Indrani Balan Foundation | A step towards new science and innovation ! Indrani Balan Foundation donates 23 crore to create a facility at IISER Pune

Last updated Dec 2, 2021

Indrani Balan Foundation | A step towards new science and innovation ! Indrani Balan Foundation donates 23 crore to create a facility at IISER Pune — File photo

Pune : Policenama online – MoU for this creative gesture was signed between IISER and Indrani Balan Foundation recently at the hands of Prof. Jayant Udgaonkar, Director IISER and Mr. Punit Balan, Chief Trusty of Indrani Balan Foundation. Dr. Arvind Natu of IISER Pune, who is associated with the project since its Conceptualization and other IISER authorities were also present

Mr. Balan, Chief Trustee of Indrani Balan Foundation has been involved in philanthropic activities in the school and education sector. A young entrepreneur, he has been at the forefront in extending aid and support to various organizations in Maharashtra and has also recently constructed a school at Baramullah, Kashmir for Special Children. This is the first of its kind collaboration with the army and there are 5 schools of such kind that shall be established by the Indrani Balan Foundation in the near future in various parts of Kashmir.

IISER is a premium institute catering to the needs of training and research at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. Incorporation of research component at the undergraduate levels and training in interdisciplinary areas are the key features. It is involved in the state of the art cutting age research arenas at the global level. A highly motivated and dedicated science faculty is the strength of IISER

At the same it has also realized the importance of providing basic training facilities to the school and college teachers as well as students to give flavor of the modern science. In its outreach programs, wherein pedagogical and hands on the training well supported by the lectures of eminent scientists are organised as a routine activity. This dream was realized, when Mr. S Balan generously donated a basic facility to run the practical as well as theoretical training. Till today the center has catered to a large community of ~2 lakhs students and teachers. Two major public events were held viz. Children’s Day where more than 13,000 people visited and Jignyasa Science Exhibition where more than 22,000 people visited the Centre.

However, considering the growing needs of the society it was necessary to expand the activities of the Indrani Balan center in the years to come. As per the MoU mentioned above, Indrani Balan Foundation shall be supporting in establishing an 80,000 sq.ft. Hi-tech science centre to be completed over a period of 3 years. It will consist of Classroom of capacity 350 seats, Science Activity centre, Demonstration research lab, 72 seater seminar hall, 100 seater tutorial hall, Advanced Media centre and State of the art Library facility with separate Science exhibition hall.

This project will be completed in 3 years and will certainly prove to be a torch bearer for the next generation scientific manpower.

crub | What is scrub, how to do it and what’s it benefits, Know everything in detail