A Decadal History of IISER Mohali

Abstract

The dissertation tracks a decadal history (2007-17) of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, with an aim to study the trends of institutionalization of science education and research in contemporary India. Is there a perceptual mismatch between “science education” and “science research” in India? If so, how is it possible to arrive at a synthesis? How far has IISER Mohali been able to address the issue through its pedagogic praxis? The dissertation sets before itself three tasks. First, it lays out the terrain of the prevailing higher education ecosystem in India. An attempt is made to analyze the milieu that prompted a general discourse on the installation of science education and research infrastructures in contemporary times. Second, it tracks the factors that resulted in the foundation of the IISER system in various parts of India. Third, the dissertation conducts a case study of the current state of affairs at IISER Mohali to get a sense of the everyday life of the said system. It is shown how, over the last decade, the system navigated moments of hope and despondency, and could finally establish an endearing example in terms of its contributions to the development of human capital in the field of basic science.