Signing Launches International Program

Photo by Ken Cole

On July 9 at APS headquarters in College Park, MD, APS and the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) agreed to begin a program that will sponsor exchanges of physicists between the US and India, at various career levels. Signing the memorandum of understanding are IUSSTF Executive Director Arabinda Mitra (left) and APS Executive Officer Judy Franz (right). Standing guard are Kamal Kant Dwivedi (left), Science and Technology Counselor at the Embassy of India in Washington, and Amy Flatten (right), APS Director of International Affairs. The IUSSTF was established in 2000 for the purpose of promoting Indo-US bilateral collaborations in science, technology, and related disciplines.

The APS-IUSSTF program is comprised of two components, one for professors and another for graduate students. At the faculty level, the program will fund physicists in India or the US wishing to visit overseas to teach short courses or provide a “physics lecture series” at a US or Indian university. Up to 3 awardees from each country (six total) will be selected each year, with each award being up to $4000.

At the student level, up to ten awardees will be selected each year.

The memorandum specifies a 7:3 ratio of US to Indian students, as the United States already hosts many graduate students from India, while far fewer US students have gained similar first-hand experience with India. Students will submit proposals for a visit in collaboration with their advisor as well as a professor at an institution in the host country. Awards will typically be in the $3000 range.

IUSSTF will fund the awards, whereas APS will defray operational costs, and provide staff to administer the program and manage the disbursement of funds. Program details will be available on the International Affairs page of the APS web site later this year.