INDIA’S 1ST INSTITUTE FOR ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS ANNOUNCED

India’s 1st Institute For Astronomy & Astrophysics Announced 

·         World Renowned Astrophysicists & Astronomers Part Of Teaching Faculty

·         Students To Have Access To Solar & Stellar Observatories

·         Nobel Laureates & Scientists Of International Repute To Mentor Students

·         Scholarships For Meritorious & Financially Backward Students

·        India’s Most Prestigious International Science Conference To Commemorate Centenary Years of Einstein’s Theory Of Relativity & The Birth Centenary Of Renowned Astrophysicist Professor Sir Fred Hoyle

 

(L-R) Rajubhai Raval (Vice Chairman - IPS), Dr. Mohanbhai I Patel (Former Mumbai Sheriff), Dr. J J Rawal (President - IPS)

Mumbai: The Indian Planetary Society (IPS), the nation’s leading science research organisation at a press conference announced the launch of India’s first world-class institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics. The institute has been set up in collaboration with Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT) in Anand, Gujarat. The institute will be a first-of-its-kind with observatories for solar and stellar studies and will commence from August, 2015.

The institute is built within the campus of CHARUSAT and is named Dr. Mohanbhai I. Patel (D. Sc.) Institute of Excellence in Astronomy and Astrophysics. A group of world renowned astrophysicists and scientists will be on board as visiting faculties in addition to a brilliant core group of in-house teaching faculty. Also, each year the institute will invite Nobel Laureates and scientists of international repute to interact and share knowledge and experiences with students, for a week.

“This will be India’s first Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics with state-of-the-art facilities and observatories. The centre will offer courses for M. Phil, Ph. D. and M. Sc., physics with specialization in Astronomy and Astrophysics. The education imparted to students here will also incorporate courses in Science of ancient India and its relevance with modern science. We also plan to educate students in Sanskrit and music. The aim of the management is to make this institute a centre of excellence in higher learning and strive to become the Taxasheela or Nalanda or Vikramasheela of modern India,” says Dr. J J Rawal, President, IPS.

The campus houses a world-class library, laboratories, audio-visual unit, photographic unit, conference hall and an auditorium. The campus will also have its own hostel and recreation facilities for students as well as the faculty. Most importantly, the institute will offer scholarship to students securing merit as they progress each year and also will provide financially disadvantaged but deserving students full scholarships for their entire academic career at the institute.

Albert Einstein

“The year 2015 is the centenary year of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity and the birth centenary year of Professor Sir Fred Hoyle. Both their works have been found to be the foundation of modern physics and cosmology. To commemorate and to felicitate their contribution to science, the IPS in collaboration with CHARUTAR will organize an International conference to pay tribute to their life’s works,” adds Dr. Rawal.

Prof Sir Fred Hoyle

“The conference will cover topics on various aspects and applications of Einstein’s Theories, Life and Work of Einstein and Life and work of Professor Sir Fred Hoyle. It will also discuss the contribution of Indian Scientists in all these fields including recent developments on Black Hole, Worm Holes, Quasars, Pulsar and so on. Eminent astrophysicists and cosmologists from across the world have been invited to enlighten the young generation, students, teachers and researchers. There will also be an exhibition and a half-an-hour documentary film on recent developments in science,” concludes Dr. Rawal.