Acharya J. C. Bose founded the Institute in 1917, with the purpose of investigating fully "the many and ever opening problems of the nascent science which includes both life and non-life". Acharya Bose s early career included many marvelously inventive and pioneering experiments on electromagnetism which, in J. J. Thomson s words, marked "the dawn of the revival in India, of interest in researches in the Physical Sciences", and on the commonality of the response of plants and inorganic materials to electric and mechanical stimuli. Those early successes lay behind the stated purpose. Bose s successors remained true to that purpose. Dr. D. M. Bose and Dr. Biva Chowdhury made the first experimental recording of Meson tracks. He made further pioneering contributions on the susceptibility measurement of paramagnetic compounds. The institute was actively involved in pioneering discovery of Cholera Toxin and its role in the pathogenesis of Cholera by Prof. S. N. De. This led to breakthrough in understanding of the molecular mechanism of toxin-receptor interaction in microbial pathogenesis. Prof. B. B. Biswas and his group demonstrated multiplicity of RNAP from higher plant sources. His group also discovered the inositol phosphate cycle in plants. It is, therefore, not surprising to find our research activities today spanning a wide compass, a feature that makes us unique amongst all research institutes in India. The Institute s 600 staff and students mostly work out of two campuses in the city of Kolkata, which house its various academic departments and sections, together with a Library and other service units. The J.C. Bose Museum is a special attraction in the Main Campus. It houses a fine collection of the manuscripts, instruments etc. that record Bose s life and work; these are on permanent display. In addition, there are four special purpose Field Stations. In recent years the impact of scientific research is assessed on objective criteria e.g. Citation Index, impact factors, Peer Review. In an independent assessment of research activities in India by the National Information System for Sciences & Technology (NISSAT) of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the research work from Bose Institute was rated High impact in Biology and Biomedical research areas. The eminence attained by Bose Institute in multi-disciplinary scientific research is evident from the fact that during the last 10 years, 1115 research papers were published in peer reviewed national and international journals and 167 students from the institute were awarded Ph.D. degrees during the period. The high quality of research at the institute attracted more than an Extra-mural funding support of more than Rs. 30.00 Crores during the last 5 years (9th Five year Plan). The scientists have received recognition in their respective areas of specialization from national and international research organizations. Current faculty include two S. S. Bhatnagar awards; two Fellow of Indian National Science Academy; nine Fellow of National Academy of sciences; six Fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences. In addition, several research scientists have been awarded well known fellowships, such as Homi Bhabha Felloeship, nehru fellowship, Rockefellor Foundation Fellowship, K. S. Krishnan Fellowship and young scientists have received the DST, DBT and INSA's Young Scientist Awards. The prestigious Darshan Vigyan Samman, the DBT Young Women Bioscientist Award, and Pratima-Sucharu Samman for Women Scientist of the year 2001 have also been received by Bose Institute Scientists.