Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram

The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (Hindi: भारतीय अन्तरिक्ष विज्ञान एवं प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान, Malayalam: ഭാരതീയ ബഹിരാകാശ ശാസ്ത്ര സാങ്കേതിക സ്ഥാപനം) or IIST is India's national institute for the study and development of space science. It was inaugurated on 14 September, 2007 by Dr. G. Madhavan Nair, Chairman ISRO.^[1] IIST is sponsored by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under Department of Space, Government of India. Dr. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, is the chancellor of IIST.^[2]

Campus

The institute is now functioning in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) campus, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala. A state-of- the-art permanent campus is coming up near LPSC in Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram with an observatory in Ponmudi Hills, Thiruvanathapuram.

[edit] Academics

IIST offers graduate and postgraduate programs in space science and technology, and also serves as a research center.

The institute offers the following academic programmes:

1. Undergraduate Programmes (4 years):
   1. B. Tech (Avionics Engineering) with provision to specialize in Digital Electronics, RF and Microwaves, Control Systems, Software Engineering.
   2. B. Tech (Aerospace Engineering) with provision to specialize in Flight Dynamics, Aerospace Structures, Machine Design and Manufacturing Technology.
   3. B. Tech (Physical Sciences)with space applications in the areas of Astronomy, Earth System Science, Astro-Physics, Planetary Sciences and Remote Sensing.
2. Masters Level Programmes (2 years): The institute will start the following master level programmes from January 2010.
   1. M.Tech in Softcomputing
   2. M.Tech in RF and Microwave Communications
   3. M.Tech in Applied and Adaptive Optics
3. Research Programme (Ph.D)

[edit] Student activities

IIST is having an astronomy club namely "We the Star Gazers". The club is continuously providing an exposure to the wonders of space to the students. There is a committee which is organizing the Technical festival every year. Every Wednesday, a seminar session is held in which students and some eminent guests present interesting topics. Other extra academic clubs are IIST Cricket League and IIST Badminton Club run by students.

[edit] Festivals

Following festivals are organized in IIST every year.

[edit] Conscientia

Conscientia is the annual technical festival of IIST.

[edit] Dhanak

Dhanak is the annual cultural festival of IIST.

[edit] Aparimit