Media team from Manipur visits IIST

IMPHAL, Feb 25 (PIB): The 12-member media delegation from Manipur, currently on a press tour in Kerala, visited the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) at Thiruvananthapuram on February 25.
Officials from Press Information Bureau (PIB), Thiruvananthapuram accompanied and facilitated the visit.
The delegation was welcomed by Professor Kuruvilla Joseph, Distinguished Professor and Pro Vice-Chancellor of IIST. He delivered a comprehensive presentation on the institute’s academic structure, research focus, and its strategic role in supporting India’s space missions.
Dr Deepu, Head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering; Dr Anand Narayanan, Head of the Department of Earth and Space Sciences; Dr Jinesh, Head of the Department of Physics; and Professor A Chandrasekar, Outstanding Professor in Earth and Space Sciences, also joined the session and extended a warm welcome to the delegation.
During the briefing, Professor Joseph underscored the crucial role of journalists in promoting scientific temper and awareness, particularly in a technology-driven era. He encouraged the delegation to highlight stories related to science and innovation and emphasised the importance of inspiring students and parents from the high school level about career opportunities in research and technology. He also reiterated the institute’s commitment to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by fostering in-house development of technologies, equipment, and software to strengthen India’s self-reliance in the space sector.
Speaking about the institute, he highlighted that IIST, established in 2007, is Asia’s first space institute dedicated exclusively to space science and technology education and research. Spread across 120 acres in a serene and eco-friendly campus at the foothills of the Sahyadri range, the institute contributes significantly to capacity building for India’s space programme.
The delegation was also briefed on the undergraduate programmes and MTech programmes offered by the institute in specialised fields. IIST also offers full-time and part-time doctoral programmes in a wide range of disciplines.
As part of the visit, the media delegation toured various advanced laboratories and research facilities in the campus.
The team interacted with faculty members and researchers, who demonstrated ongoing projects and experimental setups. The delegation was briefed on how the institute’s modern infrastructure enables mission-oriented research aligned with National space objectives.
Dr Jinesh KB, Professor and Head of the Department of Physics, also interacted with the delegation and highlighted the department’s academic activities, research initiatives, and contributions in frontier areas of physics relevant to space science and technology.
Officials further briefed the delegation on IIST’s extensive National collaborations with premier institutions and strategic organisations across the country, contributing to advancements in emerging and critical areas of space science and technology.
An interactive session was also held, during which faculty members addressed queries raised by the delegation.