Chennai, Dec 1 (NationPress) The city of Chennai is set to become a pivotal location for scientific inquiry with the establishment of an Advanced Research Centre in Basic Sciences in Taramani, expected to be operational by the next academic year.

This new institute will operate as a comprehensive degree-granting research facility, providing postgraduate programs, PhD opportunities, and post-doctoral fellowships in essential science fields.

The government of Tamil Nadu has recently revealed plans to set up two cutting-edge research centers—one in Chennai and another in Coimbatore—as part of a broader initiative to enhance basic science education and research across the state.

This project is being developed with academic backing from prestigious national and international entities, including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai, and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy.

A senior official from the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education mentioned that discussions are ongoing to finalize partnerships with these institutions.

“The aim is to create centers dedicated entirely to advanced basic science research. We are looking into collaborations to ensure that the academic, research, and mentoring structures are on par with global standards,” the official stated.

The state has earmarked 5 acres in Taramani for the Chennai center and 20 acres near Bharathiar University for the Coimbatore facility. Both centers will provide postgraduate courses in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biological sciences.

Admissions will be determined through a thorough evaluation of students’ potential for scientific research, according to the official.

Students entering these programs will be awarded fellowships for their postgraduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral studies, akin to the models utilized by national research institutions.

Currently, around 30 major scientific research institutions operate throughout India, with Kerala and Odisha recently establishing similar centers.

Tamil Nadu aims to integrate into this ecosystem to enhance high-quality research and create new scientific job opportunities. The state government’s initiative comes in response to concerns regarding declining enrollment in basic science undergraduate courses like BSc Physics and BSc Mathematics.

To counter this trend, Tamil Nadu has devised a comprehensive strategy to rekindle interest in science. This includes specialized training for college faculty to make science education more engaging, residential coaching camps for undergraduate science students to assist them in preparing for entrance exams to national research institutions, and a thorough upgrade of laboratory facilities across colleges.

By fortifying the research pipeline from undergraduate education to advanced discovery, officials are optimistic that the new centers will help reposition Tamil Nadu as a premier hub for fundamental scientific research in the coming years.