STAFF REPORT ISB: Highlighting the significance of scientific research in national development, a recently held training workshop emphasized upon researchers to keep themselves abreast with the latest developments in information technology, update their knowledge and enhance their professional skills as it would multiply their capacity, perfection, and refine their approach to handle their professional activities.
The five-day training workshop was organized by the Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre, (PASTIC), on “Scientific Research Tools” at the PASTIC National Centre, Quaid-e-Azam University Campus, Islamabad.
Main purpose of the event was to build the capacity of young researchers and to enhance their professional skills in data analysis, bibliography management, and preparation of dissertation and research papers through utilization of latest software tools (QIQQA, SPSS, LATEX, EndNote and R Language).
As many as 32 participants including faculty members and M.Phil, PhD research scholars from different science and technology universities of Islamabad were among the beneficiaries of the workshop.
In the inaugural session, Federal Secretary Science and Technology, Kamran Ali Qureshi, was the chief guest while Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation, Dr. Khalil Ahmed Ibupoto, and Vice Chancellor Quaid-e-Azam University, Dr Eatazaz Ahmad, were also present at the event.
Director General PASTIC, in his welcome address, highlighted that PASTIC is a gateway to wealth of scientific and technological (SandT) information across the country. It owns the privilege to be the pioneer in providing SandT information services to the Pakistani research community since its inception more than 50 years ago. Beside, PASTIC also imparts training on modern aspects of information handling and management by organizing workshops and trainings for researchers, scientists and information professionals for preparing them to meet the challenges of this digital age.
He further added that keeping in view the recent needs of research community, PASTIC is now launching a series of training workshops on use of ICT tools in research for searching, annotation, manuscript preparation and data analysis for young researchers which not only save time and effort of researchers but also bring quality output in the form of thesis and scientific publications.
Federal Secretary Kamran Ali Qureshi while talking to the audience said that although recent developments of information technology have revolutionized our lives, yet with the passage of time more and more new tools are developing, therefore, researcher should also keep abreast with these latest developments.
He highly appreciated the role of PASTIC for the capacity building and facilitation of the researchers in different areas of research, which would surely lead to economic, social and cultural progress, economic viability and defense capability.
Speaking at the occasion, Chairman PSF, Dr. Khalil Ahmed Ibupoto hoped that this training will contribute a lot in enhancing the skills and knowledge of researchers on the latest scientific research tools and will motivate the researchers to pursue their research works.
Vice Chancellor Quaid-e-Azam University, Dr Eatazaz Ahmad, emphasized that the need based trainings for improvement of the institutional performance are important to fill the gaps between availability of IT tools and their utility for promoting research culture in Pakistan.
He said that holding of such training sessions need to be continued future and suggested a stronger and effective coordination among the relevant departments and institutions so that the budding professionals and scholars could get necessary trainings. He offered his institutions maximum support in this regard and said that we as Pakistanis still need to do a lot to come at par with the developed nations of the world.