Student Activities

1. Students are sent every year to attend the Inter college Chemistry Quiz held at Presidency College. For the past nine years, St. Xavier’s Chemistry Department has acquired and maintained a position either as Champion or as First Runner Up
2. Students of all the 3 years attend Group Discussion classes which have recently been made compulsory and form a component of the CIA. They are divided into groups of four and are asked to choose a topic of current interest. The relevant references are provided by the Faculty
3. For the past three years, the Department has made an attempt to create a research awareness among undergraduate students by arranging visits to Institutes like CGCRI, IACS, Bose Institute and Jadavpur University
4. This year, a major activity of the Department was the celebration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, the renowned Chemist on 15th Nov. 2010. A one – day Seminar was organized, in collaboration with the SXCSA, with an audience of about 250. The resource persons were renowned scientists and teachers from Calcutta University, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science and IIT, Kharagpur.

Faculty Activities

1. Two minor Research Projects have been sanctioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST)
   
   Project Investigator : Dr. Sanjib Ganguly
   
   Titile/Main thrust area : Synthesis and Magnetic Properties of Polynuclear Complexes of higher Transition Elements.
   
   Project Investigator : Dr. Ankur Ray
   
   Apart from this, two of our Faculty members, Dr. Indranil Chakraborty and Mr. Rahul Sharma, are carrying out research at their parent Institutes (Jadavpur University and IACS Respectively.).
    
2. Prof. Rahul Sharma submitted his Ph.D thesis in July 2010
    
3. Dr. Indranil Chakraborty has submitted a project to DST on Nov. 22, 2010. The project is entitled “Systematic Studies on Interaction between polymers and biopolymers with surfactants in solution phase”

Requested Grant : Rs. 17 lakh

Syllabus

The syllabus was framed essentially along the lines of Calcutta University Chemistry syllabus, with relevant detailed study wherever necessary. Computational Chemistry was introduced in Semester VI. As part of the Practical programme, an endeavour was made to incorporate Analytical and Biochemistry at the introductory level in the 3rd Year, so that students can get a feel of the Applicative aspects. Certain detailed practical exercises were incorporated, especially in Semester V. Certain open – ended practical experiments were also included on a trial basis, with the aim of development of analytical ability of the student. Use of hazardous polluting chemicals was avoided as far as practicable. Both Faculty and outgoing students feel that the syllabus, in spite of being quite heavy, would provide students with the initial background knowledge for entrance tests in the various Institutes like IIT’s, TIFR, IACS, IISER etc, as well as specialized higher education.

Research Work / Publications

Two minor Research Projects have been sanctioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Project Investigator : Dr. Sanjib Ganguly
Title/ Main thrust area: Synthesis and Magnetic Properties of Polynuclear Complexes of higher Transition Elements.

Project Investigator: Dr. Ankur Ray
Title / Main Thrust Area: Synthesis of Cyclic Peptides using RCM (Ring Closing Metathesis)

Apart from this, two of our Faculty members, Dr. Indranil Chakraborty and Mr. Rahul Sharma, are carrying out research at their parent Institutes (Jadavpur University and IACS Respectively).

Teacher Student ratio

For Honours : 7 : 50 per semester
For Pass Course : 7: 100 per semester

Performance and Placement

First Batch (under Autonomy) -

About 80 % of the total class strength appeared for the IIT admission test (JAM). About 7 students are attending classes in IIT Kharagpur, Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai.

3 students have joined Delhi University.

About 4 students have been absorbed in ISM Dhanbad.

About 8 students have joined PG course at Jadavpur University.

About 5 students have opted for Biochemistry/Biotechnology under CU and 2 others are pursuing the same course at Bangalore.

About 5 students have joined PG course at Narendrapur (RKM).

About 3-4 students have joined Barasat University and 2 students are at Bardhaman University.

On the whole, about 95 % students are pursuing PG courses at Institutes and Universities all over India and abroad.