Centre for Advanced Training in Earth System Sciences and Climate (CAT ESSC)

The Centre for Advanced Training in Earth System Sciences and Climate (CAT-ESSC) started functioning from IITM during 2011. The main objective of the Centre is to create a large pool of trained and dedicated earth system and climate system scientists with in-depth hands-on expertise on individual physical processes of the land, ocean, atmosphere, biosphere and cryosphere with special emphasis on modeling. The aim is to go beyond the conventional training in individual systems and to address weather and climate as processes arising from interactions between the above component systems. Meritorious Masters in Science and Bachelors/Masters in Engineering degree holders are recruited and provided this induction training extending to eighteen months. On satisfactory completion of the training they are to be placed as ESSO scientist-B/C in any institute of the ESSO. The trainees are also given the option to pursue M.Tech. or/and Ph.D. before or after induction. For the program a new campus with self contained facilities for training and research is being developed in Pune.Hence, it is necessary to develop a campus exclusively for the CAT. It needs to be self-contained to meet all the long term demands of the training, trainees, faculty, visiting faculty and the staff.

a) Objectives:

1. To place the first batch of the trainees in institutes of ESSO who will complete the induction training in 2012-13. This will be continued in the subsequent years of the plan period.
2. To increase the intake of the trainees systematically to 60 nos as per requirements.
3. To complete the new campus for the Centre of Advanced Training with all the required facilities for the training and to locate all the training activities to be there.
4. To develop and implement an one-year training programme for the SAARC, BIMSTAC, and Indian Ocean Rim countries.
5. To complete recruitment of all the staff proposed in the program document.
6. To include different modules of advanced training at the induction, M.Tech. and Ph.D. levels to cover all aspects of earth system sciences and technology.
7. To enter into collaboration with institutions in the area at the national and international level for providing advanced training to the newly recruited trainees and for awarding degrees.

b) Participating Institutions:

Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune.

c) Implementation Plan:

1. The intake of trainees will be increased from the current 20 as per requirements with an aim to achieve the target of 60.
2. The campus development will be initiated with training, research, hostels, living quarters, guest houses and other facilities. However, in the beginning the CAT will start functioning by utilizing the existing facilities of IITM.
3. The faculty of IITM and other institutions will supplement the faculty requirements of the CAT.
4. The R&D programs will continue to be implemented jointly with IITM, other institutions of MoES and other centers at the national and international level.

d) Deliverables:

1. CAT will provide well trained scientific manpower for research in weather and climate to ESSO starting with 20 nos. and systematically increasing as per requirement.
2. World class training infrastructure for training at the induction level, MTech and PhD for the ESSO institutions and one year course for other countries will be developed with the necessary faculty and other facilities.
3. The faculty will take up R&D programmes independently, with IITM and other institutions.
4. CAT will establish linkages with leading national and international institutions for training and research.

e) Budget requirement : 300 crores

(Rs. In crores)