About School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Sustainability

The School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Sustainability (SiSAS) at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati has been established with a simple yet powerful belief that the most important concurrent challenges will not be resolved within the boundaries of a single discipline. Topics and issues of interest, such as climate change, sustainable development, water security, disaster resilience, intelligent systems, and advanced materials, do demand collaborative thinking and engagement and can accordingly catapult the generation of customized yet practical and feasible integrated solutions. The SiSAS has been created to provide such a platform that witnesses the integration of knowledge, innovation, and societal needs.

The school’s vision is to emerge as a globally respected academic node for transdisciplinary education, research, and innovation, which eventually can contribute meaningfully to a sustainable and resilient future. The SiSAS aims to build an academic and research environment that fosters interdisciplinary engagement among scientists, engineers, researchers, policymakers, and students. Consequently, practical and impactful solutions can be developed for society. The School believes that true innovation happens when diverse ideas and expertise intersect to address complex real-world problems in new and meaningful ways, creating a plethora of opportunities.

SiSAS integrates and harmonizes expertise across diverse disciplines in Environmental Studies, Sustainable Water Research, Intelligent Cyber-Physical Systems, Drone Technology, Disaster Management and Research, and Sustainable Polymers. Despite their diversity, these areas are closely connected and share a goal of advancing sustainability, technology, and human well-being. The needful integration of these domains into the SiSAS will prompt collaboration and can potentially yield innovative research, transformative technologies, and socially relevant outcomes.

The mission of the School is focused on academic excellence, interdisciplinary research, innovation, and societal impact. The SiSAS is committed to provide a dynamic learning environment that sustains and encourages curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and leadership. The School seeks to prepare future researchers and professionals who, while technically strong, also bear a responsibility for the prosperity of society and the environment.

The research culture at SiSAS is driven by the desire to create highly subjective research, which can be quite different from the conventional research paradigm. The School actively promotes collaborative research involving academia, industry, government agencies, and international partners. It aims to develop sustainable technologies, intelligent systems, advanced materials, and practical solutions. All these will contribute to the national development and global progress. Equally important is the School’s commitment to translate research into real-world applications for direct societal benefit.

At its core, the SiSAS affirms a forward-looking approach to education and research-one that values collaboration over isolation, innovation over convention, and sustainability over short-term progress. Through its inter- and trans-disciplinary vision and commitment to excellence, the School aspires to contribute towards the creation of a smarter, safer, and more sustainable future for future generations.