Student Life At Different IISER

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research or IISER was established in 2010 for the first time by the parliament through the Science Education and Research (Amendment) Act. It has been just more than a decade since their establishment and yet IISER turns out to be the best place for science enthusiasts. For anyone who wants to pursue a career in science and research, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research is a dream place.

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research boasts a vivid academic curriculum supported by both theory and practical laboratory training. To get into an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, students need to appear for the IISER Admission Test or IAT. For more information on IAT and to know how to prepare for the same, click here and read our blog.

Many of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research aspirants want to know about life at different IISERs. It has been just little more than a decade since the establishment of IISER Pune – the first Indian Institute of Science Education and Research. Hence, almost all the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research have the latest and modern infrastructure. For IISER Berhampur and IISER Tirupati, the campus is still under construction but is expected to be completed in a couple of years. This article is written to explore the student life at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research.

IISERs are Residential Institutes:

All the IISERs are residential institutes. Which means that you will have to stay in the institute for the entire duration of your course. Although, in the last year, you can choose to go to any other institute for your research project. Also, it is not mandatory to carry out your internship in your own institute.

Each Indian Institute of Science Education and Research has its own mess which is student-run. So, the student body governs the mess and ensures proper hygiene. The mess menu is also decided by the student body. Most of the IISERs have a “pay-and-eat” system in which students need to pay for the individual meals. Rest of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research charge a monthly mess fee alongside the semester fee. In general, there is no other fee apart from the monthly mess fee and the semester fee. You can read this blog to know in detail about the fee structure of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research.

Apart from the academic buildings, hostels and mess, all the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research are equipped with commercial centers or shopping complex, health center, auditorium, guest house, gymnasium, as well as indoor and outdoor sport facilities like badminton court, football and cricket ground, basketball court, etc. The hostels are equipped with common rooms, TV rooms, washing machines and other essential amenities.

Health centers at different Indian Institute of Science Education and Research include medical staff and ambulances and are well equipped for emergency situations. Most of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research including IISER Berhampur also have Psychological Counseling Service.

It is worth noting that the IISER Berhampur and IISER Tirupati still have an under construction campus and hence lack behind other Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in terms of infrastructure and sports facilities.

What are different student clubs at IISER?

Beside the academic life, the student body has come up with different clubs at different Indian Institute of Science Education and Research which are meant for both fun and science activities. All the clubs come under an autonomous student body which is called SAC. SAC is constituted by student candidates elected by students.

All the clubs under SAC can be divided into two categories: Science Club and Cultural Club. Each Indian Institute of Science Education and Research has a separate science club for each major discipline. These clubs are meant to organize talks, symposiums and science-related events. Science clubs often invite eminent researcher scientists from all over the globe for both online and offline talks. Other than that, science clubs also organize fun and exciting events and competitions. Field trips and birdings are also organized by different nature clubs at different Indian Institute of Science Education and Research. For example, MIMAMSA from IISER Pune conducts an annual quiz in which different research institutes participate. La Vida is a biology club from IISER Berhampur that conducts Biolympics – an olympic theme based event in which students from all the IISERs participate.

The cultural clubs at different IISERs host regular cultural activities. These clubs include dance, music, drama, debate, art and other clubs. The cultural club plays an important role in shaping the student life at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research.

Following is a list of different student clubs at IISER Pune, Kolkata and Berhampur. Other Indian Institute of Science Education and Research have similar clubs. The detailed information about the activities conducted by each club are mentioned on their website or social media handles. The link to club website can be found on the official website of different IISER.

• IISER Pune: Aakashganga, Aroha, Disha, Drama Club, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Cell, Esperanto Club, Hindi, Iplug, Kaleidoscope, Kalpa, Karavaan, Literary Club, Marathi Club, Maths Club, Mimamsa, Prutha, Quiz Club, Satrangi Club, Science Club, SPICMACAY, Sports Club, TEDxIISERPune Club, Yogen – Yoga Club, Yoga Sessions
• IISER Kolkata: Nature Club, All Sports Club, Trekking Club, Photography Club, Dance Club, Inquivesta, Spic Macay, Dance Club, Music Club, Arts Club, Drama Club, Movie Club, Literary Club, Science Club
• IISER Berhampur: 137 inverse, Project Spiral, La Vida, Chemshala, Oasis, Naxatra, IIEC, STREAM, QCell, Pixophiles, Shadjam, Flagro, Literature club, Film club, Dance Club, Theatre Club, Drama Club, Bookworms, Vasudha, Callixto(Fashion club), Clapperbox(Videography Club), Abha(Gender and Sexual Diversity Resource Group/Queer Club), The Debate Society, Jigyansa(Science Outreach Initiative).

Annual Fests:

Each IISER has their own annual cultural fest which is no less than any other institutes. These fests are organized at a large scale and various celebrities are invited. The following is a detail of different fests organized by different Indian Institute of Science Education and Research.

KARAVAAN -IISER PUNE

Karavaan is the annual socio-cultural science fest of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune . The name stems from the notion of all Indian Institute of Science Education and Research moving forward as one. The fest attracts students from colleges all across Pune, as well as national institutes all over India . It is one of the major college fests by an institute of national importance, hosting crowds in and out of Pune.

Karavaan started as a small intra-college fest in 2008 and has grown by leaps and bounds to become a major presence in Pune. It is funded partly by Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune and partly by a number of associated sponsors. The fest features a variety of scientific, social, and cultural events, including band wars, Nurpura, and performances by major artists.

INQUIVESTA -IISER KOLKATA

Inquivesta, initiated by IISER Kolkata students in 2011, stands as India’s premier science college festival, known for its commitment to making science accessible and enjoyable. The event has held nine successful editions under the theme “Being Inquisitive,” featuring diverse activities such as science demonstrations, technology showcases, workshops, guest lectures, celebrity appearances, and competitions in arts, sports, and adventure. With a broad appeal, Inquivesta draws participants from various backgrounds, including students from schools and colleges, as well as working professionals.

INSOMNIA -IISER MOHALI

This fest is organized by the students of IISER Mohali and is one of the most anticipated events of the year. It is a large-scale event that features a variety of cultural, literary, and scientific events. The fest attracts students from colleges all across Mohali, as well as national institutes all over India.

The fest has been held annually since 2014 and has grown in popularity over the years. The event is funded partly by Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali and partly by a number of associated sponsors.

Apart from these events, IISER Berhampur hosts Kyrat. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research TVM  hosts Ishya and IISER Bhopal hosts Enthuzia. Details on the same is given on the social handles of respective IISERs

What are IISM and IICM?

All the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research meet once every year for annual sports and cultural meets. Other than IISER, IISc, NISER and CEBS also take part in this annual extravaganza. The cultural meet is called IICM or the Inter Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Cultural Meet and the sports meet is called IISM or Inter Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Sports Meet.

Both the IISM and IICM are conducted in the month of december. Usually, IICM is conducted a week before IISM. One of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research hosts one of the two events every year. In 2023, IICM was hosted by IISER Mohali and IISM was hosted by IISER TVM. You can check the instagram pages made by the student body for the images and videos from the event.

Conclusion:

The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research boasts modern infrastructure with all the necessary facilities. All the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research are residential colleges and have a mess governed by the student body. The student body called SAC also looks after the functioning of several student clubs. These student clubs organize regular cultural activities and maintain an environment of entertainment and fun inside the campus. The annual IISM and IICM is the most anticipated part of campus life at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research.

FAQs:

• Q: What is IISER, and when was it established?

Ans: The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) was established in 2010 through the Science Education and Research (Amendment) Act. It stands as a leading institution for science education and research in India.

• Q: How do students get admission to IISERs?

Ans: To gain admission to IISERs, students need to appear for the IISER Admission Test (IAT). The test assesses their aptitude for science and research. Preparation tips and information about IAT can be found on our website. SciAstra also offers different courses for preparation of IAT.

• Q: Are IISERs residential institutes?

Ans: Yes, all IISERs are residential institutes. Students are required to stay on campus for the entire duration of their course. However, in the final year, they have the option to choose another institute for their research project.

• Q: What kind of facilities do IISER campuses offer?

Ans: IISER campuses provide comprehensive facilities, including academic buildings, hostels, student-run messes, commercial centers, health centers, auditoriums, guest houses, and sports facilities. The infrastructure is designed to support a holistic learning experience.

• Q: What are IICM and IISM?

Ans: IICM refers to the Inter Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Cultural Meet, and IISM stands for the Inter Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Sports Meet. These annual events bring together students from various Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, as well as other institutes like IISc, NISER, and CEBS, for cultural and sports competitions.

•  Q: Can you provide examples of annual fests at different IISERs?

Ans: Certainly. Karavaan is the annual socio-cultural science fest at IISER Pune, Inquivesta is organized by IISER Kolkata, and INSOMNIA is the highly anticipated fest hosted by IISER Mohali. Each of these fests features a range of scientific, social, and cultural events, making them significant highlights of the academic year.

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