Mohali institute marks 19th foundation day

The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, celebrated its 19th foundation day on Saturday with a day-long programme showcasing science, innovation and dialogue.

Founded in 2006 with the foundation stone laid by then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, IISER has grown into one of the country’s premier science institutes, nurturing talent and advancing cutting-edge research.

This year’s celebrations, coordinated by Dr Vishal Bhardwaj, featured an “Open Day” for nearly 500 school students and teachers from across the Tricity and neighbouring areas.

Visitors explored hands-on demonstrations in biology, physics, chemistry, archaeology and mathematics. From observing fruit fly life cycles and testing pH with cabbage extracts to witnessing oscillatory reactions and studying fossils, the exhibits offered an immersive introduction to the world of science.

Students also interacted with innovative technologies such as quartz-based biosensors.

A highlight of the open day was the interactive “ask a scientist” session, where school students posed questions to IISER faculty members. The three best questions were awarded, underlining the institute’s emphasis on encouraging curiosity and critical thinking.

Later in the evening, the foundation day lecture was delivered by Professor Vikram Mathews, Director of CMC Vellore, on the theme “Targeting AML metabolism: Strategies and challenges.” His talk included the remarkable success story of using arsenic trioxide in treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL).

The event was attended by Vini Mahajan, former Chief Secretary of Punjab, as guest of honour.

Professor Anil Kumar Tripathi, Director, IISER-Mohali, presented the annual progress report, outlining the institute’s achievements over the past year. The celebrations concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Sunil A Patil, Associate Dean of Research & Development.

As IISER enters its 20th year, the foundation day reaffirmed its mission of blending research excellence with outreach, inspiring young minds to pursue scientific discovery.