Siliguri, April 6: The Pune-based Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics has set up a data centre in North Bengal University. It has also signed an agreement with the varsity to improve the quality of research at the varsity.

“The data centre is not only meant for students of physics and astrophysics but is open to other students and research scholars from departments like zoology, anthropology and chemistry who are interested in utilising the data or storing data at the centre,” said Ajit Kembhavi, the director of the Pune-based centre here today.

Kembhavi was at the varsity to deliver a lecture, which was organised to announce the agreement that was signed between the two institutions last month.

The data centre will be used to store and analyse data that are recorded at different observatories. “The machine will receive data from observatories that are both terrestrial and space-based. The data may help us solve the mysteries of star formation and the black hole,” Kembhavi said.

The Pune-based centre is an autonomous institution set up by the UGC as a nodal agency for research, teaching and activities to popularise science.

University vice-chancellor Arunabha Basumajumdar, who presented a souvenir to Kembhavi, said NBU was mulling the opening of a department of astrophysics.

“There have been proposals from eminent experts to set up the department. We will try to establish it,” said Basumajumdar.