By Paras Ali
SINCE SCIENCE and technology are the most important parameters and essential tools for the development of any country in the modern times, we must concentrate on disseminating more knowledge to our youth so that noble laureates could be produced in Pakistan. Innovation in science is more likely to be done by young future scientists. Science and technology are the most important parameters and essential tools for the development of any country.
These were the very common remarks of the speakers who spoke during a recently held first one-day Winter Science Camp – 2012 here in Islamabad. The event was organized by the National Centre for Physics (NCP) in collaboration with the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF).
Over 400 students and their coordinators from Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) attended the event, which was aimed at developing science culture among the youth in Pakistan.
The camps day-long programme included thematic lectures, visit to scientific laboratories at NCP, group activities, display of model experiments on science and technology. PSF also organized an exhibition of SandT Models and Planetarium show for the students.
As in industrial countries, scientific, technological, and social specialists must work together, materials engineering needs to interact with biology, computer science with linguistics, medicine with sociology, and engineering with economics and the law.
“Only science and technology cant fulfil the needs of a society, a deep understanding of the nature and living in harmony with nature is the key to development of any nation and its peoples,” speakers expressed these remarks.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed, Chairman Board of Governor, National Center for Physics (NCP), and a renowned Pakistani scientist, emphasized the role of youth to develop science culture. He said, “Science brings knowledge, and technology makes it applied, youth is the future of Pakistan but unfortunately the country couldnt excel in science.”
He paid rich tributes to Pakistani Nobel laureate in Physics and one of the most distinguished names in the history of science Prof. Dr Abdus Salam, for the promotion of science culture in the country.
“Talent is not dependent on opportunities, the only key to success is knowledge, knowledge breeds more knowledge. Enthusiasm and obsession is required to achieve success, Dr. Salam worked 12 hours daily, that was his success key”, said Dr. Ashfaq.
Dr. Hamid Saleem, Director General, NCP, emphasized on young talent saying “Youth is our future; our aim is to create noble laureate in Pakistan”.
Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro, Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), said on the occasion that every individual have unique qualities, we just have to discover that quality and then we should pool their talent, that is the recipe of success.
Describing the role of PSF, he said, that it is the mandate of PSF to bridge senior scientists and our young future scientists so that the young talent will learn through seniors experiences and guidance.
“We dont have opportunities; our most of the nation is under privileged. We want to launch a collective platform to create awareness all across Pakistan for promotion of scientific and technological knowledge” to bridge the gap of industry and academia,” said Dr. Soomro.
The participants of the event were of the opinion that innovation comes from youth, and science culture can be built only by working all inclusive. The education system must, therefore, give students practice in understanding the systems, manipulating them, talking about them to one another, and envisioning the function from many viewpoints.
Talking with the Technology Times, the students termed it a great opportunity for them to interact with the senior scientists and to inculcate the importance of Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and allied subjects in pursuit of career selection.