Cochin University of Science and Technology

[[File:Administrative Block , Cusat.jpg|thumb|Administrative office

|261x261px]]

thumb|Main gate of Cochin campus (CUSAT)|259x259px

Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) is a state government-owned autonomous university in Kochi, Kerala, India. It was founded in 1971 and has three campuses: two in Kochi (Kalamassery and Ernakulam) and one in Kuttanad, Alappuzha, inland.

The university was founded in 1971 as the University of Cochin through an act of the Kerala Legislature, which was the result of a campaign for postgraduate education in the state. It was renamed as Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in February 1986. Its goals are to promote undergraduate and postgraduate studies and advanced research in applied science, technology, industry, commerce, management and social sciences.

Admissions to both undergraduate and postgraduate courses are based on the Common Admission Test (CAT). Departmental Admission Tests (DAT) are conducted for some postgraduate courses. , the university has 29 Departments of study and research, offering graduate and post-graduate programmes across a wide spectrum of disciplines in Engineering, Science, Technology, Humanities, Law & Management. The university has academic links and exchange programmes with several institutions across the globe.

A new species of amphipod collected from the Cochin backwaters was named Victoriopisa cusatensis after the university in 2018.

The motto of the university is Tejasvinavadhithamastu, which is taken from the Vedas and conveys "May the wisdom accrued deify us both – the teacher and the taught - and percolate to the universe in its totality".thumb|right|Student Amenity Center|259x259px

Campuses

The university has three campuses: two are in Kochi, and one is at Pulinkunnu, Kuttanad, Alappuzha about 65 km south of Kochi in the state of Kerala.

Main (Thrikkakara) Campus

thumb|right|Guest House at Kalamassery

thumb|right|Seminar hall

thumb|right|Students Amenities Centre Inside View.

The main campus is off the National Highway 47 in South Kalamassery. The campus includes the School of Engineering (SOE Campus), Kunjali Marakkar School of Marine Engineering, School of Management Studies, various Science departments, and the School of Legal Studies.

Lakeside Campus

The Lakeside campus, about from the main campus, is set on Fine Arts Avenue in Cochin city on the waterfront of the estuary. It includes the School of Marine Sciences, School of Industrial Fisheries, Department of Physical Oceanography, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Chemical Oceanography, Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, and the Department of Marine Geology and Geophysics. The School of Marine Sciences library is one of the largest marine science libraries in Asia. The school also has a research vessel for coastal water studies, and has academic interactions with other universities and research institutes within and outside India.

Pulincunnu Campus

The Pulincunnu campus in Kuttanad, Alappuzha District is 65 km from the Main campus. It is home to the Cochin University College of Engineering, Kuttanad (CUCEK).

thumb|right|Signboard in the university showing different departments.

Science
Technology
Engineering
Environmental Studies
Humanities
Law
Marine Sciences
Medical Sciences and Technology
Social Sciences

Faculty of Science

Department of Physics

The Department of Physics of the Cochin University of Science and Technology was founded as the Department of Physics of the Ernakulam Centre of the University of Kerala in 1963 by Prof. K. Venkateswarlu. It is now a centre of excellence, well known within India and abroad for its contributions to teaching and research in both experimental and theoretical physics. Areas of interest include nanoscience and technology, optoelectronic devices, quantum computing, semiconductor devices, solar cells, holographic materials, high density storage batteries, astrobiology and quantum optics. Research is sponsored by agencies including UGC, AICTE, IUCAA, DST, DRDO, CSIR, IUAC, DAE, and KSCSTE. The department has extensive instrumentation, which is made available to outside users at a nominal charge.

The department offers postgraduate programmes leading to the degrees of MSc (Physics), M.Phil. (Physics) and PhD.

The Department of Physics conducts a science awareness programme in physics and the National Space Olympiad in association with the IUCAA Resource Centre, CUSAT and Edumithra Intellectual Services.

Faculty of Technology

Department of Electronics

The Department of Electronics was established in 1975. Research areas include microwave electronics, microprocessors, underwater acoustics, ocean electronics, microwave propagation antennas, microwave image processing, pattern recognition, microprocessor applications in signal processing and display devices. Research is sponsored by external agencies including the DST, ISRO, AICTE, DOE, DRDO, MOD and the state government. The department has international collaborations with Delft University (Netherlands), PolarizOne Corporation (Malaysia), University of Kent (UK) and University of Surrey (UK).

The department offers postgraduate programmes leading to the degrees of MSc (Electronics) and MTech (Electronics) with specializations in Microwave & Radar Electronics and Digital Electronics, and PhD.

The department conducts two national symposia as biennial events: the National Symposium on Antennas & Propagation (APSYM), and the Symposium on Ocean Electronics (SYMPOL).

Department of Instrumentation

The Department of Instrumentation was established in the year 1995 as an outgrowth of the University Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC), which offers instrumentation services including design and fabrication, glass blowing, and carpentry to science and technology departments of the university and external organizations. As an academic department, it now has research programmes in the areas of Instrumentation and Applied Physics, sponsored by external funding agencies including DST, DAE, UGC, AICTE, KSCSTE and TWAS. It also offers consultancy for the design and fabrication of experimental systems for teaching, research, calibration and industrial applications.

The department offers a four-year BTech (Bachelors) course in Instrumentation Technology, two-year MTech course in Instrumentation Technology and two-year MSc course in Instrumentation.

K N Madhusoodanan, professor of Department of Instrumentation was appointed vice-chancellor (VC) of CUSAT on 25 April 2019 by Governor P Sathasivam.

Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology

The Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology (P.S. & R.T.), established in 1971, is a pioneer in the areas of education and research in polymer science and engineering. Its BTech programme began in 1972, in collaboration with the Rubber Research Institute of India. It is funded by agencies including Nuffic (MHO, The Netherlands), Volkswagen Foundation (Germany), MHRD, AICTE, DRDO, DST, and UGC.

Department of Ship Technology

The Department of Ship Technology was founded in 1974 and is one of the pioneers in the field of Naval Architecture education in India. Its BTech programme in Naval Architecture and Ship Building began in 1975. The Naval Architecture programme is run in collaboration with the University of Rostock, Germany, and its graduates are in demand for positions in the shipbuilding industry, ship classification societies, R&D organisations, and the Indian Navy. The Ministry of Shipping (Government of India) approved the BTech course for the M.O.T. Certificate Examination, and the Indian Navy has recognised this department as a centre for the higher education of their officers.

The Society of Naval Architecture Students in the department publishes an annual Technical Magazine, SHIPSTECHNIC.

International School of Photonics

The International School of Photonics (ISP) was founded in 1995. Research activities include the design and fabrication of various laser systems and laser components, investigations of non-linear phenomena in different materials using photothermal, photoacoustic and related techniques, time- and space-resolved studies on laser-induced plasmas, design and characterization of fibre-optic sensors, fabrication and characterisation of polymer fibres, preparation and investigation of photonic materials and studies on photonics theory, sponsored by funding agencies including DST, AICTE and UGC. The University Grants Commission designated Cochin University of Science and Technology as a "University with Potential for Excellence in the Field of Lasers and Optoelectronics Sciences" in March 2002, and provided a grant of Rs. 5 crore that was used to establish a Centre of Excellence in Lasers and Optoelectronics Sciences (CELOS). The Centre later merged with the International School of Photonics.

The department offers postgraduate programmes leading to the degrees of MTech (Opto Electronics and Laser Technology) and PhD.

Department of Computer Applications

The Department of Computer Applications (DCA) was established in 1994. It offers a Masters in Computer Applications programme with the financial support of UGC and the Department of Electronics, Government of India. Research areas include information security, simulation and modelling, cryptography and coding theory, language computing, algorithms, pattern recognition, Web mining, applications of graph theory, image processing, data mining, networking and software engineering. The department also provide MSc Computer Science with Specialization in soft Computing from 2016. The aim is to prepare the students with both theoretical and practical foundation in soft computing. The curriculum includes exposure to the current technologies like Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, AI, Big Data Analytics etc.

Department of Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science (DCS) focuses on academic programs in Information Systems, but also includes research on high-speed computing, human-computer interactions, information security, networked embedded systems, natural language processing, software engineering, and very-large-scale integration. It was instrumental in establishing the university computer centre and the CUSAT Intranet.

The department offers postgraduate programmes leading to the degrees of MTech (Computer & Information Science), MTech (Software Engineering) and MTech (Computer Science with Specialization in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence), MSc Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence & Data Science) and PhD (Computer Science / Computer Engineering or Information Science).

Research laboratories include:

1. Artificial Intelligence & Computer Vision Laboratory (AICV)

2. Bioinformatics Laboratory (BI)

3. Cyber Physical Systems Laboratory (CPS)

4. Natural Language Processing Laboratory (NLP)

5. Software Engineering Laboratory (SEL)

Faculty of Engineering

School of Engineering, Thrikkakara

The School of Engineering was established in 1979 to offer part-time MTech programmes in the major disciplines of engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineering) for practising engineers in and around Cochin. In 1995 the School introduced BTech programmes in Civil engineering, Mechanical engineering, Electronics and Communication engineering, Computer Science & Engineering and Information technology. Safety and Fire Engineering was added in 1996 and Electrical & Electronics Engineering in 2003.

In 1981 the School added PhD programmes. , the School had produced 53 PhDs and over 250 candidates were registered as research students. External funding for research activities is provided by agencies including DST, the Central Water Commission, ISRO, AICTE, Coir Board, and the Kerala State Coir Corporation.

The BTech programmes offered by the school are accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) under the Tier-I system. The National Board of Accreditation (NBA) is a permanent signatory to the Washington Accord that sets standards for engineering undergraduate degrees in a number of countries.

Undergraduate BTech courses (student intake in parentheses)

Civil engineering (90)
Computer Science and Engineering (90)
Electrical and Electronics Engineering (60)
Electronics and Communication engineering (90)
Information technology (90)
Mechanical engineering (90)
Safety and Fire Engineering (60)

thumb|259x259px|Software Engineering block

Postgraduate MTech courses

Full Time

Information Technology (Software Systems) (18)
Computer Science and Engineering (Networking Systems) (18)
Civil Engineering (Geo-technical Engineering) (18)
Mechanical Engineering (Thermal Engineering) (18)
Electronics & Communications Engineering (Wireless Technology) (18)

Part Time

Civil Engineering (18)
Mechanical Engineering (18)
Chemical Engineering (18)
Electrical Engineering (18)

PhD programmes are available in all areas mentioned above.

Kunjali Marakkar School of Marine Engineering

The Kunjali Marakkar School of Marine Engineering offers a BTech programme in Marine Engineering. This is a full-time compulsory residential programme. Students wear Merchant navy Cadets' Uniform for classes. Physical training is compulsory for the cadets.

The intake for BTech Marine Engineering is 80 per year. In 2014, a full-time two-year MTech programme in Marine Engineering (80 students) was added. The School also provides short term courses in an Engine Room Simulator for students preparing for competitive examinations conducted by the Directorate General of Shipping.

Cochin University College of Engineering, Kuttanad

The Cochin University College of Engineering, Kuttanad was established in 1999 and is owned by the Cochin University of Science and Technology. It is situated in a 42-acre campus in Pulincunnoo, Kuttanad, about 75 km away from the main campus at Thrikkakara. It is the only campus of CUSAT that is outside the Ernakulam District. BTech programmes are offered in: The focus is towards integrated knowledge acquisition and upgrading human skill towards creating a new league of employable youth. Teaching and training methodology of courses offered under DDUKK are designed accordingly.

DDUKK was originally established with Dr. Zakkariaya K.A (Professor, School of Management Studies, CUSAT) as the founder director in the year 2015.

Courses offered:

1. M.Voc in Technology and Management Consultancy

2. M.Voc in Mobile Phone Application Development

3. B.Voc in Business Process and Data Analytics

Faculty of Marine Sciences

School of Industrial Fisheries

The Department of Industrial Fisheries was established in 1976 and upgraded to a school in 1995 to recognize its academic and scientific achievements. It has five divisions:

Aquaculture and Capture Fisheries
Fishing Technology
Fish Processing Technology
Fisheries Economics
Fisheries Management.

Department of Atmospheric Sciences

thumb|326x326px|Advanced Center for Atmospheric Radar Research at CUSAT

The Department of Atmospheric Sciences is a centre of excellence in teaching and research in the field of Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences. It is located in the Lakeside Campus of the Cochin University of Science and Technology.

The department was identified by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as one of the Centres of Excellence for the Government of India's New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) on mesoscale modelling for monsoon-related predictions, along with other premier centres such as the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi; the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune; the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai; C- MMACS, Bangalore and the National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore.

The department offers post-graduate coursework leading to the degrees of MSc (Meteorology) and MTech (Atmospheric Science).

Department of Chemical Oceanography

The Department of Chemical Oceanography focuses on teaching and research on the chemistry of aquatic systems. This is a core discipline for research across the various disciplines of marine sciences.

Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry

The Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry is one of the foremost academic centres in marine biology in the country. It was founded in 1938 and immediately established a research programme. Over 100 PhD students have graduated from the department.

The department offers post-graduate coursework leading to the degrees of MSc (Marine Biology) and M. Phil.(Life Sciences).

Researchers from the department named a new species after the university, Victoriopisa cusatensis

Centres

Centre for Science in Society

The Centre for Science in Society (C-SIS) was established in 1991 with partial financial assistance from Cochin Refineries Limited. The Centre aims to make science and technology more accessible to children. The government of Kerala has approved C-SIS as a training centre for high school science teachers under the "Sastraposini" Programme.

The Science and Technology Park of C-SIS includes a Space Pavilion donated by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) that includes models of their space rockets and of the lunar probe Chandrayaan, and videos of rocket launches from Sriharikota. Students can see demonstrations of trajectory monitoring and error correction in the process of satellite launching. The park also includes an electronics exhibit from the U.S based (IEEE) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 'E –Scientia'.

Sophisticated Test and Instrumentation Centre

The Sophisticated Test and Instrumentation Centre (STIC) is a joint venture of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) and Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT). Its goals are to provide advanced instrument facilities for analysis testing, measurement, and calibration to users from industries, academic institutions, and R&D establishments; develop novel instruments in areas relevant to industries in the State; and offer training in the operation of these instruments for industry and academic institutions.

National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health

The National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health (NCAAH) was formerly the Centre for Fish Disease Diagnosis and Management. It is situated in the Lakeside Campus of the university. The centre was established in 2000 to support aquatic farmers in protecting the health of growing stocks. It includes research laboratories in bacteriology, virology, animal tissue culture, immunology, genomics, proteomics, fermentation, and bioassays. The centre offers an MTech programme in Marine Biotechnology sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology of the Government of India.

The Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP) was founded in 2009. It performs research into social exclusion, focusing on digital exclusion, housing and basic amenities exclusion, socio-cultural and structural determinants of exclusion, spatial exclusion, and demographic dimensions of exclusion.

Women's Studies Centre

The Women's Studies Centre (WSC) was started in 2010 with financial assistance from the University Grants Commission with a view to build up Women's capacity for empowerment. Since then the centre has been striving hard to achieve the goals. The centre has conducted numerous seminars and outreach programmes.

Inter University Centre for IPR Studies

Inter University Centre for IPR Studies (IUCIPRS) is an autonomous institution established by the Department of Higher Education of the Government of Kerala, within the Cochin University of Science and Technology. It was founded in 2003 to encourage multidisciplinary teaching and research in the area of intellectual property rights.

IUCIPRS's governing council consists of 12 members with the Minister for Education and Culture, Government of Kerala as chair and the Vice-Chancellor of CUSAT as vice-chair.

International Centre for Economic Policy and Analysis

The International Centre for Economic Policy and Analysis (ICEPA) emerged from international collaborations led by the Department of Applied Economics in the 1990s and 2000s. ICEPA was established in 2004 to focus on the analysis of economic issues and develop guidelines for policy decisions. The Centre collaborates with national and international NGO's as well as with industries and governments.

The centre has performed studies relating to the World Bank, the European Union, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the Development Research Institute of The Netherlands, the Tilburg University, the Ministries of Agriculture and of Plantation (Government of India), and the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation Ltd.

Tech Fest Incident in 2023

The CUSAT stampede was a fatal incident that occurred on 25 November 2023, at the CUSAT in Kochi, Kerala. Four students died and 64 others were injured when a crowd of people tried to enter an open-air auditorium where a concert by singer Nikhita Gandhi was about to begin, as part of the university's annual tech festival 'Dhishna'. The concert was organized in collaboration with Realme, a smartphone brand. The stampede was triggered by a sudden rain and a lack of proper crowd management, as only those with passes and 'Dhishna' T-shirts were allowed inside the auditorium, which had a single entrance/exit gate.

Notable alumni

Ameer Shahul, Author and environmentalist
Sunil Thomas, Honorable Judge, High court of Kerala
Mary Joseph, Honorable Judge, High court of Kerala
Tom Jose, Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala
Appu Krishnan, musician
Roshan Mathew, actor
B. Ravi Pillai, industrialist, business tycoon
Shanker Ramakrishnan, director
Roopesh, Maoist Leader
Sabu Thomas, Vice chancellor, MG University, Kottayam
Roxy Mathew Koll, Climate Scientist
Madhu Vasudevan, professor, lyricist
Binoy Viswam, Politician, ex-member of Parliament, Former Forest & Wildlife Minister.
Sebastian Paul, Politician
Ashiq Usman, film producer, actor

References

[https://cusat.ac.in/dept.php?deptcode=sms]<nowiki/>