The Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) is an autonomous research institution of

Department of Science and Technology (India) The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is a department within the Ministry of Science and Technology in India. It was established in May 1971 to promote new areas of science and technology and to play the role of a nodal department fo ...

, under the Society Registration Act, 1960, under the umbrella of national mission on Nano Science and Technology (NANO MISSION)", which aims to promote growth and outreach of

nanoscience The nanoscopic scale (or nanoscale) usually refers to structures with a length scale applicable to nanotechnology, usually cited as 1–100 nanometers (nm). A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. The nanoscopic scale is (roughly speaking) a lo ...

and technology for the benefit of country. INST has been set up to undertake research and generate products/devices and technology in the area of Nanoscience and Technology. The institute aims to carry out research in the diverse and rapidly growing areas of nanoscience and technology with specific emphasis on the following areas: Agricultural Nanotechnology,

Nanomedicine Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology. Nanomedicine ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials and BioBrick, biological devices, to Nanoelectronics, nanoelectronic biosensors, and even possible future applicatio ...

, Energy and Environmental Science, Quantum Materials and Device Physics, Nano Electronics, Microfluidics Based Technologies, Nanobiotechnology

Organization and administration

The Institute of Nano Science and Technology is managed by a Board of Governors, composed of academicians, researchers and administrators and headed (chairman) by Dipankar Das Sarma of Indian Institute of Science. Founding chairman of the Board of Governors was C. N. R. Rao of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bangalore. INST started its operations from 3 January 2013, under the former directorship of Ashok K Ganguli. After his tenure, from 1 Jan 2018 and 10 March 2020, Hirendra Nath Ghosh took charge as acting director of the institute. Amitava Patra is the newly appointed director, since 11 March 2020.

Campus

The institute has shifted to its new campus at Sector – 81, SAS Nagar, Mohali-140306, Punjab. Under the directorship of Ashok K Ganguli the institute started its operations (administration and research) in this campus. Land for setting up the state of the art laboratories at permanent campus of INST was allotted by Punjab Government. The site is adjacent to

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) are a group of premier public research institutions in India. The institutes were established by the Government of India through the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHR ...

(IISER) in Sector 81, Mohali.

Facilities

INST has a research lab, "Faraday lab" named after British scientist

Michael Faraday Michael Faraday (; 22 September 1791 – 25 August 1867) was an English scientist who contributed to the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. His main discoveries include the principles underlying electromagnetic inducti ...

. The laboratory is equipped with

microscope A microscope () is a laboratory instrument used to examine objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopy is the science of investigating small objects and structures using a microscope. Microscopic means being invisibl ...

diffractometer A diffractometer is a measuring instrument for analyzing the structure of a material from the scattering pattern produced when a beam of radiation or particles (such as X-rays or neutrons) interacts with it. Principle Because it is relatively eas ...

, scattering system,

spectrometer A spectrometer () is a scientific instrument used to separate and measure spectral components of a physical phenomenon. Spectrometer is a broad term often used to describe instruments that measure a continuous variable of a phenomenon where the ...

, analyzers, surface profiler, electrochemical workstation,

fluorometer A fluorometer, fluorimeter or fluormeter is a device used to measure parameters of visible spectrum fluorescence: its intensity and wavelength distribution of emission spectrum after excitation by a certain spectrum of light. These parameters ar ...

calorimeter A calorimeter is an object used for calorimetry, or the process of measuring the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes as well as heat capacity. Differential scanning calorimeters, isothermal micro calorimeters, titration calorimete ...

rheometer A rheometer is a laboratory device used to measure the way in which a dense fluid (a liquid, suspension or slurry) flows in response to applied forces. It is used for those fluids which cannot be defined by a single value of viscosity and t ...

. INST also has a laboratory at

Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) are a group of premier public research institutions in India. The institutes were established by the Government of India through the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHR ...

. Sophisticated electron microscopes like SEM (Scanning electron microscope), TEM(Transmission electron microscope), AFM(Atomic Force microscope) belongs to high cost of bruker's company. Spectroscopies like UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, Photoluminescence Spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy. Diffractometers like XRD(x-ray diffractometer) and also equipments like Thermogravimetric analysis,Differential Thermogravimetric analysis.

Research

Institute of Nano Science and Technology covers basic research addressing the diverse aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The major thrust areas which INST intends to explore will be the following: Agricultural nanotechnology, sensors, medical nanotechnology, Quantum materials and device physics, nanotechnology based solutions for energy and environment, nano biotechnology.

Outreach programs

INST organizes a philanthropic program called "School adoption program", launched in May 2015. Under this program, it provides necessary infrastructure, technological information and incentives to government schools in India. The institution also takes part in government programs such as Swach Bharath,

Swasth Bharat Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana (PMASBY) is a healthcare programme launched in 2021 by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The programme was announced during the 2021 Union budget of India, with earmarked to improve the infrast ...

, and

Make in India Make in India is an initiative by the Government of India to create and encourage companies to develop, manufacture and assemble products made in India and incentivize dedicated investments into manufacturing. The policy approach was to crea ...

References