ANNUAL REPORT 2013 – 14 One Hundred and Fifth Year Indian Institute of Science Bangalore - 560 012 i ii Contents Page No Page No Preface 5.3 Departmental Seminars and IISc at a glance Colloquia 120 5.4 Visitors 120 1. The Institute 1-3 5.5 Faculty: Other Professional 1.1 Court 1 Services 121 1.2 Council 2 5.6 Outreach 121 1.3 Finance Committee 3 5.7 International Relations Cell 121 1.4 Senate 3 1.5 Faculties 3 6. Continuing Education 123-124 2. Staff 4-18 7. Sponsored Research, Scientific & 2.1 Listing 4 Industrial Consultancy 125-164 2.2 Changes 12 7.1 Centre for Sponsored Schemes 2.3 Awards/Distinctions 12 & Projects 125 7.2 Centre for Scientific & Industrial 3. Students 19-25 Consultancy 155 3.1 Admissions & On Roll 19 7.3 Intellectual Property Cell 162 3.2 SC/ST Students 19 7.4 Society for Innovation & 3.3 Scholarships/Fellowships 19 Development 163 3.4 Assistance Programme 19 7.5 Advanced Bio-residue Energy 3.5 Students Council 19 Technologies Society 164 3.6 Hostels 19 3.7 Award of Medals 19 8. Central Facilities 165-168 3.8 Placement 21 8.1 Infrastructure - Buildings 165 8.2 Activities 166 4. Research and Teaching 26-116 8.2.1 Official Language Unit 166 4.1 Research Highlights 26 8.2.2 SC/ST Cell 166 4.1.1 Biological Sciences 26 8.2.3 Counselling and Support Centre 167 4.1.2 Chemical Sciences 35 8.3 Women’s Cell 167 4.1.3 Electrical Sciences 46 8.4 Public Information Office 167 4.1.4 Mechanical Sciences 57 8.5 Alumni Association 167 4.1.5 Physical & Mathematical Sciences 75 8.6 Professional Societies 168 4.1.6 Centres under Director 91 4.2. Research Publications 102 9. Campus Facilities 169-170 4.3 Programmes & Courses 103 9.1 Health Centre 169 4.4 Degrees Awarded 103 9.2 Recreation 169 4.5 Research Conferments 105 9.2.1 Gymkhana 169 4.6 External Registration 115 9.2.2 Faculty Club 169 9.2.3 Tata Memorial Club 169 9.3 Auditoria 170 5. Interactions & Outreach 117-122 9.4 Amenities 170 5.1 Institute Lectures 117 10. New Initiatives and Second Campus 171 5.2 Conferences/Seminars/ Symposia/Workshops 117 11. Finance 172 iii iv P R E F A C E The Indian Institute of Science (IISc, or just “The Institute”) was established in 1909 by a visionary partnership between the industrialist Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, the Maharaja of Mysore, and the Government of India. Over the 105 years since its establishment, IISc has become the premier institute for advanced scientific and technological research and education in India. Since its inception, the Institute has laid balanced emphasis on the pursuit of basic knowledge in science and engineering, as well as on the application of its research findings for industrial and social benefit. In the words of its founder, J. N. Tata, the objectives of the Institute are “to provide for advanced instruction and to conduct original investigations in all branches of knowledge as are likely to promote the material and industrial welfare of India”. The Institute actively pursues a policy of true academic freedom in order to enable academic excellence in all areas of its activities. The Institute has taken several initiatives in promoting emerging and interdisciplinary areas, in developing active and close collaboration with research institutions worldwide, and in enabling enhanced interactions with the industry through knowledge and wealth sharing processes. IISc is engaged in higher learning and advanced research at the cutting edge of science and technology. The Institute has a highly qualified and internationally acclaimed faculty numbering 499, and a student strength of 3398. The Institute has introduced many innovations in teaching and research. The traditional degree programmes have been the M.E., M.Tech., M. Des., M. Mgt, M.Sc. (Engg.), and Ph.D. degrees. The Integrated Ph.D program (post three year B.Sc.) in biological, physical, chemical, and mathematical science has become very popular. The four-year undergraduate (UG) program, started in August 2011, has received a good response; 107 students have been admitted in 2014, bringing the total number of UG students to 417, of which 87 are expected to graduate as the first graduating batch in 2015. The Institute faculty continues to be very active in research and maintains a high annual publication output. The research findings cover a wide spectrum of scientific investigations. As in the past, several faculty members of the Institute have won national and international awards and honours, in recognition of their contributions to the growth of knowledge in science and engineering. The IISc Press was begun during the centenary year, and has published several monographs and lecture notes in a co-publishing agreement with international publishers. Several lectures by distinguished scientists, including Nobel Laureates were organized under the Centenary Lectures series and some Endowed Lectures series. The activities in the emerging second campus of the Institute at Challakere have been steadily progressing. The construction of the boundary wall has been completed; a 10 Km peripheral road has been laid and can now be used for the movement of construction material. The main gate of the campus, and an associated security complex have been completed. A state electricity board power line now reaches the campus. The Talent Development Centre has completed the training of more than 2500 science teachers, and is attracting the attention of many other states. The first research article, based on a temporary climate monitoring station on the Challakere campus, has been published. A skill development v centre has been planned, and research facilities, such as solar photovoltaics, a permanent climate monitoring station, and a geotechnical station, are planned and will soon be installed. The Institute continues to receive major research support from national and international sources, public and private. The support for recurring expenses, and also a substantial fraction of the annual research expenses, is provided by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The faculty of the Institute also undertake a large number of research projects funded by different agencies, including the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and a host of other organizations, both in the public and private sectors. Interactions between the Institute and industry are strengthened through the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Consultancy (CSIC), the Society for Innovation and Development (SID), and several centres specifically set up for interaction with the government, the society, and the industry. A major INDO-US Energy Programme – The Solar Energy Research Institutes for India and United States (SERIUS) has been initiated. The activities of the recently established Centre for NeuroScience have received a major boost by a major grant from the Tata Trust; Mr. and Mrs. Kris Gopalakrishnan have committed Rs. 220 crores to the establishment of a Centre for Brain Research as an independent society of IISc, to be nurtured and mentored by the Institute. The Infosys Foundation has established two well endowed, international visiting chairs in Physics and Mathematics. The Institute is continuing to take further initiatives to be globally competitive. The Institute continues to embark on new areas of research in collaboration with institutions both within and outside the country. The Office of International Relations at the Institute has facilitated discussions and agreements with several universities and R&D institutions worldwide. I am honoured to present this Annual Report of the Institute, which basically reports the academic output and related achievements during the period 2013-14. The volume of high quality work reported here goes to the credit of the intellectual inputs of the faculty and the students, and to the support of the technical and administrative personnel. I also wish to place on record my gratitude to the Chairman and the Members of the Council of the Institute for their valuable guidance. October 2014 Anurag Kumar Director vi vii viii ix x 1. The Institute he Indian Institute of Science is an institution of higher principal authority governing the Institute is the Council, Tlearning and research established in 1909 under the which is advised by the Court in the formulation of policies. Charitable Endowments Act 1890. With the establishment The Director is the Chief Executive of the Institute and is of the University Grants Commission in 1956, the Institute assisted in its management by the Senate and the Faculties came under its purview as a Deemed University. The of Science and Engineering. 1.1 Court The membership of the Court is drawn from different cross nominees of the Government of India, the Government of sections of the country such as Industry, Universities, Karnataka and the Tata Trusts. The Professors of the Scientific Institutions, etc. In addition to eminent persons Institute and the members of the Council are also ex-officio of science, learning and industry, it also contains the members of the Court. The following are the members of the Court: K Kasturirangan Saroj K Poddar Harish Padh President of the Court Chairman, Gillette India Ltd., Vice Chancellor, Sardar Patel Chairman, Governing Council Kolkata (Rep. FICCI) University, Vallabh Vidhyanagar Raman Research Institute (Rep. Indian Universities) Bangalore (Nom. Council) S N Agarwal Chairman Ratan N Tata Som Mittal Bhoruka Power Corporation Ltd., Former Chairman, Tata Former President, Bangalore (Rep. All India Orgn. of Sons Ltd., NASSCOM, New Delhi Ind. Employers) Mumbai (Nom. Council) (Nom. Visitor) Rajinder Singh Maker V S Ramamurthy Suresh Chandra Mukul Executive Director Director, National Institute of Former Air Marshal, The Employers Federation of India, Advanced Studies, Bangalore New Delhi (Nom.