About CBS

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the University of Mumbai jointly launched in September 2007 a Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (CBS) that will offer high-quality undergraduate teaching which is embedded in a postgraduate and research environment. CBS offers a five-year M.Sc. (Integrated) Program in the basic sciences for students who have completed 10+2 (or equivalent) schooling. A modern, flexible, integrated and seamless curriculum has been developed that places considerable emphasis on practical training and development of analytical and problem-solving skills in addition to formal learning. Some of the best teachers from University of Mumbai departments and UM-affiliated colleges, and from proximate partner institutions like Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and IIT Bombay have helped design courses and are participating in teaching activities of the Centre in the areas of physics, life sciences, mathematics, chemistry, and computer science. CBS is an autonomous institute and is governed by a Council chaired by Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy and co-chaired by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mumbai; other members of the Council include Directors of BARC, TIFR and IIT Bombay, and Joint Secretary (R&D) of DAE, Government of India. The complete list of Members of the Governing Council are available on this website. The Council has appointed Professor D. Mathur as the first Director of CBS and Professor S.M. Chitre as the first Chairperson of the CBS Academic Board.

 

CBS is a residential campus located in central Mumbai, arguably the most metropolitan and modern of India's cities, with suitable accommodation and boarding provided for all students. Besides intensive involvement in stimulating academic work, including field trips and project visits, CBS students will also have time for sports, cultural and other enriching activities

Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country, is known for its multi-cultural milieu, dynamism and rich scientific legacy. Besides science departments, the Kalina Campus houses departments in arts, languages and the humanities. The city boasts of some of the premier scientific and educational institutions of the country, such as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and IIT Bombay. Students joining UM-DAE CBS are nurtured within this rich cultural and scientific environment.

The permanent campus of UM-DAE CBS is being built in a beautiful area within the sprawling Kalina Campus of the University of Mumbai.

The Centre aims to eventually have about 1000 students, 150 faculty members and support staff. CBS will have state-of-the-art infrastructure including research laboratories, library and computer facilities; the Centre's buildings are in the process of being designed and are anticipated to be ready in 2009. Until then UM-DAE CBS will continue to function from temporary locations within Kalina campus.

UM-DAE CBS students will, upon graduation, be awarded the M.Sc. (Integrated) degree in one of the four subjects: mathematics, physics, chemistry and life sciences, by the 150-year old University of Mumbai. UM-DAE CBS will have a large variety of academic programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate education, including a vigorous doctoral programme.

To begin with, UM-DAE CBS will offer a 5-year M.Sc. (Integrated) Programme in basic sciences after 10+2 (or equivalent) schooling. The Centre will have major schools in mathematical, physical, chemical, and life sciences. The programme will have a balanced semester-based course structure with continuous assessment of students within a flexible, seamless curriculum that emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of science in the 21st century and promotes exploration, innovation and research, in keeping with one of the Centre's mandates: to help develop a pool of talented and motivated scientific personnel for the national research and development programmes pursued by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India