There is no story more fascinating than an account of development of science, especially Physical sciences and Technology. Physical sciences in general and Physics in particular has come a long way not only to unravel the mystery of nature but provide insight in to the principles and mechanism that govern a sustainable growth and development of Technology. In order to develop requisite skill and true scientific temper to handle problems and equip oneself with a comprehensive idea of the happenings in the domain of technology, each Engineering student is to undergo a two-semester courses, namely, Physics I and Electrical Engineering Materials (EEM). Keeping in view the need of the students, the course structure has been designed with due emphasis on latest topics in Optics, Electro Magnetism, Quantum Mechanics, Solid State Physics and Material Sciences.

ACADEMICS:
The Department of Physics has been offering significant contribution in quality teaching in the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER) both at B. Tech. and M. Tech. level. With as many as eighteen highly qualified faculty members, ably supported by a group of trained and experienced technical staff, the department has already earned reputation in academics and is all set to go for a planned academic roadmap of its own to attract genuine stakeholders including students, teachers and academicians from other departments of the Institute and other reputed Institutes in the state and abroad.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:
Besides imparting quality teaching at B. Tech. and M. Tech. level the faculty members have shown exemplary innovative research activities in various fields of Physics and Applied sciences as is evident from several publications to their credit in national and international Journal of high impact factor.

COLLABORATICVE RESEARCH ACTIVITY:
Some of the faculty members engage themselves with latest advanced research topics under collaborative research program with reputed institutions of learning such as Institute of Physics (IOP), Bhubaneswar, IMMT, Bhubaneswar, IIT, Kharagpur and some leading International institutes abroad.

THRUST AREAS OF RESEARCH:
The thrust areas of research both in theoretical and experimental fields are broadly as follows:-

Theoretical:
1. High Energy Physics, 2. Quantum Gravity, 3. Dilute Magnetic Semiconductors (DMS) 4. Bose- Einstein Condensation

Experimental:
1. High Temperature Superconductivity , 2. Spintronics, 3. Ceramics, 4. Multiferroics 5. Dilute Magnetic Semiconductors (DMS) 6. Semiconductor Devices

ADVANCED LAB ACTIVITIES:
Apart from two laboratories with latest equipments that cater to requirements of B. Tech. students, the department owns two advanced laboratories to ensure conducive environment and share excitement of research scholars in the field of experimental science.

(1) The semiconductor Research Lab has been providing a good platform for interested research scholars over the years to carry out computational and experimental work in the field of doped ZnO and Spintronics. A Project on "Preparation of oxide semiconductor thin films" sanctioned by CSIR, New Delhi, in collaboration with Department of Advance Material Characterization, IMMT, Bhubaneswar is in progress involving a group of research scholars.

(2) An Advanced Material Science Lab. has been set up recently with support and encouragement of University authorities, to provide academic support to M. Tech. students of Material Science and Technology and other departments of ITER. The Lab. in its infancy has already made a mark in steadily gravitating research scholars from other departments of ITER and neighboring institutes of the state as well. The objective of the laboratory is to synthesize, fabricate and characterize advance materials such as Multiferroics and Multi functional Applications/Devices.

INTERACTIVE ACADEMIC PROGRAM:
The conduct of interactive academic programs at regular intervals is yet another benchmark of the department. The two day National Workshop on Advance Material and Technology (NWAMT) sponsored by ITER, Bhubaneswar and DRDO, New Delhi and held during 22nd to 23rd April 2011, marked valuable deliberation by eminent academicians from reputed institutions like IOP Bhubaneswar, TIFR Mumbai, IIT Kharagpur, BARC, Mumbai. The response and feedback of the participants numbering sixty from different institutes and universities across the country is noteworthy.

VISION FOR NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAMME:
In keeping with the academic spirit of the University, the department envisaged in the past a full-fledged Post Graduate Program. Thanks to the initiative of the University authorities, the department is going to offer M. Tech. course in Material Science and Technology in the 2011 academic session.