IACS ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 INDIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE CULTIVATION OF SCIENCE From the Director’s Desk 004 The Past Glory 006 Distinguished Alumni and 008 CONTENTS Associates The Laurels 012 The Key Committees 015 Executive Summary 020 Biological Chemistry 025 Centre for Advanced 035 Materials Centre for Mathematical 040 Computational & Data Science Director’s Research Unit 046 Energy Research Unit 050 Inorganic Chemistry 055 Materials Science 065 Organic Chemistry 085 Physical Chemistry 093 Polymer Science Unit 101 Raman Centre for Atomic, 110 Molecular and Optical Sciences Solid State Physics 113 Spectroscopy 125 Theoretical Physics 131 Emeritus Professors 144 & Senior Scientists Technical Research Centre for 153 Molecules and Materials Endowment Lectures 158 CONTENTS Lectures & Seminars 159 Meetings & Conferences 164 Colloquium Lecture Series 166 Patent Filed/Awarded 167 Inter-Institutional Collaboration 168 Ph.D. (Science) Degree Awarded 169 and other Academic Activities Official Language Policy/RTI 181 Library 194 Central Scientific Services (CSS) 195 CCRES/Workshop 200 Non Academic Members 205 Annual Accounts 211 Auditor’s Report 219 From the Director’s Desk It is my pleasure to present the Annual Report of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), for the year 2017-18. IACS is a dynamic research and teaching institution embracing basic and translational studies devoted to cutting edge research in major areas of basic sciences, viz. physics, chemistry, biology and computational sciences. Our institute encompasses the gamut from basic to translational studies, and is enhanced through the close co-operation of basic scientists, applicational and translational scientists and technologists in our institute and adjacent institutions. The mission of the Institute as envisaged by the founder Dr. Mahendra Lal Sircar is to cultivate science in all its departments both with a view to its advancement by original research and to its varied applications to the arts and comforts of life. Our vision is to build a research education and training environment which is one of its kind that provides a unique platform where a researcher can pursue her/his dreams and aspirations in core sciences and also in emergent interdisciplinary areas. To be a world leader that is focused on delivering innovative research, IACS is recruiting highly-talented scientists from all around the world and admitting some of the brightest students in building their career here. 004 The year 2017-18 has been the year in which we reaffirmed and Our excellence in research has been bolstered by an renewed our image. This year, nearly 142 years since its inception, institutional effort to establish new alliances and collaborations the Governing Council has been pleased to be guiding IACS into with important partners all over the world, both from the the new chapter of its history. The sustained excellence in research public and private sectors. The creation of these ties has and teaching over the years has bestowed upon IACS, a Deemed- enabled us to forge a robust research and innovation network to-be-University status under de novo category conferred by the that will help the IACS to retain its position as a key centre of UGC and the MHRD, Govt. of India. This new image is another way reference in science research and teaching within the national of transmitting the values and mission of the Institute. The renewed and international community. There had been number of IACS branding resonates the leading-edge nature of our research visits, endowment lectures and colloquia that enriched with teaching, and brings out our new image to the society at large IACS and made the Visitor’s Program of the Institute a and the country. Thanks to the Governing Council, the Department landmark one. of Science and Technology, Government of India and Government The past year was marked by a number of accomplishments of West Bengal for strongly advocating that IACS is considered as of our faculty colleagues. Dr. Arnab Sen has won the INSA a single unique organization, inclusive of its collection, facilities, Medal for the Young Scientists; Dr. Debashree Ghosh stakeholders, faculty, students and professional staff working fluidly received the Humboldt experienced researcher fellowship, across the Institute’s multipronged activities. The Baruipur land has Carl Frederich von Siemens Fellowship and has been invited been formally acquired paving the way for further expansion so as to be a Member of the Editorial Board of International Journal to fulfill the dreams of the founder, illustrious forerunners and all of Quantum Chemistry (Wiley); Professor Durga Basak has our mentors; and also to strengthen the IACS collection and plan won the MRSI Medal; Professor Parthasarathi Dastidar has for its exciting future. A new Academic Building has been built and become a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences (FASc), is all set to have the UG and PG classes and labs conducted there Banaglore; Professors Satrajit Adhikari and Suhrit Ghosh won - thanks to the first ever CSR funding by TCG Lifecare Foundations the CRSI Bronze Medal, Professor Tapan Kanti Paine has been for funding a part of the construction cost. invited to be a Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of The Research Advisory Committee met after a while. The committee Inorganic Chemistry, Professor Tanusri Saha-Dasgupta has felt that this is the right direction along which IACS should move won the Dr. APJ Kalam HPC Award, 2018 and has been where the resources and wide experience of IACS could be utilized invited to be a Member of Nano-mission Apex Committee, for the societal benefits. The committee felt that IACS should re- DST and also a Member of Scientific Council of Indo-French orient its present academic program by restructuring the existing Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research. Professor Departments/Units/Centres structure, where there are departments/ Sreebrata Goswami , in collaboration with a research group units/centres with one or two or a handful number of faculty of Singapore have jointly developed a new type of memory members, to a more cohesive discipline-based multi-faculty School device that promises to overcome limitations of current structure. This will not only ensure the critical number of faculties in digital storage and data processing systems as well as bolster each School, but also will enable optimum sharing of resources. progress towards artificial intelligence. Ten Patents are filed and In view of the above the committee proposed following Schools Professor Surajit Sinha has been Granted one US patent for his based on Discipline structure. Accordinghly IACS has reoriented invention on Morpholino-based Antisense Agents. itself by creating a School Structure starting with 6 Schools, viz. We believe this is only the beginning of many more exciting 1) School of Physical Sciences; 2) School of Chemical Sciences; developments to come at IACS. We remain committed to 3) School of Biological Sciences; 4) School of Mathematical and fostering groundbreaking, novel research, and invite you to Computational Sciences; 5) School of Materials Sciences; and learn more about our efforts by exploring the pages in this 6) School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Sciences. Report and also our website. With every step we take, we get a At IACS we believe the key to our success is our understanding bit closer to achieving significant impact through science ; our and engagement with each individual to provide transformative institutional strategy delineates a clear path to meet this goal. learning experiences. IACS sets ambitious targets to extend our As we work together to continue to take IACS forward, we success in learning and teaching, and to further develop our are deeply grateful to all of our current and former Members research, and internationalization. This annual report provides of the Governing Council, Finance Committee and Trustee clear evidence of achievement driven by our renewed activity Board, our alumni and parents, our faculty, our staff and, focus. We plan to strengthen our overall research and education particularly, to the funding authorities, without whose support we experience, skills development, learner engagement, learning would not be in as strong a position as we are today. and research resources and student support. We are committed Building on our strengths, we will cooperate and partner with to growing IACS’ teaching, research and innovation outcomes local authorities, schools and employers to help create a through increased research outputs of high quality. This report sustainable workforce of the future. In so doing, we can renew includes several examples of our improved research performance. the civic tradition on which the Institute was founded; and, as There had been 439 publications in peer-reviewed indexed journals a world-leading centre of excellence that is at the forefront of with an Average Impact Factor of 4.81, 39 Ph.D. Degrees were technology trends, we can add vision and value to this vital boost awarded despite the fact that a number of faculty superannuated to the region’s prosperity. Together we can usher in a new era that during the year, 01 US patent awarded and 11 patents filed during is more just, resilient, and inclusive of all. the year. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the dedication and This growth of high-quality research and teaching – together commitment of the Institute’s faculty, staff, and students, with administering and the student experience – have been our who continue to deliver acclaimed research and teaching priorities. All the students and staff members have been at the programs. I would also like to thank all of those who have heart of major improvements across campus, including better once again collaborated on the elaboration of this Annual research and teaching facilities and enhanced services to support Report. their well being; part of funding program 101.25 Crores, EMR – Santanu Bhattacharya 28.23 Crores, CSR: 25 lakhs.