With a new director taking charge of the Indian Institute of Advanced Research (IIRA) in Gandhinagar, the research and education institute is set to witness foray into areas of forest degradation and ecosystem. According to Kailash Paliwal, director, IIRA, who specialises in these areas, the institute will be offering new courses in environmental management and climate mechanism in the near future.
"Having joined as the new director, I would like to bring in my expertise in forest degradation and ecosystem. To do that, while more research will be encouraged, we will also offer courses in environment management and climate mechanism," said Paliwal. Inaugurated in April 2006, the institute now offers research in areas like human health and diseases, bio-molecular medicine, cell biology, plant cell and molecular biology, and bioinformatics and structural biology. IIRA also promotes human resource development in the field of biology and biotechnology through teaching, training programmes, seminars and interactive meetings.
Recently, the institute began offering Master of Science in Plant Biotechnology and one year Post Graduate Diploma program in Bioinformatics in affiliation with Sardar Krushinagar Dantiwada Agriculture University.
Apart from initiating new courses, IIRA plans to establish Schools of Excellence and laboratories in "high priority areas of science" in phased manner. "In near future, we will also get in touch with the Gujarat government to work for joint projects," Paliwal added.