IIT Hyderabad (IITH) inaugurated a new Department of Heritage Science and Technology (HST) on International Yoga Day, 2022. The department was inaugurated by Padma Bhushan Dr Vijay Bhatkar, best known as the father of India’s PARAM series supercomputers. The department also announced the starting of a new Online MTech in Heritage Science and Technology, starting August 2022, with three specializations, Science & technology of Yoga, Indian Language processing, and Conservation and reconstruction of heritage architecture.

“The department of HST allows the exploration of India’s scientific heritage. There is an acute need to undertake this exploration without any biases and in the true spirit of rigorous science. I am confident that the Department will excel in both academics and research facets in this new and upcoming area,” announcing the department, Prof B S Murty, Director, IITH, said.

The Online Master’s Program in Heritage Science and Technology will be offered in three specialisations that target distinct heritage industries - Technology for Yoga, Indic Language Processing and Conservation and Reconstruction. The course will be in online mode for 2 years, where the second year is exclusively earmarked for a thesis project with a focus on either research or product development. There is an option to exit at the end of 1st year (after course work) with a Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD) in HST. The highlight of the course is an in-campus in-person weekend workshop/hackathon at the end of each semester.