As a Grade 11 student interested in research and teaching but not the rat-race intensive fields like AI/math-CS, what unconventional programs at premier institutes like IIT/IISc should I consider for a balanced academic life?
Both IIT Madras (IIT-M) and IISc Bangalore (IISc-B) are excellent choices for pursuing a research-oriented career. Since you are looking to avoid the ""rat race"" commonly associated with fields like AI, and are interested in something unique and impactful, here are some suggestions for alternative fields and how you can prepare for a research career in them:
To begin with, you have to first distinguish between the Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science) and Engineering Options (Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Science, Civil, Biotechnology). Fields like Data Science, or Environmental Engineering are interdisciplinary.
Some emerging and impactful research fields are:
1. Environmental Science and Sustainable Development
2. Biotechnology and Bioinformatics
3. Materials Science and Nanotechnology
4. Cognitive Science and Human-Computer Interaction
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