UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research (UGC-DAE CSR)

UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research (UGC-DAE CSR) is an autonomous institute of the University Grants Commission (UGC), which aims to facilitate the University utilization of the mega-science facilities established by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

About UGC-DAE CSR

UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research (formerly known as IUC-DAEF), hereinafter called ‘Consortium’ was created in the year 1990. The broad objective of Consortium is developing competence and promoting research in frontline areas of science and technology in Indian Universities by providing an institutional framework for optimum utilization of major research facilities established by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) such as Dhruva Reactor, BARC Mumbai, VECC, Kolkata and Synchrotron Radiation Sources at Indore.

This novel endeavour aims to promote interaction amongst the scientists working in the research centres of DAE and the faculty from the universities and other institutions of higher learning and to enable young students to work on programmes of national importance under the joint guidance of the faculty from universities and the scientists of DAE. It is envisaged that these efforts would uniquely nurture an organic linkage between the university system and research centres of DAE. The Consortium, with the headquarters at Indore and three centres at Indore, Mumbai and Kolkata respectively with a node at Kalpakkam, has been producing quality research articles and Ph.D. candidates.

Mandate

To promote interaction amongst the scientists working in the research centres of the Department of Atomic Energy and the faculty from the universities and other institutions of higher learning, and to enable young students to work on programmes of national importance under the joint guidance of the faculty from universities and the scientists of DAE so as to nurture an organic linkage between the university system and research centres of DAE, the University Grants Commission and Atomic Energy of new research facilities. Accordingly, the University Grants Commission created an Inter-University Consortium, with its headquarters at Indore for the utilization of the facilities established by the Department of Atomic Energy. The Inter-University Consortium has over the years taken several initiatives to foster the interaction between the University System and the DAE institutions.

As per the present MoU, a collaboration between the Department of Atomic Energy and University Grants Commission will be expanded to cover the disciplines of physical sciences, chemical sciences, life sciences and engineering sciences. DAE will continue to make the major research facilities accessible to the researchers from the universities and institutions of higher learning through the consortium. It will also make available the infrastructural and accessorial facilities such as laboratories, library, workshop etc. necessary to carry on the research work. The UGC, through the Consortium, will continue to make suitable financial provision for the salary of the core scientific, technical and administrative staff, fellowship to research students, the travel and stay of the visiting faculty, and other recurring and non-recurring expenditure on the functioning of the Consortium. It will also provide an adequate grant for equipment and consumables.

CSR Centres

Facilities and Research Programs of Consortium in a Nutshell

CSR Indore Centre

The CSR Indore Centre is developed towards utilization of the synchrotron radiation sources Indus-1 and Indus-2 at the Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore, a unique facility in the country. The facilities at the Consortium have been very effectively used leading to many remarkable experiments.

CSR Mumbai Centre

The CSR Mumbai Centre is located inside the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) at Trombay. The Mumbai Centre facilitates the utilization of large scale research facilities available at BARC by scientists and students from universities and various academic institutions across the country. In particular, university scientists and students are provided access to the National Facility for Neutron Beam Research (NFNBR) at Dhruva reactor. This is done through the Collaborative Research Scheme (CRS) program of the Centre.

CSR Kolkata Centre

The CSR Kolkata Centre supports the use of Radiation (particulate as well as electromagnetic) to probe matter (both living as well as non-living). It supports and coordinates, the utilization of the following accelerator-based facilities at:

• Variable Energy Cyclotron Center, Kolkata
• The 3 MV Pelletron at Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar
• To a limited extent at BARC and the 14UD Pelletron at the TIFR

CSR Kalpakkam Node

A MoU between IGCAR and UGC-DAE CSR was signed on 16th January 2007 at Kalpakkam. This MoU envisages the creation of a UGC-DAE CSR Kalpakkam Node that will house high-end research facilities that would be open to University researchers. The node would help to foster active collaboration between DAE and the academic institutions through the involvement of young research scholars.

Useful Links

• Facilities at Indore Centre
• Facilities at Mumbai Centre
• Facilities at Kolkata Centre
• Facilities at Kalpakkam Node

Source: UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research (UGC-DAE CSR)