1996 - Annual Report

Abstract

Dr.R.Chidambaram, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Institute initiated discussions on what should be the Vision of the Department of Atomic Energy, its various units and allied Institutions for the next 25 years. The Institute took this opportunity to think about our own Vision for the Institute. A one day seminar Vision 2020 was organised on 19.4.96 to bring to focus our views on the shape of research in the Institute for the next few decades. It is planned that this focus will be further sharpened and emerge as the action plan for the Institute. We hope that the faculty of the Institute and the Executive Council will deliberate on this master plan and take appropriate decisions to enable the Institute play its role in the growth of national research in Mathematical Sciences.

The strong academic tradition of the Institute continues with active collaboration with the Universities and the IIT in Madras. Efforts are on to enter into a memorandum of understanding with IIT Madras for strong academic collaboration in disciplines of mutual interest. We expect to play in the coming years greater role in the teaching component of higher education to supplement and augment our research efforts.

During the year under review, the Indian Academy of Sciences(Bangalore) had its Annual meeting at Madras, from November 10-12.1995 and the Institute in association with other Institutions in Madras, such as IIT. Anna University. CLRI. SPIC Science Foundation and IGCAR Kalpakkam played the role of the local host to a galaxy of distinguished visitors. The Institute organised a symposium in Memory of Professor S.Chandrasekhar on Nov.17.1995 to recall his many faceted contributions. The Institute hosted a workshop on Spectral theories of Schrodinger Operators’ during December 4-14. 1995, in which there were about 25 participants including a few from abroad. The Institute hosted the 18th Conference of the Indian Association of General Relativity and Gravitation(IAGRG) held during Feb.15-17.1996.

Further, on January 3, 1996. the Foundation day of the Institute, the main lecture hall of the Institute was formally named as CHANDRASEKHAR HALL, recalling the fact that Professor Chandrasekhar inaugurated the Institute on this day 34 years ago.

This annual report has been completed through the efforts of a committee consisting of Profs. S.Nag, H.S.Sharatchandra. R.Sridhar. Dr.V.Arvind and Mr.K.S.Santhanagopalan; Mr.G.Venkatesan provided the necessary support. Mr.T.V.Vasudevan assisted in typesetting the annual report using LATeX.