Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) NEWSLETTER www.iist.ac.in Vol.4, No.1, January 2019 Director’s Message th Greetings! 6 IIST Convocation I am delighted to announce the re-launch of Indian Institute of Space Dr. V K Dadhwal, Director IIST's News Letter from January 2019. This Science and Technology (IIST) and Chairman BoM, IIST task has been assigned to a new Newsletter th conducted its 6 convocation along with Deans, Senior Committee which will regularly bringing on 18 t h July 2018 at Dr. Professors and Heads of the out two issues annually to share and widely Srinivasan Auditorium, VSSC. Departments. Dr. B N Suresh, circulate on the important events at the The convocation started at Chancellor, IIST opened the institute. Featured in the current issue are the 14.00 hrs with the academic convocation proceedings. host of activities and happenings at the procession led by Prof. A institute during 1st July 2018 to 31st December Chandrasekar, Registrar, IIST th and was joined by Dr. B N Dr. V K Dadhwal, Director 2018. Highlights of the issue include the 6 and Chairman, BoM, IIST in convocation held on 18th July 2018, Dr. Abdul Suresh, Chancellor, IIST, Dr. K S i v a n , C h a i r m a n , h i s w e l c o m e s p e e c h Kalam Lecture, Foundation day celebration, Governing Council, IIST, e l a b o r a t e d o n t h e International and National conferences, Chairman ISRO and Secretary achievements of IIST over the Seminars and workshops organised by us. DoS, Prof. K VijayRaghavan, past one year in various elds. Brief reports on co-curricular, extra- C h i e f G u e s t , P r i n c i p a l After welcoming the esteemed curricular and activities of environmental S c i e n t i c A d v i s o r t o Chief Guest, Chancellor, IIST and societal relevance in which our students Government of India, Shri. S and Chairman, ISRO, Guest of and staff were actively engaged are also Somanath, Director, VSSC and Honour and all invitees, included in this issue. During the period, we also initiated several new research activities Inside this Issue and hosted scores of students from other IIST Foundation Day Celebration ..................................... 4 institutes as interns/attendees of our Third Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam Lecture ................................. 4 AAReST .................................................................................. conferences and workshops. A glance 7 Visit of Dignitaries ............................................................... 7 through the pages of this newsletter would Dr. P. S. Goel Peer Review Committee ............................ 8 d e n i t e l y p r o v i d e m o r e d e t a i l e d Foreign Visit of IIST Faculty .............................................. 9 information about our progress and Swatch Bharat ........................................................................ 9 achievements during the period. Happy Conferences / Workshops ................................................... 10 reading and thank you for all the support Dhanak 2018 .......................................................................... 14 extended to the growth and all round Independence Day Celebration ......................................... 15 Library Week Celebration ................................................... development of the institute. 15 Hindi Workshop / Seminar ................................................. 16 Research / Training / Outreach Activities ....................... 17 Dr. Vinay Kumar Dadhwal Colloquia / Special Talk ...................................................... 18 Director Students Corner .................................................................... 19 IIST NEWS LETTER Dr. Dadhwal gave details about the visit of UGC review team led by Prof. S h e o N a r a y a n P a n d e y , V i c e Chancellor of Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, for reviewing IIST and to extend the Deemed to be University status for another 5 years. He reported that in general UGC team was very impressed with the progress of IIST and all the members unanimously supported IIST to apply for the stature of 'Institute of National Importance'. He informed that all UG and PG courses are approved by AICTE. IIST is ranked 10th among all Engineering institutes in NIRF ranking for its teaching and learning process and has secured over all rank of 23rd in India for the Shri. Somanath, Director VSSC, that your rst victory was just a year 2018. The Director in his speech Guest of Honour and all other luck”. elaborated upon the details of distinguished invitees for gracing th graduating UG/PG and Ph.D IIST's 6 convocation. Dr. K Sivan, Chairman ISRO, students and also about annual Secretary DoS and Chairman student programs like Dhanak, In his convocation address, Chief Governing council IIST, started his Conscientia. The Director mentioned Guest Prof. K VijayRaghavan, the presidential address by mentioning about Mr. Avinash Chandra, an Principal Scientic Advisor to that IIST was a dream project of ISRO a n d i t s g r a d u a t e s a r e d o i n g aluminous of IIST and Satish G o v e r n m e n t o f I n d i a , h a s extremely well and satisfying the Dhawan endowment student at congratulated all the graduating e x p e c t a t i o n o f I S R O . H e Caltech, USA for winning Abdul students and elaborated on the congratulated all the graduating Kalam award for the best academic creative role played by DOS/ISRO in students and their proud parents. He performance. It is the second time nation building especially in elaborated the challenges awaiting in that an IIST aluminous getting this telecommunications, navigation, I S R O a n d m e n t i o n e d a b o u t award. Further, Director spoke about meteorology, remote sensing, importance of nation building. He the establishment of Small Satellite agriculture, disaster management, explained about ISRO missions Systems and Payload Centre healthcare and education over during last 4 years such as GSLV (SSPACE) at IIST for students and several years. He praised IIST model Mark III, PSLV etc and afrmed that faculty to carry out challenging as unique in this country as success in ISRO is granted. He also research on space science and deserving students admitted to its mentioned about how ISRO missions technology. Under this program, a UG program receive full nancial has progressed from failure to great team of faculty and students are support and then join ISRO after success by analyzing reasons for actively working to develop an securing required CGPA. He noted failures. He reminded about Vikram ionospheric plasma probe payload that the institute selects bright young Sarabhai's main mission - India's namely ARIS. The Director also minds at a very young age and progress through ISRO by solving t o u c h e d u p o n t h e d e t a i l s o f expose them to space science and problems of common man. He international collaborations of IIST technology related areas. Professor explained how ISRO has addressed with various academic institutes and VijayRaghavan mentioned that many common man problems about progress achieved in ISRO- IIST's PG and Ph.D. program will not through disaster management IIST projects. In his conclusion only give quality human resources to systems, navigation, communication remarks, Director acknowledged the ISRO but also for entire country. He and earth observation over the years strong support received by IIST from also mentioned about IIST's outreach and how India's space program the Chancellor, IIST, and Chairman programs and ended his speech with helped in supporting programs such ISRO. Director thanked the esteemed Dr A P J Abdul Kalam's advise as as Swatch Bharat, Digital India, chief guest Prof. VijayRaghavan, “Don't take rest after your rst Make in India and MNREGA. He Principal Scientic advisor to victory because if you fail in the mentioned how shermen could G o v e r n m e n t o f I n d i a , second more lips are waiting to say increase their income via ISRO's 2 IIST NEWS LETTER common wealth scholarship to do P h . D . i n o n e o f p r e s t i g i o u s Universities in UK. The Chancellor spoke about challenges one has to take up boldly to build up one's career and quoted “A student learn one quarter from his master, second quarter from his own intelligence, third quarter from fellow students and last quarter from time and experience”. He also quoted from Swami Vivekananda's teachings “experience is greatest teacher in this world”. The Chancellor dwelt upon how team work succeeded in ISRO and why it is important. Due to team work in ISRO, in spite of embargos by advanced countries, we could Prof. K. VijayRaghavan delivering the 6th IIST Convocation Address successfully complete Moon and Mars missions as these mission Fishing Zone Advisory. Dr. Sivan mentioning about those students required high level of precision and reminded that this is not enough and who could not make it to ISRO by accuracy. He also talked about why progress have to be made in elaborating the ample opportunities there is no need to go abroad for navigation for providing hand held awaiting in the open market. He greener pastures by citing the great services, disaster alerts, and health pointed out that in few years India is achievers in India, without going services for people. He further spoke going to be a developed nation and abroad like IIST rst Chancellor and about need for human space IIST graduates will have many People's President Dr. A P J Abdul program, space transportation chances to use their skills in many Kalam, Father of Indian Atomic systems and making launch vehicles areas as they are well trained by IIST.