Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune

Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune was set up in 1988 by the University Grants Commission (UGC) as an autonomous centre of excellence to help initiate and nurture, research and developmental activities in Astronomy and Astrophysics in the university sector. 

About IUCAA

The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) is set up to promote the nucleation and growth of active groups in Astronomy and Astrophysics at Indian universities. IUCAA aims to be a centre of excellence within the university sector for teaching, research and development in Astronomy and Astrophysics. IUCAA was set up with the basic purpose of providing advanced centralized facilities for subjects not adequately covered in the university departments and colleges.

IUCAA's activities fall under two broad programmes: core academic programmes and visitor academic programmes. Core academic programmes include basic research, the Ph.D. programme, advanced research workshops and schools, the giant metre-wave radio telescope and guest observer programmes. Visitor academic programmes include the visitor and associates programme, refresher courses for teachers and helping the nucleation and growth of astronomy and astrophysics at Indian universities.

Academics

IUCAA Ph.D. Programme

The academic year at IUCAA begins in August every year. Students, who expect to complete their M.Sc. (Physics/Electronics/Astronomy/Applied Mathematics) or Integrated M.Sc. or B.E./B.Tech./M.E./M.Tech. degree (any branch) by August are eligible to apply. In addition, talented final year B.Sc., I year M.Sc. (Physics/Electronics/Astronomy/Applied Mathematics), II/III year Integrated M.Sc. and II/III year B.E./B.Tech. (any branch) students can also apply to be pre-selected for research scholarship (to do Ph.D.) at IUCAA.

The intake of students into IUCAA's Ph.D. Programme is through:

• IUCAA National Admission Test (INAT): INAT and the subsequent interviews are generally conducted in the first week of January every year at IUCAA Pune.
• Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST): This test is conducted on the third Sunday of February every year.
• CSIR-UGC NET for JRF (Physics): Only those who have qualified for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in the previous two years are eligible to apply. Those who have qualified for only Lecturership are not eligible.

IUCAA-NCRA Graduate School

The IUCAA-NCRA Graduate School conducted jointly with the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Pune is meant for the Ph.D. students of IUCAA and NCRA. Students are taught relevant advanced courses in physics and are also introduced to courses in Astronomy and Astrophysics.

IUCAA M.Sc. Teaching

IUCAA offers neither a B.Sc. nor an M.Sc. degree in Astronomy/Astrophysics. However, IUCAA faculty members teach two optional courses in Astronomy and Astrophysics in the III and IV semesters of the M.Sc. (Physics) programme at the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). Normally, about 10 students are admitted to these courses by the Department of Physics, SPPU).

Vacation Students Programme (VSP)

The Vacation Students Programme (VSP) is an ongoing programme for which applications are accepted from eligible students in March every year. The selected candidates are informed in the beginning of April. Students selected under the VSP spend seven weeks at IUCAA working on specific research projects supervised by IUCAA academic members. The programme concludes with seminar presentations based on the projects done by the participants.

Students who are currently pursuing one of the following degree courses are eligible to apply:

• M.Sc. - First Year (Physics/Applied Mathematics/Astronomy/Electronics/Scientific Computing)
• Integrated M.Sc. III and IV year
• B.Tech. / B.E. III and final year

Introductory Summer School in Astronomy and Astrophysics

The summer school for students will be held for five weeks during May - June of every even-numbered year. It is designed to introduce students to the exciting fields of Astronomy and Astrophysics (A+A). No previous knowledge of Astronomy and Astrophysics is necessary, though familiarity with the basic principles of Mathematics and Physics is required. Students completing B.Sc. or II year of B.Tech./B.E./Integrated M.Sc. are eligible to apply.   Selected candidates will be informed by the end of March.

Science Popularisation Program (SciPOP)

IUCAA, as a research institute, is looked upon by all as a place where Science is applied in an exciting field. SciPoP is a uniquely started effort towards increasing public awareness and understanding of Science & Astronomy. It is aimed at making people aware of the importance of science education as well as to get students genuinely interested in science and motivated towards taking up a research career towards its advancement. SciPop conducts various Regular Programmes as well as Occasional/Yearly Programmes.

Regular Programmes

• Second Saturday Lecture & Demonstration Programme
• Basic Astronomy Workshops
• Science Toys Activity
• Sky Watching
• Campus Visits

Occasional/Yearly Programmes

• Science Day Celebrations
• Telescope Making
• Summer School Projects
• Public Talks/Colloquia

IUCAA Student Projects

IUCAA offers the opportunity for local students in the Pune area to work on projects of varying durations. Interested students are invited to contact faculty directly for IUCAA Students Projects. Students outside Pune are encouraged to apply for the Summer School Programme or the Vacation Students' Programme. Limited number of students studying in B.Sc./B.E./B.Tech./M.Sc./M.E./M.Tech. are admitted in IUCAA to do their projects in Astronomy and Astrophysics or related topics.  These students should have thorough basics in Physics and Mathematics.

University Programmes

IUCAA Resource Centres

The IUCAA Resource Centres offer a comprehensive environment for students and teachers of Universities and Colleges to undertake front-line research in Astronomy and Astrophysics. They are equipped with books, high-end computing facilities, software and astronomy database. They conduct workshops and scientific meetings, as well as events to promote Astronomy among school students and the general public.

Associateship Programme

One important component of IUCAA's academic activities is the Associateship Programme, under which a faculty member of an Indian university or a postgraduate department in a college can visit IUCAA for periods of short and long durations over a span of three years to develop his or her interest and expertise in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Applications are invited for associateships for a tenure of three years, starting from 1st August every year. The selected candidates are usually informed by the end of July every year.

Refresher Course in Astronomy and Astrophysics

IUCAA conducts a Refresher Course in Astronomy and Astrophysics for teachers at Indian universities and colleges for five weeks during 3rd week of May to 3rd week of June in every odd year. The last date for applying is 1st March during the year in which the refresher course is conducted. For this purpose, an online application link is made available about a month prior to the deadline of 1st March. The selected candidates are usually informed of their selection for the course by the last week of March.

INAAD Program

The IUCAA Node for Astronomy and Astrophysics Development (INAAD) programme is required to provide technical knowledge, resource people, coordination, financial support and some basic resources, for the colleges to maintain a vibrant astronomy teaching programme. For the last two decades, IUCAA has been promoting Astronomy and Astrophysics in Universities and Colleges across the country. About eighty University and College teachers are IUCAA associates, in part of a program where they use IUCAA facilities and research expertise to enhance their own research and to convey that knowledge and excitement to the Universities. Six IUCAA Resource Centres (IRC) provide up to date modern computing facilities, books and necessary software which are utilized by students and researchers of the nearby region. Every year, a number of IUCAA sponsored workshops/seminars are arranged directly, or through IRC, in various Universities and Colleges.

Radio Physics Lab

Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) signed a memorandum of understanding a decade back, which initiated a new era of cooperation between the two institutes in radio astronomy/physics education and training programs. Radio Physics Lab provides facilities for teaching Radio Physics and Radio Astronomy techniques using simple hands-on radio physics experiments for undergraduate and graduate students.

Radio Physics Lab conducts Radio Astronomy Winter School every year in the month of December. The winter school is largely meant for III year undergraduate and I year postgraduate students in Science or the students in III or IV year of Engineering (B.E./B.Tech.). Students in the II year of M.Sc. are not eligible to apply. Participants should have a strong interest in Astronomy and Astrophysics theory, observations or instrumentation.

Useful Links

• IUCAA Library
• IUCAA Library YouTube Channel
• IUCAA Resources
• IUCAA SciPOP YouTube Channel
• Khagol Bulletin
• RPL YouTube Channel
• Research at IUCAA 
• SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
• Virtual Observatory India