation of the task force for Basic Scientific Research in Universities, otherwise known as the Empowered Committee (EC), set up by the MHRD, decided to create 10 networking centres in the basic sciences, two centres each in Physical Science, Chemical Science, Life Science, Material Science and Mathematical Science, in leading departments of universities in different parts of the country to promote collaborative research, access to advanced facilities and for imparting training in frontier areas. These centres are to be supported on a long term basis in a substantial manner to enable them to realize internationally competitive status. The approach to achieve these goals would be through a system of both Winter and Summer Schools and such other programs which may be deemed essential to promote the quality of scientific research in universities and these must be supported. Each subject area of basic sciences may offer up to ten such programs (Winter and Summer Schools) within a five year period and there should be also provision for Visiting Fellowships for faculties within the country.
The University Grants Commission accepted the guidelines proposed by the Empowered Committee (EC) for establishing the UGC Networking Resource Centres. It was decided to identify three UGC networking Centres during the year 2007-2008, one each in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Chemical Sciences.
Accordingly, proposals were invited from SAP departments indicating the areas of Summer/Winter schools, types of training, infrastructure, laboratories, equipment etc. as well as expertise of faculties, awards and honors received by them. The proposals were considered by the Empowered Committee and after scrutiny the Centre of Advanced Study in Radio Physics and Electronics (CASRPE), University of Calcutta, was invited to make a presentation at the UGC office on November 20, 2007. The Experts advised the Centre to submit a revised proposal indicating the types of training, proposed number of intakes under each category, etc.
The revised proposal submitted by CASRPE was given careful examination by the Empowered Committee, who decided to invite the representatives to meet them for further discussions. On February 5, 2008, in the final meeting held at the UGC office, New Delhi, CASRPE was awarded the status of UGC Networking Resource Centre in Physical Sciences. The Institute was asked to send its willingness to follow the guidelines framed by the EC.
The Institute gave its consent to undertake the following activities as a UGC Networking Research Centre:
- To help faculty and research scholars to do research, give them training and help them to develop their skill, through periodic discussions, workshop and summer/winter schools.
- To engage in capacity building by adopting faculty and departments for augmenting their research skills and to mentor them.
- To host researchers from other institutes/ universities and facilitate their research to carry out key experiments in our Centre.
- To augment information resource facility of the department to provide quality research information to other institutes/researches.
- To enhance and build state-of-the art in-house research infrastructure and other research facilities in the department.
After receiving the consent letter from the Institute, UGC released an initial grant of 2.50 crores to the University of Calcutta for the said purpose.
The Institute started its activity as a Networking Resource Center in Physical Sciences on April 01, 2008 and thus has completed its fifth year of activity on March 31, 2013.
The Networking Center of CASRPE has been continuing its activities on a short-term basis pending approval of its proposal for the next phase.