20th Foundation Day at IISER

“We started with the Foundation Day lecture, where we learned about the defence mechanisms. Now, as we explore the labs, the students of the institute are explaining complex scientific concepts in such a simple way, I’m really enjoying the experience,” said Tanubha Majumder, a class 11 student from Garden High School in conversation with The Statesman. Like Tanubha, many school students immersed themselves in the world of science and technology, gaining practical exposure through experiments, as IISER Kolkata celebrated its 20th Foundation Day as Institute Open Day on 11 July.

Gracing the occasion as the chief guest was G. Satheesh Reddy, former Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), former scientific adviser to the Raksha Mantri, and the President of the Aeronautical Society of India.

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The day-long celebration started with a Foundation Day lecture, given by G. Satheesh Reddy. Titled ‘Evolving science and technology ecosphere’, the lecture emphasised India’s scientific advancements, technology self-reliance and the pivotal role of interdisciplinary research. This was followed by a formal launch of a new programme on BS-MS in Computational and Data Sciences. “Today, without computational and data sciences, nothing is possible. In every department, data and data-driven technologies play a crucial role. So, institutes like IISER, which focus on multidisciplinary learning, are now emphasising data-related sciences, and this emphasis is truly important. Moreover, continuous scientific research and evolution are essential, and supporting all departments with these sciences is vital for progress,” G. Satheesh Reddy told The Statesman.

This five-year dual degree course blends core computer science with basic sciences. Reflecting on the newly launched course, Prof. Kripabandhu Ghosh, HOD of the department, claimed, “This course is supposed to provide a right sink between computer science and basic sciences. It will be different from a conventional computer science course. Through this course, a physics student, for instance, will be able to apply AI to solve complex problems in their field. This course will make students aware of the translational possibilities in their domain and improve in their domain through artificial intelligence.”

The second half of the day transformed the campus into a scientific wonderland. Students from all the departments of the campus presented experiments and posters, engaging visitors with hands-on learning. More than 1,000 students from over 40 schools, including those from Kolkata and neighbouring districts, participated in the exhibition. The event offered access to cutting-edge research facilities, interactions with young researchers, students and professors, as well as a wide range of experiments, exhibitions, models, displays, popular talks and poster presentations. The exhibition featured demonstrations of electrocardiograms (ECGs), human anatomy models, skeletal structures, differences between plant and animal cells, chemistry experiments, mathematical models and more.

For Tanubha, whose favourite subject is biology, the displays were exciting. “I want to be a forensic scientist,” she stated, adding, “I loved exploring the exhibition that helped me learn more about my favourite subject.” Dr Reddy himself toured the displays and presentations and interacted with the students. He further appreciated the effort that connects today’s students to the core of science in a very interesting manner.

Speaking to The Statesman, Prof. Sunil Khare, Director of the institute, outlined the broader vision behind this initiative. “This Open Day is more than a celebration. It’s a way to ignite scientific curiosity among young learners and encourage them to see science not just as a subject, but as a way of thinking. This is how we build a strong science base for technological advancement.”

The initiative also drew praise from school teachers. “This is a commendable initiative. Students from various schools have been invited to this premier institute of science. They are getting to see how IISER functions – from its scientific activities and research work, to its campus and faculty. It will surely inspire them to dream of using science to contribute to the nation. Our students thoroughly enjoyed this unique experience. The academic concepts they learn in school came alive through real, practical exposure. This is inspiring,” said Sangeeta Biswas, biological sciences teacher at Rajlakshmi Kanya Vidyapith.

The event came to an end with a reflection on the words of Dr Reddy, “Institutes like IISER are vital to building the country’s foundation in science and technology.”