IRC at North Bengal University (NBU) is one of such Centre started functioning from July 31, 1999 under the leadership of Prof. S. Mukherjee (Ex-Professor, NBU). Thereafter IRC DATA Centre was inaugurated by Prof. A. Basumajumdar, Vice-Chancellor, NBU on February 21, 2011. The computers, storage devices and Ups are supplied by IUCAA, Pune for the DATA centre. An MOU is signed by IUCAA, Pune and North Bengal University to carry forward the program.

Recently, the name of IRC is changed to IUCAA Centre for Astronomy Research and Development (ICARD) which is housed at Physics Department, NBU which is effective from 31st March, 2019. With this achievement, we hope that our department will soon turn into an active center for Astronomy research & development through Astronomy teaching, promoting research and getting involved in public outreach program. IUCAA set up total seventeen ICARD across India; ICARD NBU is one of them. IRC North Bengal University started functioning under the leadership of Prof. Sailojananda Mukherjee. IRC, NBU is already engaged in all these activities since last three decades and has a very active association with IUCAA. Being ICARD, this bonding will flourish with much enhanced Astronomy activities in West Bengal and North Eastern India.

Primary functions of the ICARDs

• To contribute to develop innovative teaching methods designed for Astronomy. This includes development of upto date course structures and new kinds of experiment/data analysis sessions which can be a part of a starting or existing Astronomy course in a University. They will try and inculcate distant learning programs and come up with suggestions as to how they can be implemented.
• To hold frequent workshops/schools/meetings at various levels at the host University/College and at nearby regions.
• To have an active public outreach program for Astronomy.
• To be visiting Centre where nearby Astronomers can visit.

Visitors Program

The ICARD, NBU has a vibrant visiting program. A number of College, university and institutes faculties visit ICARD, NBU for collaborative research work. A table is shown below :

Data Center Facilities

A Data Centre being set up by IUCAA in the year 2011.It provides the need for researchers in North Eastern part of India. A number of DATA Analysis Workshop at Introductory level and Advanced level has been organized. A number of hands on training on

• IRAF Software
• X-RAY Astronomy Software

Organized at IRC, NBU for the benefit of Faculties and Researchers of the North Bengal University, its affiliated colleges and the other North Eastern Universities including Jadavpur,Kolkata and IISET (formerly BESU). The facilities of the centre have been used up by thefollowing users:

• M.Sc. Students for their Project Work during 2012-16.
• Dr. Tamal Sarkar, HECRRC
• Dr. Pragati Pradhan, St. Joseph College, Darjeeling
• Ms. Arundhuti Raychoudhury, SMIT, Sikkim
• Mr. Binay Rai, Research Scholar, NBU, Physics

A Data Centre being set up by IUCAA in the year 2011.It provides the need for researchers in North Eastern part of India. A number of DATA Analysis Workshop at Introductory level and Advanced level has been organized. A number of hands on training on

• IRAF Software
• X-RAY Astronomy Software

Organized at IRC, NBU for the benefit of Faculties and Researchers of the North Bengal University, its affiliated colleges and the other North Eastern Universities including Jadavpur,Kolkata and IISET (formerly BESU). The facilities of the centre have been used up by thefollowing users:

• M.Sc. Students for their Project Work during 2012-16.
• Dr. Tamal Sarkar, HECRRC
• Dr. Pragati Pradhan, St. Joseph College, Darjeeling
• Ms. Arundhuti Raychoudhury, SMIT, Sikkim
• Mr. Binay Rai, Research Scholar, NBU, Physics

Research Areas at ICARD NBU

• Relativistic Cosmology
• Relativistic Astrophysics
• Compact Objects
• Data Analysis of X-RaySources and Pulsars
• Non-linear Dynamics
• Black holes and Wormholes

Outreach Program

• Eminent Astrophysicist Prof. J. V. Narlikar delivered a public talk on August 19, 2015 at conference Hall of the university at the Administrative building. Prof. Jayant Narlikar and Prof. M. Narlikar both have been felicitated by the university. This year being the Centenary year of the discovery of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity (GR) which revolutionized the understanding of our universe and matter around us, IRC took a number of programs, the public talk by Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, Emeritus Professor, IUCAA, Pune is one hof the first such program. Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor Professor Somnath Ghosh has inaugurated the program on 19.08.2015. The title of the public talk is "Searches for Life in Our Universe". About 250 students from different schools in and around Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling participated in the talk. A number of teachers from School, Colleges and NBU are also present. It was an active interactive session, at the end of the talk which brought out the encouragement and enthusiasm among all.
• One day IUCAA sponsored Workshop on Mathematical Aspects of General Relativity at Department of Mathematics, Salesian College, Siliguri on Aug. 22, 2014.
• Why Higgs Boson or God particle? On 27.02.2014 at ASC, NBU by Prof. B.C. Paul.
• Astronomy in India: Past and Present status on 20.03.2014 at ASC, NBU by Prof. B.C. Paul.
• Workshop on Advances in Physics and Astrophysics, Siliguri B.Ed College (October 13,2010).
• Workshop or Small Telescope making for school children (In association of North Bengal Science Center and IUCAA, Pune) on May 29-30,2009. There were twenty schools participated in making telescope and at the end the telescopes are handed over to the respective schools.
• Seminar on Non-linear Dynamics and Astrophysics, Dept. of Mathematics, NBU (October 9,2010).
• Prof. Ajit Kembhavi, Prof. Naresh Dadhich, Prof. Mangala Narlikar and Prof. J.V. Narlikar delivered public talks at NBU time to time.
• A number of programs taken to observe International year of Astronomy in 2009. Prof. Dipankar Bhattacharya, IUCAA, Pune delivered lectures.

A series of Lectures by IUCAA faculty Dr. Kanak Saha, have been organized by IRC, NBU at the following places :

• NBU on August 5, 2015.
• ABN Seal College, Coochbehar on August 11, 2015.
• Coochbehar College, Coochbehar on August 11, 2015.
• P.D. Womens College, Jalpaiguri on August 12, 2015.
• St. Joseph College, Darjeeling on August 13, 2015.