M Tech in Climate Science at IISc

Considering the severe shortage of well trained manpower in the area of weather and climate science related activities in the country, the Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, IISc has decided to start an M Tech course in Climate Science from the academic year 2008-09. This MTech programme is designed to give a strong foundation to the students to work in atmosphere, ocean and climate related problems.

“Climate change and global warming are of great concern to all of us. There are several unresolved issues in this regard, and while programmes are being announced by the policy makers, no one is seriously addressing the shortage of people in this field”, notes G S Bhat, chairman, CAOS, IISc.

It is hoped that the MTech programme will be a first step to addressing this lacuna.

The curriculum offers topics like atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamcis, ocean dynamics, clouds, radiative heat transfer and climate, parallel computing, simulation and data interpretation, etc.

Graduates from this MTech can pursue a PhD or a career in Climate Science with government or industry. Wind and solar energy, offshore exploration, weather forecasting are some areas where such graduates will be required.

Students with bachelor’s degree in any branch of engineering or Master’s in physical sciences can apply.
Selection will be through GATE scores and interview.

For more details on application forms and last dates see http://www.iisc.ernet.in/admissions
Or Ph: 22932505
DHNS

New Masters course on modern India at Oxford University

A new MSc in contemporary India has been launched by Oxford University’s School of Interdisciplinary Area

Studies in response to the growing interest in India. It will be welcoming its first students in October this year.

The new interdisciplinary programme will provide students with the opportunity to learn about both India’s achievements and persistent problems and will impart high-quality training in research methods and in the critical analysis theory in the main social science disciplines, says the university.

The MSc course – a three-term, nine-month course – is designed for students from a wide range of backgrounds, particularly the Social Sciences and History, but there is no requirement to have studied India at the undergraduate level. The course will provide stand-alone training for those wishing to specialise in India, either out of academic interest or as preparation for work in the private sector, international organisations, government, NGOs, multilateral and bilateral aid and development agencies, and media organisations. The course will also serve as first-stage preparation for subsequent doctoral research on India.

The Masters comprises two core courses: ‘Research Methodology’ and ‘Themes in Contemporary India’, which includes topics such as India as a global and regional power; India’s democracy; the environment, energy and water; society and culture; the political economy; and human development. Students will also submit an extended essay on a critical treatment of theories, paradigms or mini-narratives. In the final term, a dissertation of 10,000 words will be submitted on a topic of the student’s choice, subject to the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee. The dissertation may form the basis for doctoral research for those students who wish to proceed to a DPhil degree.

Barbara Harriss-White, University Professor of Development Studies, said:  “India is a fascinating country to study: it is the largest democracy in the world, a regional power, and has had great IT business success on the one hand, but there is political violence, widespread environmental degradation and human development failure on the other.”

(For further information, contact Programme Administrator, Contemporary India, School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies, University of Oxford, 13 Bevington Road, Oxford, OX2 6LH, England.  Web:  www.area-studies.ox.ac.uk.  Email:  indianstudies@area.ox.ac.uk)