Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology

Indian Institute of

Space Science and Technology
Thiruvananthapuramഇന്ത്യൻ ബഹിരാകാശ സാങ്കേതിക കേന്ദ്രം
भारतीय अंतरिक्ष विज्ञान एवं प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान

Mottoविद्या सन्धिःप्रवचगम् सन्धानम्TypeDeemed UniversityEstablished2007ChancellorUdupi Ramachandra RaoDirectorVinay Kumar DadhwalAcademic staff100 (approx)Undergraduates600 (approx)Postgraduates150Doctoral students100 (approx)LocationThiruvananthapuram, Kerala, IndiaCampus100 acres (0.4 km2)AffiliationsDepartment of Space, Indian Space Research OrganisationWebsitewww.iist.ac.in

The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (Malayalam: ഇന്ത്യൻ ബഹിരാകാശ സാങ്കേതിക കേന്ദ്രം, Hindi: भारतीय अंतरिक्ष विज्ञान एवं प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान) (IIST) is a government-aided institute and deemed university for the study and research of space science, located at Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It is the first university in Asia to be solely dedicated to the study and research of Outer space. It was inaugurated on 14 September 2007 by G. Madhavan Nair, the then Chairman of ISRO. IIST was set up by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Space, Government of India. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, was the Chancellor of IIST. IIST offers regular engineering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate programmes with focus on space science, technology and applications.

History

Envisioned to fulfill the requirements of scientists and engineers in the Indian Space Program, by offering undergraduate and postgraduate education and research programmes in space science and technology, the institute started functioning from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) campus, Thiruvananthapuram, on September 14, 2007 with an initial investment of ₹270 crores and annual recurring cost of ₹40 crores by the state Government. The expenditure of each student during the course is supported by ISRO in the form of scholarships or assistantships, and successful students meeting a prescribed criteria are subsequently absorbed into ISRO as scientists. It is the only institute of its kind in India, which offers a B.Tech. degree in Space Technology, and subjects exclusive to the arena of space science and technology.B. N. Suresh, former director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, is the founding director of the institute.
On 14 July 2008, the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, on the advice of the University Grants Commission (UGC), conferred deemed university status, under a new category, to the institute for a period of five years.

Campus

At its inception, the institute started functioning at the ATF Campus, under Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala. Modern environmentally friendly buildings of unique architecture merge well with the thickly wooded campus of 100 acres situated on the foot hills of Sahyadri.
A state-of-the-art residential campus built near Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Valiamala, Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram was inaugurated by Dr. Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India on August 25, 2009. The institute started functioning in its new campus from 15 August 2010. The campus has an extension in the picturesque Ponmudi Hills, Thiruvananthapuram, for an observatory which is under construction.

The old IIST Campus at ATF Area

View of IIST student hostels at the Valiamala campus

Academics

IIST offers undergraduate (B.Tech.), master's (M.Tech.) and Ph.D. programs in space science and technology, and also serves as a research centre.[4] Doctoral programs in basic sciences and post-doctoral programs are also offered. Till 2013 batch, three different courses in B.Tech were offered, namely B.Tech in Aerospace, Avionics and Physical Sciences. As of 2014 admissions, a new 5-year Dual Degree (B.Tech. + M.Tech./M.S) in Engineering Physics replaced the existing Physical Sciences branch. The M.Tech./M.S can be done in any of the following - M.S. in Astronomy & Astrophysics, M.S. in Earth System Science, M.S. in Solid State Physics or M.Tech. in Optical Engineering. The seats are limited to 20 in the dual degree program from the existing 36 in Physical Sciences. 60 students each are admitted to the Aerospace and Avionics branches.

Admissions

Dr.A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Chancellor, IIST delivering the presidential address at the first convocation of IIST in 2012

The admissions to the undergraduate (B.Tech.) programmes for 2013 and 2014[13] were made through the All India Rank List prepared and published by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), based on the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) - Main. Previously, IIST admitted students through the IIT-JEE rank lists from 2007 to 2009, and conducted its own entrance exam called ISAT[14]) from 2010 to 2012. However, applicants will need to qualify the JEE Advanced exam, and marks obtained in the same will be used in determining the eligibility of the candidate [15] IIST offers 156 seats for admission to its B.Tech programmes in Aerospace Engineering, Avionics and Physical Sciences. Over 1 lakh aspirants applied for these seats in ISAT 2012 making IIST one of the most selective institutes in India.
The applications for admission to M.Tech. courses[16] are invited directly and students are shortlisted based on undergraduate academic performance, GATE score and projects undertaken by them.