IISc AANA Sponsored Initiatives

Initiative 1: Prof R Kumar (Chemical Engineering fund)

The Chemical Engineering Department is celebrating 75 years of its founding this year. It is a matter of immense pride that the department established early on a culture of quality research and an enabling atmosphere for everyone. The years spent at the institute by students leave a mark on their professional capabilities, something widely appreciated and sought after in the community.  

Prof. R. Kumar, a distinguished chemical engineer and recipient of the Padma Bhushan, passed away in February 2022.  His outstanding contributions and visionary leadership have shaped the department in innumerable ways and brought it the stature that it enjoys today. The Department is keen to carry his legacy forward.  

Prof. Kumar envisioned internationalisation as a necessary next step in the Department’s growth. In keeping with this vision, the Department wishes to initiate a campaign for fundraising in the name of Prof Kumar.

Initiative 2: Notebook drive

NoteBook Drive, IISc (NBD) is a student-run voluntary organization of IISc working towards improving quality of education in underprivileged government schools in and around Bangalore. The motive of NBD is to facilitate learning by exposing school children to the joy of discovery, and also to provide basic infrastructure wherever possible and necessary.

In 2002, a group of IISc students decided to do their bit, and NBD started with notebook distribution in a single government school inside the IISc campus. Dedicated efforts by volunteers over more than a decade have enabled NBD to spread its wings into a multitude of activities. NBD now covers 35 government schools, and is spurring initiatives such as Notebook Distribution to primary and higher primary schools, Scholarship initiative for students to continue their higher education beyond SSLC, English-Computer-Maths-Science classes and Children’s day celebration to enhance students’ abilities in different aspects, Career guidance, Free Eye-camps, Teachers Training Program, and much more.

Initiative 3: UG Women Fellowship fund

Establishment of women fellowships for undergraduate students pursuing Bachelor of Science program at IISc. This scholarship will support the supernumerary seats for women students in the prestigious IISc UG program.

The fellowship aims to encourage women in Science and Technology by awarding undergraduate students pursuing Bachelor of Science programs at IISc and address the problem of gender imbalance in the higher education space.

Initiative 4: IISc Pravega – Science and Cultural fest

Pravega is the undergraduate fest of IISc, featuring exemplary events in Science, Technology, and Culture. This year marks the 10th edition of Pravega, giving us all the more motivation to make this] edition the most memorable Pravega ever. Pravega sees exemplary participation in its quizzes, stunning cultural competitions, and stellar concerts.

Know more at:https://www.pravega.org/

Initiative 5: AANA IISc BTech Fellowship Fund:

New BTech Programs(Promoting Research) at IISc (Starting AY 2026-27)

Building on the success of the BTech in Mathematics & Computing launched in 2022, IISc is introducing three new interdisciplinary programs designed to lead futuristic technological innovations:

• BTech in Aerospace Science & Engineering: Focuses on aerodynamics, propulsion, and control with experiential “Design, Build, and Fly” learning.
• BTech in Materials Science & Engineering: Trains leaders for the materials revolution through structural, functional, and computational thematic tracks.
• BTech in Mechanics & Computing: A modern program integrating mechanics with computation to innovate in robotics, energy, and mechanobiology.

Each program features an annual intake of approximately 28 students and offers a provision for students to advance to an MTech degree.

The Impact of Fellowships

The AANA (Alumni Association of North America) and other donors have already made a significant impact on undergraduate students at IISc. Existing fellowship schemes have:

• Encouraged Women in STEM: Increased the enrollment of women students by providing financial incentives and confidence-building endorsements.
• Recognized Merit: Acknowledged the achievements of students from small towns who have overcome significant challenges to excel in exams like the JEE.
• Enabled Future Studies: Reduced financial hardship, allowing students to save for advanced degrees like an MTech.
  

How Alumni Can Support (Starting AY 2026)

To attract top talent, IISc plans to initiate new fellowships for the 2026 undergraduate batch. Alumni can contribute through the following models:

• Named Endowment (₹ 45 Lakhs / $50k): Establishes a perpetual endowment named after the donor. The interest covers a 100% tuition fee waiver for one student every year.
• Four-Year Fellowship (Min. ₹ 8.5 Lakhs): Supports one student for the entire duration of their program and can be named after the donor.
• Pooled Support Fund: Contributions of any size to a general fund that provides merit-based financial support (35%, 65%, or 100% of tuition) or support based on family income.
  

Tax Benefits and Donation Process

Employer Matching: Support is available through platforms like Benevity for matching contributions from employers in both India and the USA.

Donate now through Network For Good: https://iisc-foundation.networkforgood.com/projects/298626-btech-programs-promoting-research-starting-ay-2026-27

In the USA: Alumni can donate through the IISc Foundation, a tax-exempt 501(c)3 non-profit.

Why IISc?

Global trends indicate the future of healthcare depends on the convergence of diverse areas, including Genomic Science, Bioimaging, Nanotechnology, and AI/ML.IISc is a leader that has expertise in all these areas of study. Hence IISc is uniquely positioned to pioneer interdisciplinary clinical research of the kind envisaged in India.

About IISc

IISc, being a premier research institute in India for over 110 years, has 45 research departments & centres, producing over 2902 PhDs and over 56,456 research papers, over 537 faculty and 100/100 citations per faculty, provides an ample opportunity for engaging on many initiatives