BIENNIAL REPORT 2012-14 Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Started with a unique thought and a novel idea of creating future leaders in Science and Technology, AcSIR has now over 2600 students in various Programs Organisational Structure of AcSIR AcSIR Board of Governors AcSIR Senate Director, AcSIR Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Director, Director, Director, Director, Director, Admin & Student ICT & Resource Academics Development & Affairs Infrastructure Finance Network Dean & Dean & Dean & Dean & Dean & Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Dean, Dean, Dean, Dean, Dean, Physical Biological Mathematical Chemical Engineering Science Science Science & Information Science Science Table of Contents Biennial Report 2012-14 Objectives of the Academy 1 Mission of the Academy 1 1. At a Glance 4 1.1 Introduction 4 1.2 Recognition as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) 4 1.3 Events 4 1.4 Relocation of AcSIR Offices 5 1.5 Partnerships & Collaborations 5 1.6 Enactment of AcSIR Statutes and Ordinances 5 1.7 Introduction of New Academic Programs 6 2 Academic Activities 8 2.1 Integrated M.Tech.-Ph.D. (IMP) Program 8 2.2 Ph.D. Program 8 3 Faculty 12 4 Ethos & Philosophy of Courses 14 5 Profile of participating CSIR Laboratories 18 6 Meetings 52 6.1. Meetings of Board of Governors (BoG) of AcSIR 52 6.1.1 4th meeting of BoG held on 5th December 2013 52 6.1.2 5th meeting of BoG held on 24th March 2014 52 6.2 Meetings of Senate of AcSIR 53 6.2.1 5th Senate Meeting held on 12th September, 2012 53 6.2.2 6th Senate Meeting held on 3rd December, 2012 53 6.2.3 7th Senate Meeting held on 5th April 2013 54 6.2.4 8th Senate Meeting held on 2nd August, 2013 54 6.2.5 9th Senate Meeting held on 19th December, 2013 55 6.3 Meetings of Finance Committee of AcSIR 56 i 7 Convocation & Felicitation Ceremony for Academy Professors 58 7.1 Third Convocation- 2014 58 7.2 Conferment of Academy Professorship 62 7.3 Educative stall at CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi 62 8 Board of Governors, AcSIR 64 9 Senate, AcSIR 68 10 Finance Committee, AcSIR 72 11 List of Administrative Heads 74 12 Audited Accounts 78 13 Highlights of Projects 86 13.1 List of Projects completed by M.Tech 2011-13 86 13.2 List of Students completing Ph.D 91 14 List of Publication during 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2014 94 Tables Table 1: Lab-wise break up of admission in Integrated M.Tech-Ph.D program 114 Table 2: List of Students in Participating CSIR Labs in Ph.D. Program (Aug’12 Session) 115 Table 3: List of Students in Participating CSIR Labs in Ph.D. Program (Jan’13 Session) 116 Table 4: List of Students in Participating CSIR Labs in Ph.D. Program (Aug’13 Session) 117 Table 5: List of Students in Participating CSIR Labs in Ph.D. Program (Jan’14 Session) 118 ii Biennial Report 2012-14 Objectives of the Academy i. To disseminate advanced knowledge in science and technology by providing teaching and re- search facilities in emerging and futuristic areas of inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary science; ii. Adopt measures for innovations in teaching and learning process; iii. Create an ambience for learning and scholarship in advanced science and technology instead of exclusively focusing on marks or grades; iv. To educate and train manpower in scientific and technological fields; v. To establish linkages with industries in India and outside India for the promotion of science and Mission technology; of the vi. To collaborate, in appropriate areas in the field of science and technology, with reputed univer- Academy sities and institutions in India or outside India; vii. To promote research in science and technology The mission of the Academy is to create highest having an impact on social, economic, cultural, quality personnel with cross-disciplinary knowledge, intellectual and academic welfare of the people; aiming to provide leaders in the field of science and viii. To organize and undertake extramural studies, technology. training and extension services. Nurture a research-propelled, technology-ena- bled and industry-linked higher education plat- form. Achieve a seamless integration of intellectual strengths with current market needs. Develop niche capability required to bolster re- search efforts in futuristic science. Provide the opportunity to work on the frontier and challenging areas with current relevance. 1 2 Biennial Report 2012-14 At a Glance 3 1. At a Glance 1.1 Introduction The Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research on 8th June, 2012 by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India (AcSIR) was established in 2010 (by a resolution and President, Council of Scientific and Industrial of the Government of India on 17th July, 2010) Research (CSIR). and formalized by an Act of Parliament; that is the Vice Chairman, BoG, AcSIR Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research Act, 2011 vide The Gazette of India (dated 7th February, Dr. S.K. Brahmachari, former Director-General 2012) and notified on 3rd April, 2012 as an Institution (DG) of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research of National Importance. AcSIR has adopted the (CSIR), wasex-officio Vice Chairman, BoG, AcSIR mandate to create and train some of the best of from 8th June, 2012 till his superannuation from CSIR tomorrow’s Science & Technology leaders through as Director-General on 31st December, 2013. a combination of innovative and novel curricula, pedagogy and evaluation. Its focus is on imparting Dr. T. Ramasami assumed charge of DG-CSIR on instruction and providing research opportunities in 1st Janaury 2014 thus became the ex-officio Vice- such areas that are not routinely taught in regular Chairman, BoG, AcSIR. academic universities in India. 1.2 SIRO Recognition It has been set up based on a ‘Hub and Spoke’ Scientific and Industrial Research model where hub (AcSIR Offices) is responsible for centralized administrative functions. The spokes are Organization (SIRO) located in the 37 laboratories and 6 units of CSIR Department of Scientific and Industrial Research spread along the length and breadth of India, which (DSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of act as actual campuses for different subjects or areas. India with effect from 25th June, 2012 recognized As on 31st Mar, 2014, the Academy has 2729 full AcSIR as a SIRO. time faculty members from CSIR Laboratories, around 2600 students enrolled in various programs. 1.3 Events Eighteen staff members are working in AcSIR Offices. • AcSIR celebrated Ceremony of Third Convocation and felicitation of Academy Chairman Professors at Vigyan Auditorium, CSIR Campus, Dr. Samir K. Brahmachari, former DG-CSIR, in the Chennai on 28th March, 2014. absence of formal Chairman of Board of Governors Eighty One students of M.Tech 2011-13 of AcSIR acted as the Chairman, BoG, AcSIR till batch and 5 Ph.D (Sciences) students were 7th June, 2012. awarded their degrees by Prof. M.M. Sharma, Dr. Raghunath A. Mashelkar, National Research Chief Guest, Third Convocation and Academy Professor was appointed as Chairman, BoG, AcSIR Professor, AcSIR. 4 Biennial Report 2012-14 • Educative stall at “GENOMEET 2013”, an Scope of Agreement: To conceptualize and roll annual fest of CSIR-Integrative Genomics and out joint Integrated MSc with PhD programs. In Integrative Biology, New Delhi by AcSIR on particular, the collaboration will impart education and “Vitamin B12 and one carbon metabolism in training in Clinical Research and Health Informatics Health and Diseases” from 8th-10th March, 2013. to start with. Eventually the scope will be widened to include masters and doctoral courses on other 1.4 Relocation of AcSIR Offices relevant topics. Collaborative research of areas of a) The AcSIR Headquarters has been relocated to mutual interest will be promoted. Chennai having the following address: c) Non-Binding Agreement with Royal AcSIR Headquarters Melbourne Institute of Technology Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research University (RMIT) on 15th April, 2013 Training & Development Complex, CSIR RMIT is a global university of technology and Campus CSIR Road, Taramani, design and is Australia’s largest tertiary institution. Chennai – 600 113 RMIT is a leader in technology, design, global business, communication, global communities, b) A Coordination Office is located at Delhi having health solutions and urban sustainable futures. the following address: Aim of Non-binding Agreement: To record AcSIR Coordination Office an understanding between AcSIR and RMIT Academy of Scientific and Innovatice Research by which AcSIR and RMIT may co-operate in CSIR-Central Road Research Institute establishing closer links that may involve: CRRI P.O., Delhi-Mathura Road, a. Joint Ph.D programs between AcSIR and New Delhi – 110 025. RMIT University in areas of common interest 1.5 Partnerships & Collaborations such as: Aerospace, Bio-nano Technology, Catalysis, Chemical Engineering, Electrical a) Memorandum of Understanding with Engineering, Green Chemistry, Sensor Council of Scientific and Industrial Technology, Sustainable Energy. Research (CSIR) on 27th June, 2013 b. Staff and research student exchange As mandated in Section 5(2) of the AcSIR Act, program. a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been entered into between AcSIR and CSIR 1.6 Enactment of AcSIR Statutes and wherein AcSIR will have access to CSIR’s research Ordinances facilities, infrastructure, equipment, instruments, The Statutes and Ordinances of AcSIR were enacted tools, library and computing resources available on 10th November, 2013 after due approvals. The in 37 National Laboratories and 6 Units of CSIR. Statutes provide for all matters considered necessary b) Agreement with Public Health Foundation by the Board for functioning of the Academy within of India (PHFI) on 5th April, 2013 the framework of AcSIR Act, 2011. PHFI, established on 28th March, 2006, is a And subject to the provisions of AcSIR Act and the public-private partnership endeavour with an Statutes, the Ordinances provide for all matters objective of large uniquely designed & sustainable necessary related to routine activities such as response to the service shortfall of public health admissions, courses of study and conduct of professionals in India.