Subhechcha Ganguly 
In the eastern Indian state of Odisha lies the city of Bhubaneswar, which is home to many prestigious educational institutions. Among these is the Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar, a research institute dedicated to the study of fundamental physics.
The institute was established in 1972 under the leadership of Dr. B. K. Patra, a renowned physicist and former director of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Initially, the institute focused on theoretical high-energy physics, but over the years, it has diversified its research interests to include areas such as condensed matter physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.
As the institute is one year short of celebrating Golden Jubilee, The interview time had the golden opportunity to meet the director of Institute of physics Dr. Karuna Kar Nanda. Affable, congenial and intelligent, Dr.Nanda spoke to us at length about the rapid strides the institution is making. Hailing from a village called Khat Khatia in Boudh district, Odisha, Dr. Nanda went on to earn laurel for himself by being a research scholar after graduating from Sambalpur University. His academic credentials are further augmented by doing in-depth research and published 250 to 300 journals.So much so that he went to country like Germany and Ireland for his higher studies in the early part of his career.
Dr. Nanda was assigned the responsibility of heading the team which would do research on future source of energy and climate change by the recently concluded G20 committee.Institute of Physics has been relentless in bridging the gap of excessive demand through in depth research. The efforts are quite palpable as faculty members are involved in basic research in all branches of physics. Some faculty members are working on catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide. One of the major focus ares and challenges is harvesting solar and hydrogen energy.
To research seamlessly, Institute of physics is well equipped with some of the advanced machines like 3MV accelerator which plays a pivotal role detecting the element in any matter.Apart from researching on the domain of physics, the faculty members also travel to different institutes across the statesto spread awareness on future source of energy and how to save energy through the science out reach programme.Today, the Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar is recognized as one of the leading research institutes in India, with a team of over 100 faculty members, scientists, and research scholars working on cutting-edge research in various fields of physics. The institute has state-of-the-art facilities, including a cyclotron, a synchrotron radiation source, and a high-performance computing center, which enable researchers to conduct advanced experiments and simulations.
One of the institute’s major research areas is high-energy physics, which involves the study of the smallest known particles and their interactions. The institute is a member of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) collaboration at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, and has made significant contributions to the discovery of the Higgs boson, a fundamental particle that gives other particles mass.
In addition to high-energy physics, the institute has also made significant contributions to the field of condensed matter physics, which studies the properties of materials at the atomic and molecular level. Researchers at the institute are currently studying the behavior of quantum materials, which have unique properties that could revolutionize electronics and computing.
The institute also has a strong focus on astrophysics and cosmology, which involves the study of the universe as a whole. Researchers at the institute are studying the properties of dark matter, a mysterious substance that makes up a large part of the universe, as well as the formation and evolution of galaxies.The Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar is not just a research institution; it also plays an important role in promoting science education and outreach in the community. The institute organizes public lectures, workshops, and summer schools for students and teachers to inspire interest in physics and scientific research.
With its world-class research facilities, talented researchers, and commitment to science education and outreach, the Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar is truly a gem among India’s scientific institutions.
