Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore

The Abode of Brains

On the 25th day of July, 2014, I reached the Indian Institute of Science, as a BS (Basic Science) student, under their Under Graduate program. I joined the course through the KVPY channel.

Course Description

The BS course offered by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is a four year course, that aims towards introducing the students to an interdisciplinary approach towards science research. The four year course is completed in eight semesters, among which, in the first three semesters are used to build a fundamental foundation of the subjects Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics. Exposure to Humanities course is made, to make the education complete. In the fourth, fifth and sixth semesters, the students select a Major subject and a Minor to pursue. The seventh and eighth semesters are dedicated towards a project work. More details about the course can be found in the link.

Before I Could Call Myself a Student

On 25th, I came to IISc without a confirmation of admission. I had to wait in the UG office with an extremely tensed heart and held breathe, from 9.00 am to 12.00 am, to finally learn that I was selected for admission to the program. After finishing the payment and other formalities, I was allotted a hostel room to myself. I was both surprised and happy to learn that students get a room for their own usage and they do not have to share it with a room mate. It made me consider a possibility of having attached toilets, but as it appears, my hopes were extremely high. Nonetheless, in spite of the fact that the toilets are for common usage, they are extremely clean and well maintained (and they virtually don't stink at all!). Our mess facilities started from the 1st of August. Until then, we had to satisfy our palatial needs from the three restaurants operating in the campus, namely, Kabini, Nesara and Prakruthi. From 1st August, we could feed ourselves in the mess. The food, thankfully, is quite satisfactory.

Pictorial Tour

Entrance through a vista (without the windows, of course!)

The philosopher's walk

The main building

And he stands, gazing

The undergraduate area

The undergraduate area

The main lecture hall

The abode of the supercomputer, the WiFi epicentre!

The library

The hostel...

...and my corner in it

The toilets (for those who didn't believe me, when I said that they are surprisingly clean)

The hostel office

The mess

The in-campus feeding areas

Kabini

Prakruthi

Nesara (almost qualifies as a restaurant)

My bicycle (life in here is unimaginable, without it!)

An artificial bee hive, found in campus

And the bees in one of its frames! (Important declaration: The girl in the background in not a bee)

Dropping the swag

Overall, the IISc is one of the most beautiful educational institutions in India. Not only is it picturesque, it is a wonder from many perspectives. The people in here, are even more interesting than the institute. I am happy to be a part of it.

Expanding the Horizon (Too Cliché?)

My First Attempt at Teaching a Mass

Recently, I came across an opportunity to teach a class of junior and middle school students. I had to conduct two lectures, one on some basic Scientific Experiments, and the other on Communication and Speaking Skills. I do not know, what I was able to teach the students, but I learnt that management is a significantly difficult field and that teaching a class of kids is a serious threat to your larynx.

Scientific Experiments

My first class. It included some chemistry, physics and biology experiments. Below, is the experiment list:

Chemistry

• Filtration
• Diffusion
• Litmus Test

Physics

• Expansion of Solids
• Magnetic Lines of Forces
• Vibration Produces Sound

Biology

• Details of Microscope
• View of Onion Cells
• A Look into Pond Water
• Heart Muscles

The experiment table

Demonstration

Mud-water to filter

And, it's diffusing!

Can you see the slide?

Hey, there! Don't touch the plug!

Can you see it?

Soap is alkaline, ain't it?

And this, my friends, is how you spell Physics

This is something attractive!

 Come, gather around people

And this is how, we see the field lines

The magnetic field lines

Any questions?

And this, is what we call a tuning fork

Can you hear it?

Yeah, that's where your eye goes

Under the Microscope

Partially stained onion (to show the difference between stained and unstained slides)

Squamous epithelium

I really don't think this is an Amoeba

And, here goes, a beautiful Hydra (found in the pond water)

Communication and Speaking Skills

This is a class, that gave me a sore throat. And, while preparing to take the class, I discovered that I had lost my favorite shirt!

Well, it means...

And what asks you?

Among the mass

Close encounter

Posing!

Wrapping it up

As it turns out, teaching is a really interesting field. It is extremely tiring, but interesting, none the less. The one teaching often learns more then the ones taught. So, go around and teach any potential victim!