Introduction
Dear Prospective Student,
We are glad to note that you are considering the Indian Institute of Science as a possible place for
your higher studies. As you may know, the Institute has pioneered advanced post-graduate
education in India and has been making significant contributions to frontier areas of research.
In its nearly a century long history, it has been able to innovate and introduce new schemes for
imparting knowledge and education.
The Institute was the first to introduce the Integrated Ph D program in the Biological, Chemical,
Physical and Mathematical Sciences for science graduates. More recently, research degrees have
been introduced in four interdisciplinary areas of: (i) Mathematical Sciences (ii) Energy (iii)
BioSystems Science and Engineering (v) Nano Science and Engineering (vi) Water Research.
The Institute has led the way in starting advanced research in many fields of science and technology.
It is currently involved in several areas of national importance like space science
and technology, material science and engineering, environmental and atmospheric sciences,
endocrinology, genetic engineering, rural technology and energy problems. In the years to come, the
Institute has identified three emerging areas for future research; namely, (i) Genomics (ii) NanoSciences and (iii) Mathematics.
The Institute has a Centre for Scientific and Industrial Consultancy, through which significant R&D
work is done on identified projects sponsored by industry. The know-how so generated has been
transferred to industry. A transfer of technology has taken place in areas such as low-cost housing
and renewable sources of energy which benefit society. Similarly, the facilities available at the
Institute such as low and high speed wind tunnels, water tunnel, high speed computers and
sophisticated instruments have been helping public and private sector industries and defence. There
has also been a certain amount of social utilization of work in the biosciences, for instance, (i) in the
plant tissue culture of sandal wood, eucalyptus and teak wood, (ii) disease control in silk worms, and
(iii) on the nutritional value enhancement of rice strains. Some projects with industrial relevance
include the indigenous development of a cryo-grinding technology for grinding spices, development of
particle reinforced aluminium matrix composites and optical coating technology for use in combat
aircrafts. In 1997, the Institute released technologies relating to AIDS diagnostic kits,
biomass gasifiers and ferroelectric materials.
In all these endeavors the Institute, with a keen awareness of its long standing reputation and the
need for maintaining high quality in all its activities, strives to contribute to the scientific, academic and
technological goals of our country.
Whatever may be your natural skill and interests — mathematics, frontier research areas in the
theoretical sciences, experimental work in biology, physics and chemistry, new areas in engineering
and technology — you will find, in the Institute, a congenial environment that will develop your abilities
and will stimulate you to make significant new and original contributions in an area of your choice. The
number of students in the Institute is kept deliberately small in order to focus on quality and personal
attention.
The details of various academic programs of the Institute, as also information on how to apply for
admission, are given in the following pages.
Being enthusiastic about meeting you, our colleagues join us in inviting you to visit the Institute. You
can, of course, feel free to direct your queries to us or to the Chairperson of the Department you are
interested in.
Prof. M Narasimha Murthy
DEAN, ENGINEERING
Prof. T N Guru Row
DEAN, SCIENCE