About Us
Program for Development of Skilled Manpower in Earth System Sciences (DESK)
For serving the nation in various researches, development and applications in the Earth System Sciences such as Weather and Climate, Forecast of Monsoon, Ocean services, monitoring and research on geo-cryo-polar sciences, development of technological advancement for observing atmosphere, ocean and other major branches of the earth systems, MoES and its centers require skilled manpower to readily undertake the responsibility on research, operational and observational fronts. With this mandate Program for Development of Skilled manpower in Earth System Sciences (DESK) has been launched to create a large pool of trained and dedicated multidisciplinary earth system and climate research manpower in the country with in-depth hands on expertise on individual physical processes of the land, ocean, atmosphere, biosphere and cryosphere with special emphasis on climate modeling.
DESK will act for developing skill for meeting the research and application requirements of MoES. The conventional university education in earth sciences requires further bridging of gaps between the various disciplines in order to develop skills among students to readily undertake the research and operational objectives of MoES centers and institutes. DESK will act as a centralized training facility through pooling of resources, infrastructure and faculties across all MoES institutes and academic units.
Objectives
Organize courses (of short, medium and intermediate duration) for training at basic as well as advanced level for scientists at all levels focusing on the research objectives of MoES institutions.
Organize and conduct the MoES Research Fellow Program (MRFP) with nationwide selection process, training for one-to-two semesters duration, allotment of research fellows to various MoES institutes.
Organize course (of short, medium duration) on specific or targeted areas for skilled manpower development within and outside MoES by conducting short term schools and workshops.
Project Details
The first batch of 17 Trainee Scientists of the Centre of Advanced Training in Earth System Sciences and Climate (CAT ESSC) started on 8th August 2011, the second batch of 18 Trainee Scientists started on 1st August 2012 and the third batch on 14th August 2013. In addition to the regular trainers, experts from Centres of excellence abroad and scientists from other Institutions and Universities including some retired scientists in India are invited as faculty to deliver on their respective areas of expertise.
Academic Activities
Keeping the highly specialized nature of atmospheric research in view, the IITM has vigorously pursued manpower development by way of providing guidance to post graduate and doctoral students, and by organizing specialized training programmes in different areas of Atmospheric Sciences. IITM is recognized by several Indian Universities for carrying out research work leading to the award of M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Atmospheric Sciences. IITM has been involved in scientific collaboration with universities and research organizations, both at the national and international levels. The scientists of the IITM contribute to the academic programmes of universities and Institutions by providing their expertise through lectures, guidance, and working as examiners, paper setters and Members of Board of Studies.
M.Tech. (Atmospheric Science) Programme of University of Pune
IITM has been conducting M.Tech. (Atmospheric Physics) course of the University of Pune since the first batch started in 1988. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Pune and the IITM was signed on 26th May 1999 for collaboration in teaching and research in Atmospheric Physics. The Institute has been actively involved in conducting M. Tech. (Atmospheric Physics) degree course of the University of Pune in collaboration with its Department of Physics and providing facilities of internship and research guidance to the students. IITM has been providing all the research facilities and guidance to the M.Tech. students of University of Pune,Andhra University Cochin University, S.V. University, etc. for their project work. Also, students of B.E. and M.Sc. of University of Pune have been provided research facilities and guidance for their project work. A good number of scientists who participated in the teaching programme of the M. Tech. (Atmospheric Physics) Course have been bestowed with the title “Adjunct Professor” of the Department of Physics, University of Pune, Pune.
The M. Tech. programme is renamed as M.Tech (Atmospheric Science) since 2004. University Management Council approved inclusion of the name of IITM in the M.Tech. result (Mark-List) from the 19th batch of the Academic Year 2007-2008. IITM has started scholarship of Rs.5000/- per month to each of the regular students M.Tech (Atmospheric Science) of the University of Pune from the Academic Year 2009-2010. IITM scientists contribute in the Teaching Programme of the M.Tech. IITM also provides research facilities and guidance to the students during their project work and internship.
Ph.D. Programme
The Ph.D. rules as notified from time to time on University’s website (www.unipune.ernet.in) regarding admission, seminars, registration, submission of synopsis and thesis etc. are followed for the Research Fellows and employees whose work place for Ph.D. is IITM.
In-House Training
During August 2006 to June 20011 four batches of the In-House Training, each Batch having two phases covering Basic and Advanced aspects of the Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences including Ocean Science have been conductedfor the Research Students and Young Scientists. Following topics have been covered in the Training:
Phase I
- Mathematics for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
- Physics and Chemistry of the Atmosphere
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics I
- General Circulation and Climate
- Computational Methods (Mathematical and Statistical Methods)
Phase II
- Statistical Techniques
- Observational Techniques
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics – Part II
- Numerical Methods and Modelling
- Large scale Air-Sea Interaction
From August 2011 the In-House Training programme is merged in to the CAT ESSC and, the Research Fellows and Young Scientists of the IITM attend the classes of the CAT-ESSC.
Distinguished Visiting Professor Programme
In addition to the regular activity of seminars by visiting experts Institute has initiated to arrange series of specialized lecture of scientists/professors from Centres of Excellence outside India by inviting them as Distinguished Visiting Professors.
Revision of Pre-PhD Syllabus for IITM JRFs
The syllabus for the two-semester Pre-PhD coursework for IITM JRFs has been revised by examining the syllabuses of training courses of IMD, IISc and IITM. As per the new syllabus, the first semester offers exclusive training (without research work) and the second semester offers partial training and partial research. The revision was carried out by a committee (Dr. V. Valsala, Dr. P. Mukhopadhyay and Dr. H.P. Borgaonkar as members) appointed by the Director, IITM. The revised syllabus has the following six core courses for the Semester-1 and eight courses for the Semester-2:
Semester-1 courses
C1- Dynamics of Atmosphere and Ocean-I
C2-Physical Meteorology and atmospheric thermodynamics
C3-Tropical Weather and Climate
C4-Climatology and General Circulation
C5-Mathematical Methods, Statistics and Computer Application
C6-Meteorological and Oceanographic Observations
Semester-2 courses
C1-Dynamics of Atmosphere and Oceans (Geophysical Fluid Dynamics)-II
C2- Large scale air-sea interaction
E1-Physical Meteorology-II (Cloud physics, aerosol physics, air pollution, atmospheric chemistry, upper atmosphere)
E2-Modelling of atmosphere and oceans (numerical methods, physical parameterizations, data assimilation methods)
E3-Climate Science, General Circulation, Monsoon Dynamics
E4-Advanced Statistics, mathematics and computer programming
E5-Satellite and Radar Meteorology
E6-High Performance Computing
Faculty
The committee has identified the following experts as faculty members for teaching the above mentioned courses.
From IITM
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Dr. P. Mukhopadyay
Dr. Suryachandra Rao
Dr. Vinu Valsala
Dr. Ramesh Vellore
Dr. Shivsai Dixit
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Dr. Anupam Hazra
Dr. Abhilash S.
Dr. G. Pandithurai
Dr. Thara Prbhakaran
Dr. Rajib Chattopadhyay
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Dr. C. Gnanaseelan
Dr. R.H. Kriplani
Dr. Ashwini Kulkarni
Dr. Anant Parekh
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From outside IITM
Ms. Sunitha Menon, IMD, Pune
Ms. Sathi Devi, MTI, IMD, Pune
Mr. Mohapatra, IMD, Delhi
Mr. M. Tandon, Pune
Dr. U. S. De, IITM (Retrd.)
Prof. Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland
