The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) is an autonomous body under DOS formed with the primary objective of creating world class academic Institution in the area of advanced Space Science and Technology education by seamlessly integrating education with research and generating high quality human resources to meet the quality human resource requirements of DOS/ISRO. IIST, a ‘Deemed to be University’ under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956 was established in 2007 at Thiruvananthapuram.

View of IIST student hostels at the Valiamala campus

The Institute is the first of its kind in the country, to offer high quality and specialized academic programmes at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral levels in the emerging areas with special focus to space sciences, space technology and space applications and it also offers post doctoral positions to undertake research.. The Institute started functioning in an alternate campus adjacent to VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram and later moved over to its own new campus at Valiamala from August 15, 2010. The annual intake of the Institute is around 250 students.

The old IIST Campus at ATF Area

Undergraduate Programmes

IIST offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in areas that are relevant to space studies. The institute was offering B.Tech in three branches – Aerospace Engineering, Avionics and Physical Sciences. From academic year 2015 onwards, a Dual Degree (B. Tech + M.S / M. Tech) has been replaced the B. Tech (Physical Sciences). This five year Dual Degree Programme will lead to a B.Tech degree in Engineering Physics and Post Graduate Degree in any of the following specialisations - (i) M.S. (Astronomy & Astrophysics) (ii) M.S. (Earth System Science) (iii) M.S. (Solid State Physics) and (iv) M.Tech (Optical Engineering). There is no option to exit the dual degree after four years. The dual degree students will give their preference for the M.S./M.Tech. specialisations at the end of sixth semester. They will pursue one of the four specialisations based on their academic performance (CGPA) up to the sixth semester.

Admissions to all undergraduate programmes are based on the performance of the students in their class XII Board exams as well as on the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE–Main) conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi as well as the Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) conducted by IITs, as per the guidelines set by IIST.

The Observatory at IIST with an 8-inch Celestron telescope.

The major feature of the undergraduate program is the complete absence of any form of fees payable to the institute, rendering the education “fully assisted”, subject to the students securing a stipulated minimum academic requirement. As performance based financial assistance is provided by DOS to the B.Tech students of IIST, ISRO/DOS will have the first right to absorb them, subject to the human resource requirements of ISRO/DOS. Summary of the undergraduate programmes :

Programme No. of Seats Duration B.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering 60 4 years B.Tech. in Avionics 60 4 years Dual Degree (B.Tech. and M.S./M.Tech.)* 20 5 years

* On successful completion of the 5-year (10 semesters) students receive, a B.Tech. degree in Engineering Physics and a M.S./M.Tech. degree in one of the following four streams :

• M.S. in Astronomy and Astrophysics

• M.S. in Earth System Science

• M.S. in Solid State Physics

•M.Tech. in Optical Engineering

138 undergraduate students were admitted for the academic year 2015-2016 in the above-mentioned three branches.

M.Tech./MS Programme

IIST offers postgraduate programmes in fourteen areas of space science and engineering. These M.Tech and M.S programmes are open to public as well as scientists / engineers of DOS / ISRO. The academic programmes have been formulated to strengthen the fundamentals, experience the realities through practical work, and enhance the knowledge and understanding in the areas of interest. Also, the programmes so envisaged ensures adequate exposure in the emerging fields which will lead to experience knowledge synthesis.

Applications for M.Tech./MS programmes are screened based on GATE score and the admission is through test and interview. The total number of seats in each programme is ten, out of which six seats are reserved for open merit candidates and the remaining four for DOS/ISRO employees.

90 postgraduate students were admitted for the academic year 2015-2016.

ESTABLISHMENT OF DR. SATISH DHAWAN ENDOWED FELLOWSHIP AT GRADUATE AEROSPACE LABORATORIES OF THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (GALCIT)

The Department of Space / Indian Space Research Organisation has established an endowed fellowship at the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology (GALCIT), California, USA. This fellowship is established in the honor of Dr. Satish Dhawan, who was the former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) during its formative period 1972-1984.

The fellowship provides an excellent opportunity to the top ranking graduating student from Aerospace Department of IIST, to be sponsored by the Department of Space, to pursue Masters in Space Engineering at California Institute of Technology (Caltech). On completion of the course and award of degree by Caltech, the student will pursue career in Space at ISRO.

Doctoral Programmes

The institute recognizes the relevance of research. IIST encourages all its faculty members to guide and supervise young scholars for the PhD programme as well as for Post-Doctoral programmes. It also supports the research needs of faculty members by funding research projects directly. The institute provides for the publication charges of peer reviewed journal papers that are published by faculty, research scholars and students of the institute.

Admission for Ph.D. programme is based on test and interview and is restricted to those candidates who qualified JRF-NET/GATE or equivalent exams. The Institute has the provision to allow ISRO/DOS Scientists/Engineers to join the Ph.D. Programme.

26 Research Scholars were admitted for the academic year 2015-2016.

Research in Departments

Presently, the Institute has the faculty strength of 93 spread over seven departments. Faculty members from various departments have initiated various research projects. Collaborative research works with various ISRO centres are also undertaken by faculty. The faculty members have to their credit publications in books and journals of both national and international repute; they have also presented papers and lectures in outside universities/academic institutions.

One of the major recent developments in the institute is setting up of an “Advanced Space Technology Development Cell” (ASTDC). ASTDC was created in September 2015 as a new technology cell in IIST to develop advanced technologies required by the various centres in ISRO for their current and future projects. In addition, ASTDC is also responsible for interacting with Indian and foreign universities for the design and development of experimental payloads and nano-satellites.

Campus

The campus is located at Valiamala, about 25 kms from Thiruvananthapuram city, on the way to the famous hill resort of Ponmudi. The institute provides full-fledged infrastructure of international standards to develop an excellent academic and research atmosphere. Modern environment friendly buildings of unique architecture merge well with the flora and fauna of the surroundings. The academic activities spread across four blocks – Aerospace, Physical Sciences, Avionics and Interdisciplinary. Of these the first two are fully functional and host all the seven departments. The Academic blocks are equipped with spacious lecture halls and well-designed research and curriculum laboratories. The Academic blocks also house the offices of the faculty members and research scholars. An imposing Library building is centrally located. IIST also has an Astronomical Observatory situated on the rooftop of the Physical Sciences building.

IIST is planned to be a fully residential campus with all facilities. Presently, the residential wing for the students is complete. The faculty and staff residential campus along with the stadium and sports complexes are in the pipeline. The campus has 11 hostels and two mess halls for the students. There is a Medical Centre with qualified doctors and nurses which operates 24 x 7. An ambulance is available in the campus for emergencies. Tie up with premier hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram ensures that all students are provided excellent medical attention when required.

The institute is committed to excellence in teaching, learning and research. IIST fosters state-of-the-art research and development in space studies and provides a think-tank to explore new directions for the Indian space programme.

For further information please visit: www.iist.ac.in