Posted: April 15, 2008 |
Cambridge, IIT-Powai draw up exchange programme for nanotechnology research |
(Nanowerk News) Two of the most prestigious educational institutes in the world — the 800-year-old University of Cambridge and the Indian Institute of Technology -Powai that is in its golden jubilee year — signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday to facilitate future research collaborations and exchange of students and staff in the fields of nanoscience and technology.
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The programme aims to send 30 IIT - Powai students to Cambridge over a period of five years. This October, two students from the IIT will be chosen to pursue a one-year MPhil course at Cambridge through the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust. The programme will also include three-year PhDcourses. The funding for this agreement is about 8,00,000 pounds for a period of five years.
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Professor Alan Windle of the University of Cambridge who specialises in nanoscience and technology and their applications to nano-structured materials and devices, said: “Nanoscience and technology is an emerging and rapidly growing field. It is here to stay and probably grow even stronger. This is a good area to start such an exchange programme.”
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Describing it as a cross disciplinary project, Windle said that an exchange programme was the best way to link universities and to bring together research groups in both the universities.
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According to Director of IIT - Powai Ashok Misra, who goes to Trinity College in Cambridge as visiting faculty every year, the idea of starting such a programme was first initiated in 2003. “Collaboration with Cambridge is a landmark event for IIT - Powai especially because it is taking place in our golden jubilee year,” he said.
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It was the IIT's “long-standing reputation” as a premiere institution that prompted Cambridge to forge this exchange programme.
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“We have tried to make sure that it benefits both the institutes. Besides reaping the benefits of the academic programme, students from IIT- Bombay will realise that it is quite a cultural experience to stay in Cambridge,” Professor Windle said.
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Currently, IIT - Powai has over 50 students and 30 faculty members in the field of nanoscience and technology research while Cambridge has around 100 students across several disciplines.
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