UPSIGN and UKRI will Organize Workshops to Foster New Networks of UK-Pakistani Scientists

UPSIGN and UKRI will organize Food Security, Healthcare, Clean Energy and Water workshops to create and foster new networks to uplift socio-economic conditions in the country and address UN SDGs.

UPSIGN and UKRI will Organize Workshops to Foster New Networks of UK-Pakistani Scientists

UPSIGN and UKRI will organize Food Security, Healthcare, Clean Energy and Water workshops to create and foster new networks to uplift socio-economic conditions in the country and address UN SDGs.

UK-Pakistan Science and Innovation Global Network (UPSIGN), has partnered with UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) to organize three development workshops in Pakistan from 9th to 12th March 2020.

Over 150 academics from the UK, and region traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan to take part in the workshops that are aimed at addressing sustainable development challenges linked to three thematic areas of (1) Food Security, Agriculture & Nutrition, (2) Affordable Healthcare, and (3) Clean and Affordable Energy and Clean Water in Pakistan as well as the region.

The activities will create and foster new relationships and develop new networks to address challenges aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while raise the standard of research and innovation in the country and bring socio-economic impact.

Before leaving for Pakistan, Professor Nicola Lowe, UKRI’s GCRF Challenge lead for Food Systems said in a press release that by joining with UPSIGN to deliver these workshops will open up marvelous possibilities for networking with Pakistani researchers and community groups to make real effect of science for social development”. 

Through the GCRF, UKRI allocated a total of £1.5b for research in partnership with low- and middle-income countries to address such challenges. UKRI is investing up to £200k (Pak Rs 40 million) on these workshops alone”.

The first workshop (March 9-10) will focus on the issues related to food security, sustainable food production, strategic planning to maximize dietary diversity and quality, issues to tackle the spread of diseases from livestock to humans (zoonotic disease), issue of antibiotics use. 

The second workshop (March 10-11) will focus on health, gender and Mental Health and reproductive health, issues experienced by children and adolescents and their impact in mental health. The workshop will also focus on biomaterials and regenerative medicine for developing low-cost healthcare solutions for the management of wounds and injuries. 

The third workshop (March 11-12) aims to focus on renewable energy planning, new technologies in the water and energy sector and the education and policy-making surrounding these initiatives.

Prof Jawwad Darr, Chairman UPSIGN Network, said, “UPSIGN team is dedicated to volunteer their efforts and proactive approach to facilitate British and other scientists to join hands with each other for mutual benefit of the UK, Pakistan and the SE Asia Region”.

Co-founder of UPSIGN, Dr Khalid Mahmood said, “more than 30 UK top research institutes and universities will take part in these workshops which itself is quite motivating.”

The workshops are also supported by a number of universities in the UK and Pakistan, the Faraday Institute, The British Council, Pakistan High Commission London, The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, COMSATS University Islamabad and Common Purpose, UK.