Presidency University heritage site to house school of data science & public policy
Times of India | 24 November 2024
Kolkata: The iconic Derozio Building of the Presidency University, formerly Presidency College, which is used by some of the oldest departments in the country like geology, statistics, chemistry, and economics, is soon to house an interdisciplinary school on new-age subjects focusing on data science and public policy. The school has been named after renowned scholar Nalini Kanta Brahma, who taught at Presidency College and was the head of the philosophy department in the 1940s.
The construction of the lightweight structure on the roof of the Derozio Building, aligned with the Baker Building and covering approximately 10,000 square feet, will begin by the year-end.Assembly Election ResultsSpot the difference: Shinde, Fadnavis and 'kissa kursi ka'How BJP bounced back from LS setback to achieve historic assembly wins'Maha' saffron wave, spectacular Soren show: 10 key takeaways"After surveying the area and examining the strength of the heritage building and the load it can endure, the lightweight construction has been planned. It will be a truss structure with zinc aluminium sheet," said an official.
According to the proposed plan of the Public Works Department (PWD), it will have four classrooms with occupancy of more than 40 students. "There will be two computer labs with desktops for each individual and other computer accessories, a department library, six faculty rooms, and the head of the department's office. The lightweight structure will also have facilities for disabled-friendly washrooms," said an official.
Octogenarian Rupendra Kumar Brahma, son of Nalini Kanta Brahma, has already contributed Rs 1.13 crore for the construction of the school. He has proposed to donate Rs 1.6 crore. "I want to see the Presidency University reaching new heights of academic excellence, and with the introduction of emerging areas of studies like data science, it can attract bright students. My only wish is that the newly constructed department will have an architecturally designed reception area with my father's photograph," said Brahma.
MaharashtraJharkhandMaharashtraAlliance ViewiParty ViewSeats: 288L + WMajority: 145BJP+227MVA49OTH12Leads + Wins: 288/288BJP+ WONJharkhandAlliance ViewiParty ViewSeats: 81L + WMajority: 41INDIA56NDA24OTH1Leads + Wins: 81/81INDIA WONSource: PValueUniversity sources said that the reception area has been designed as per Brahma's wish and it has been accepted by him. In an email to the dean of students, Brahma wrote, "I have received the design of the reception of the proposed school ‘Prof. Nalini Kanta Brahma School of Data Science & Public Policy' at Presidency University. The proposed architectural design of the reception area appears to be acceptable."
Presidency has an illustrious past and legacy — the geology department, established in 1892, is the first of its kind in the country; the 150-year-old chemistry department had Alexander Pedlar as its first faculty in 1874, and it was from that time chemistry came to be taught and studied in India. In 1889, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy joined the chemistry department and paved new ways of teaching and research. The statistics department, one of the oldest in the country and perhaps in Asia, started its UG course in 1944 under the guidance of P C Mahalanobis, one of the greatest statisticians in the world. The economics department also has a rich history as Sir Jehangir Cooverji Coyajee, a student of Caius College, Cambridge, was one of the first of the great teachers of the department, and his erudition and skill as a teacher helped to make Calcutta a leading Indian centre for economic study and research.
"Presidency has historically produced policymakers in the country. With the introduction of this unique combination of data science and public policy, we are setting our foot into a new realm of the academics of policy-making since these are the future areas of study. With outstanding faculty members in the fields of political science, sociology, economics, statistics, and mathematics, the school will be able to work jointly and enhance its studies and research opportunities," said registrar Debajyoti Konar.