The Department of Physics, excelling as the pride of St. Stephens, being the first postgraduate department of the college, offers M. Sc. Physics with Advanced Electronics as specialization and B. Sc Physics as the core subject, Mathematics and Chemistry as Complementary subjects. The department started functioning on 16th September 1968 with the formal inauguration by the founder Bishop of the college. Prof. K.M. Mathew, the first head of the department, rendered the longest tenure of his service until promoted to the post of Principal in 1992. We are very proud to report that our former faculty member Rev. Fr. Luke Puthiyakunnel, had also served as the Principal of this college during 1982-92, which was the golden period of the institution. His Excellency Mar. Kurikose Kunnasserry, then Patron of the college and Bishop of the diocese, fulfilled his far-sighted ambition in 1995 by upgrading the department with a postgraduate course. It stands out as a prime centre of Physics and Computer education in the college, with a dedicated and committed performance.
Now the department has well experienced, dedicated and competent faculty . Students are scoring high marks in the university examinations under their guidance and are attaining covetable positions in India and abroad. Almost 100% of the postgraduates from the department are employed in various institutions in India and abroad. It is a matter of pride that His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakkattu, the Arch Bishop of Kottayam, is a prestigious alumnus of the department. Another prominent alumnus is Prof. Dr (Late) Alex Punnoose, a distinguished Professor at Boise State University, U.S.A. He was awarded the Cottrell College Science Award in 2003, constituted by the Research Corporation of America. A significant number of our alumni are placed in various multinational companies through campus recruitment drives. Some of our alumni are placed in institutes like NITs, various university departments and colleges across the country.
Physics association under the department conducts various group activities for students; it also conducts various seminars and workshops related to advanced topics in Physics. Apart from this, the association conducts an all-Kerala intercollegiate Physics Quiz to commemorate the memory of Prof. Celine K Joseph, who was a faculty member of the department from 1978 to 1996 and passed away in November 1996. This event has become a prestigious event at the college.
The department aims at a new generation with positive thinking, a rational outlook with scientific temper. We also aim to build a generation that can face the present-day global challenges with confidence.
The department delivers holistic education that includes sound learning, building up of character, spread truth and faith in God. It inculcates moral values, a sense of social commitment and dignity of labour among youth through value education programmes.
The ultimate aim of conducting UG and PG programs in physics is to impart interest and knowledge in the subject and develop scientific and research aptitude. We expect at least a few of them will contribute valuable research output in the future. These programs also aim to produce quality teachers at secondary and higher education levels.
Technology leaps forward with tremendous speed. This demands the urgent need for training our students in various technical and soft skills. Moreover, the speciality of Uzhavoor village is that many people are working abroad, mainly in the United States, the United Kingdom and the Gulf countries. These circumstances demand education and training in Advanced Electronics; the Rural and semi-urban society of Kerala faces the unavailability of skilled technicians for Electrical and Electronic equipment maintenance. Therefore, we started a career-oriented program in Electrical and Electronics equipment maintenance sponsored by the University grants commission.
Prof. Alexander had been an effective and sincere teacher loved and respected by his students and colleagues. He had served the institution since the inception of the college. He became the head of the department in 1992. His sound knowledge in the subject and the sense of humour kept the department lively until his retirement on 31- 03 1996. The department was elevated to a P.G. department during his period.
Late Prof. K.M. Mathew started his career in this college as the head of the department and he rendered the longest tenure of service in this post. He was the Principal of the college from 1992 to 1996. He had taken the necessary steps to begin the postgraduate programme in the department.
He began his teaching career in 1968. He had been very much loved and respected by the students and colleagues. He was the Principal of the college from 1983 to 1992. The curricular and co-curricular activities of the college flourished extensively during his tenure as the Principal.
He started his teaching career in 1972. He was the Head of the Department during 1996 - 97. As a native of Uzhavoor he was the part and parcel of the college from the very beginning.
Late Smt. Celine had been serving in the department since 1978. She was very sincere, dedicated and inspiring teacher loved and respected by the students and colleagues. The God Almighty had been pleased to take her away from us at the age of 40. She still lives in our heart with love and homage. To commemorate her memory, the physics association had started an All Kerala Intercollegiate Physics Quiz Competition and which became a prestigious program of our college.
Prof. C U Mary was the Head of the department from 1997 till her retirement in 2007. She had secured her M. Sc. degree from University of Kerala with first class
Prof. Cherian Thomas was the Head of the department from 2007 till his retirement in 2010. He had secured his M Sc degree from University of Kerala with first class and third rank in the university. He also secured M Phil from CUSAT in 1990 with first class.
Prof. K L Thomas was the Head of the department during the academic year 2010-11. He had secured his M Sc degree from University of Kerala with second class.
Prof. John Zachariah was the Head of the department from 2011 till his retirement in 2013. He had secured his M Sc degree from University of Kerala with first class.
Prof. James Kurian was a faculty member in the department from 1980 till his retirement in 2010. He had secured his M Sc degree from University of Kerala with second class.
Prof. Shaji Sebastian was the Head of the department during the academic year 2013-14. He had secured his M Sc degree from University of Kerala with first class. He also had secured M Phil degree from Mahatma Gandhi University in 2001 and M C A degree from IGNOU in 2008.
Prof Philipson C Philip was the Head of the department from 2014 to 2019. He had secured his M Sc degree from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore with first class. He also had secured M Phil degree from CUSAT in the year 1995.
The selected projects were presented.
The Golden Jubilee Memorial Lecture Series was started in the year 2018 on the occasion of Golden Jubilee of the department. Dr. Siby Thomas is an alumni of the department now working as Post Doctoral Research Associate, Colorado School of Mines, USA. He delivered the third lecture of the series titled From Atoms to Clean Energy Applications. Students and teachers from various colleges participated in the event.
The Silver Jubilee of the Department of Physics as a post-graduate department wascelebrated on 14th November 2020. It was conducted as an online meet. Students from all the 25 batches and their teachers shared their experiences. About 300 members participated in the event. The event was shared You Tube live. Golden Jubilee Memorial Lecture Series 22nd Prof. Celine K Joseph Memorial All Kerala Intercollegiate Quiz
The XXIV Prof. Celine K Joseph Memorial All Kerala Intercollegiate Physics Quiz was done online. Each team consisted of two members and the preliminary round was carried out through Google forms. A total of 46 teams from different colleges across Kerala participated in the event and five teams were shortlisted to the finals. The final session was conducted online using Google Meet and Dr. Deepu Joseph, Assistant Professor, Nirmalagiri College was the Quiz Master.
The results are listed as
1. Vinayak Sanil and Sone T Sunny - St. Stephen's College Uzhavoor
2. Sruthy K S and Vijayalakshmi V - Newman College Thodupuzha
3. Mathew James and Sreekant A - SB College Changanassery
4. Ashis jose Abraham and Ajay Jijo - SB College Changanassery
4. Hariprasad M and Aswath Kiran B R - SNDP Yogam Arts and Science College Pulpally
Ever-rolling trophies, certificates and cash prizes were distributed to the winners.
Results of essay writing competition held on 28 February 2021
Topic:Science Education during COVID - 19
First prize: Rs. 2000 & certificate : Anu Krishnan (Payyannur College - Payyannur )
Second prize: Rs.1000 & certificate: Riamol Reji (Government College for women,Trivandrum)
Third prize: Certificate: Devanarayanan TN (St. Stephen's College - Uzhavoor)
Project Presentation by M.Sc. Final year Students
Reflection 94 Alumni Meet of BSc Physics 1991-94 Batch
Golden Jubilee Memorial Lecture Series
22nd Prof. Celine K Joseph Memorial All Kerala Intercollegiate Quiz
AstroGaze 2020 Stargazing session
Science day celebration and Debate competition
20th Prof. Celine K Joseph memorial All Kerala Inter-Collegiate Physics Quiz Contest & Seminar presentation Competition
11th November 2016
Quiz Master: Dr. Jimmy Sebastian (S.H College,Thevara)
Winners:
St. Thomas College Pala (Quiz)
Devamatha College Kuravilangad (Seminar Presentation)
Association Inauguration on 8th September 2016
Resource Person: Dr. Binite Luckose (Jacobs University, Germany)
Project Presentation by M Sc students on 28th July 2016
19th Prof. Celine K Joseph Memorial All Kerala Intercollegiate Physics Quiz and Seminar Presentation Competition on 9th December 2015
UGC sponsored State Level Seminar on MATLAB & LABVIEW on 26-27 November 2015
Talk by Dr. Jidesh P, Asst Prof, NIT Surathkal
Talk by Dr. George James, Asso. Prof, Newman College, Thodupuzha
Talk by Mr. Vineeth MP, Asst Prof, Adi Sankara Institute, Kalady
Talk by Dr. Arun P Parameshwaran, Asst Prof, MIT Manipal
Birthday Celebration of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Students DayShort Presentation on Life of missile man
Quiz competition on Dr. Abdul Kalam as a scientist and technocrat Date: 15/10/15
Project Presentation by MSc II year students Date: 02/09/15
Workshop on Make your own LED Date: 19/09/15
Resource Person S Sankaram, Nirmala College
Association Inauguration and Welcome Day Celebrations
Guest Riju C Issac, MA College
Talk Title Inertial confinement fusion
Saavishkara Exhibition Date : February 2016
PSLV Still Model by III DC Physics students
Live Workshop LED Bulb Assembly Selected students from Association
Demonstration of teaching aids from e waste Alumni of the department
Electrical experiments and exhibition I DC Physics
Electronics experiments and exhibition II DC Physics
Optical experiments and exhibition MSc Physics