Building Scientific Institutions Jayant V. Narlikar Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics Pune

Three Scientific Institutions Cambridge Observatory [Representing old astronomy]

New Post-war Era Fred Hoyle’s brainchild: Institute of Theoretical astronomy (1966-72) IOTA became famous as a Dynamic visitor-oriented institute 1972: IOTA merged with the Observatories IOTA  IOA

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Created in 1946, moved to Mumbai to its present location in 1961 Source of talent for India’s atomic energy programme Emphasize fundamental research in nuclear science and mathematics Source of scientists for universities in India

The IUCAA - Story

IUCAA Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics Established on December 29, 1988 at Pune by the University Grants Commission as a centre of excellence in the university sector with the objective: To nucleate, promote and grow research, development and teaching of A&A in the universities and colleges in India

IUCAA’s Eightfold Way As proposed in the Project Report, the IUCAA adopted a multi-pronged approach to fulfil its mandate:

IUCAA’s Eightfold Way Organize research level workshops and schools for universities both at Pune and the university campuses Create a high level academic ambience at its Pune headquarters with emphasis on basic research and facilities conducive to it

IUCAA’s Eightfold Way Run an associateship programme under which users from universities can come and use IUCAA facilities at Pune; also encourage other academics to visit and participate in IUCAA’s programmes Organize refresher courses for teachers in A&A

IUCAA’s Eightfold Way Run a graduate school at IUCAA in which graduate students from IUCAA as well as from universities and colleges can participate; in addition lecture in the M.Sc. programmes of other universities on occasions Guide universities in creating new courses in A&A or augmenting existing ones

IUCAA’s Eightfold Way Act as a facilitator for university users in observing programmes at other facilities in India and abroad Use and act as a facilitator for universities in the usage of the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope near Pune

A Brief History Basic idea mooted in consultation with Yash Pal, Chairman, UGC September 1987 UGC approved the idea formally and the Project Report was prepared April 1988 The Government of India approved the setting up of IUCAA November 1988

A Brief History IUCAA’s Foundation Stone laid by Yash Pal December 1998

A Brief History IUCAA functioned from a single room in the Golay Bungalow of Pune University Till September 1989

A Brief History September 1989 IUCAA Moved to a temporary shed called ADITI

IUCAA moved to newly constructed staff colony December 1990 A Brief History IUCAA moved to newly constructed staff colony December 1990 IUCAA buildings dedicated with a lecture by Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, with Ram Reddy, Chairman, UGC presiding December 1992

A Brief History Chandrasekhar Auditorium completed August 1993 Science park dedicated by Armaity Desai, Chairperson, UGC December 1998

A Brief History Mr Charles Correa, the eminent architect ‘educated himself’ by acquiring and reading the Cambridge Atlas of Astronomy

Facilities in Pune Pleasant user-friendly campus which integrates the visitor accommodation with the main building, a staff colony across the road, and a 500- seater auditorium and a science park for public oriented activities

Facilities in Pune A state of the art computer centre with data centre having good link/mirror sites with the leading data centres in the world

Facilities in Pune An up to date library in A&A and supporting fields, with hard copy/electronic subscription to most journals in the field

Facilities in Pune An instrumentation laboratory for making astronomical instruments on a do-it-yourself basis

Facilities in Pune A 2m optical telescope about 85 km from IUCAA is nearing completion

Scientific Exhibits at IUCAA IUCAA’s Symbol

Scientific Exhibits at IUCAA IUCAA’s Symbol The Foucault Pendulum

Scientific Exhibits at IUCAA IUCAA’s Symbol The Foucault Pendulum The Sierpinski Gasket

Scientific Exhibits at IUCAA IUCAA’s Symbol The Foucault Pendulum The Sierpinski Gasket The Accretion Disc and Jets

Scientific Exhibits at IUCAA IUCAA’s Symbol The Foucault Pendulum The Sierpinski Gasket The Accretion Disc and Jets Binary Star with Roach Lobes

Scientific Exhibits at IUCAA IUCAA’s Symbol The Foucault Pendulum The Sierpinski Gasket The Accretion Disc and Jets Binary Star with Roach Lobes The Asymmetrical Tiles

Scientific Exhibits at IUCAA IUCAA’s Symbol The Foucault Pendulum The Sierpinski Gasket The Accretion Disc and Jets Binary Star with Roach Lobes The Asymmetrical Tiles Spiral Arms in Akashganga

IUCAA’s Academic Calendar IUCAA’s pedagogical programme: Introductory schools Telescope Making workshops Refresher course Advanced summer schools Advanced workshops

IUCAA’s Academic Calendar Conferences and symposia are also hosted occasionally e.g. VI Asia-pacific Regional meeting of IAU 1993 15th International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation 1997 Meeting of the Astronomical Society of India 1994, 2002

IUCAA’s Academic Calendar School and workshops through international collaborations: IAU School for Young Astronomers (1994) Sino-Indian School in China (1995) and IUCAA (1998) Indo-French School at IUCAA (1995, 2000) and in Les Houches (1996) Indo-US Workshop on Array Detectors and Image Processing (1996)

IUCAA'S Public Outreach Programme This has several modes: Science Park with several try-yourself type exhibits

IUCAA'S Public Outreach Programme Lecture Demonstrations on 2nd and 4th Saturdays

IUCAA'S Public Outreach Programme Summer projects by schoolchildren

IUCAA'S Public Outreach Programme Public lectures by IUCAA members Radio and TV programmes

IUCAA'S Public Outreach Programme Articles in newspapers and magazines Public briefing on astronomical events

IUCAA'S Public Outreach Programme Night-sky viewing Internet-operated telescope for education

IUCAA'S Public Outreach Programme National Science Day

That’s all folks