Ashoka University today announced the setting up of a Science Advisory Council, chaired by Professor K VijayRaghavan, Former Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. The Council will advise the Vice-Chancellor on enhancing research, teaching and training in the Natural Sciences, Computer Science and Mathematics. The objective of this initiative is to build Ashoka University into a hub of scientific research and help stimulate research across India.

The university will also develop a meetings and workshop centre to bring in the best academics from India and abroad to conduct experimental and lecture workshops in diverse specialised subjects. These will be attended by students and researchers from all over India, particularly from universities and colleges where the research ecosystem needs strengthening. The Science Council will also help host Summer ‘Genius’ Programmes across the discipline of sciences for talented young students. With these and other related efforts, 

The council will also help build collaborations and forge partnerships with research institutions in order to raise resources to further enhance research capacity. Apart from this, the members of the council will advise the Vice-Chancellor on building innovative post-graduate programmes.

Founding members of the council include Rajesh Gopakumar, Senior Professor and Director, ICTS-TIFR Bangalore; Yamuna Krishnan, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Chicago; Priyamvada Natarajan, Professor of Astronomy & Physics at Yale University and Somak Raychaudhury, Director, IUCAA, Pune. Membership of the  ouncil is honorary. Ashoka University is also bringing in top senior, junior and non-resident faculty, visiting professors and research scholars from all across India and abroad.