June 06, 2022

DU Science Researchers: Worried Over New Lab Maintenance Charges

A A notification by the University Science Instrumentation Centre has got DU students and professors worried. According to reports, the University Science Instrumentation Centre has plans to charge lab maintenance fees for those using the lab facilities at USIC from the second week of June, 2022.

According to USIC sources, the charges range from Rs 150 per sample for electron microscope scanning to Rs 500 per hour for modulated differential scanning. Students and teachers at the DU were left unhappy with the move, with many of the students calling it unjust and unfair.

…since the establishment of USIC in 1984, no money has been charged for the instruments and the expenses have been covered by the funds released to the students’ supervisors and professors by the Universities Grant Commission (UGC) / Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)…

Students and teaching staff of the Science fraternity were shocked to learn about the new rates. It came to light when they were handed out the new rate cards, in the beginning of May, 2022. Speaking to the press, a PhD student said, “Since the establishment of USIC in 1984, no money has been charged for the instruments and the expenses have been covered by the funds released to the students’ supervisors and professors by the Universities Grant Commission (UGC)/Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).”

Speaking on anonymity, a third year Chemistry PhD student explained, “While doing research, we synthesise materials which require 15-20 hit trials to get the desired result, which further needs to be characterised with the help of instruments. If every single sample will cost us money, it will discourage us to do more trials, which will eventually produce low-quality results.”

Posted in News and tagged News, India, DU, Delhi University, Lab Rates, UGC, University Science Instrumentation Centre
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