The Foundation Series in Theoretical Physics organized at IMSc aimed at bridging the gap between coursework and research.
I recently participated in a week-long academic program - the Foundation Series in Theoretical Physics, organized by The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc) on its campus between 23 and 27 June 2025. The program aimed at bridging the gap between coursework at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and contemporary research. It brought together students and researchers to engage deeply with the elegant mathematics and powerful ideas that shape modern physics. Through a carefully curated series of lectures, discussions, and tutorials, the program introduced conceptual principles in theoretical physics. For me, the highlight was the opportunity to learn directly from experts in theoretical physics at IMSc.
The program followed a schedule that balanced depth and accessibility. Each morning began with a stimulating lecture by Prof TR Govindarajan on quantum mechanics, setting a high-energy tone for the day. As the day progressed, participants engaged with electrodynamics, with lectures led by Prof D Indumathi. In the latter part of the day, Prof R Rajesh navigated participants through the world of statistical mechanics, explaining how microscopic randomness gives rise to macroscopic order.
Prof TR Govindarajan, retired IMSc faculty, taught a module on quantum mechanics in the lecture series. (Photo: IMSc Media)
Prof Govindarajan began by tracing the roots of quantum mechanics from classical mechanics. From the laws of quantum mechanics, he guided participants through concepts such as equations of motion, simple harmonic oscillator, equation of a free particle using Lagrangian mechanics, and the action principle. His lectures delved into the symmetric properties of the Lagrangian, introduced group theory, and implications of the Schrödinger wave equation. Examples like the particle-in-a-box were explored in detail, along with a comparison between the Schrödinger and Heisenberg pictures of quantum mechanics. His deep dive into angular momentum and the concluding sessions on perturbation theories provided a rich understanding of quantum systems.
Prof D Indumathi from IMSc delivered lectures in electrodynamics, covering general and special relativity. (Photo: IMSc Media)
Prof Indumathi began with a comparison between Galilean relativity and Einstein's special relativity, laying the conceptual groundwork with clarity. From there, she guided participants through the consequences of special relativity, including time dilation, length contraction, and relativistic kinematics, making sure that we understood each principle mathematically. Her lectures connected theory to astronomical phenomena, discussing the aberration of starlight and the relativistic Doppler effect. Progressing into relativistic mechanics, she introduced the beautiful mathematical background of Minkowski space-time. She wrapped up her sessions with an insightful exploration of Maxwell's equations with relativistic formulation and their implications.
Prof R Rajesh from IMSc taught the statistical mechanics module, covering key concepts and introducing powerful computational methods. (Photo: IMSc Media)
Prof Rajesh began by emphasizing the role of statistical mechanics in understanding the behaviour of complex systems, laying the foundation with key concepts such as microstates, macrostates, and the various statistical ensembles. He also solved equations on how statistical reasoning governs thermodynamics and phase behavior. Going beyond the traditional chalk talk, he introduced powerful computational methods like Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations and tools like Mathematica. He gave participants a hands-on demonstration of how theoretical models work. His teaching encouraged students to view statistical mechanics as a versatile framework to study various phenomena in physics.
Prof Ajit Parameswaran from the International Centre in Theoretical Sciences, Bangalore delivered a special colloquium on ‘Gravitational Wave Astronomy: Today and Tomorrow’. (Photo: IMSc Media)
In addition to the core lectures, the program featured a talk on ‘Gravitational-Wave Astronomy: Today and Tomorrow’ by Prof Ajith Parameswaran from the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), Bangalore.
The schedule was designed such that lectures were combined with breaks for participants to discuss and reflect on what was taught. At the end of the lectures each day, research scholars and instructors led tutorial sessions, which provided an informal and interactive space where students could work through problems, clarify doubts, and explore concepts in greater detail. This was a rare chance for one-on-one discussions with students who are actively engaged in research.
Students pursuing advanced undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in and around Chennai attended the lecture series. (Photo: IMSc Media)
Stepping into the IMSc Foundation Series as an undergraduate student, I felt a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. I knew I loved science, but I often wondered how the concepts I studied in class translated to research. Research felt distant or only relevant to the later stages of education, but not at the undergraduate level. But my experience at the program changed that. I realized that research was much more than solving textbook problems. It involves asking questions, thinking deeply, and making connections between different conceptual ideas. Research felt exciting and something I could learn, step by step. It was also stimulating to learn alongside peers who shared the same interest and excitement for science. This experience has strengthened my determination to pursue postgraduate studies in physics and explore a lifelong journey in research.
The Foundation Series in Theoretical Physics 2025 lectures are available on the Matscience YouTube channel.
Divya M can be contacted at dmdivya2005 [at] gmail [dot] com.
