The Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and the National Centre for Physics (NCP) held its first one-day Winter Science Camp at Quaid-i-AzamUniversity in which 340 students from 45 educational institutions across the country participated.
The camp was held to motivate and inspire the youth to adopt research careers in high grade science and technology, and educate them about the importance of physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology and allied subjects in pursuit of high tech research and development.
The programme included thematic lectures, visits to NCP’s scientific laboratories, group activities and display of model experiments on science and technology. PSF also organised an exhibition of SandT Models and a Planetarium show for students. The camp was attended by science students from the 14-21 years age group from educational institutions across Pakistan.
Renowned nuclear scientist and former planning commission advisor Dr Ishfaq Ahmad inaugurated the camp.
Addressing the inaugural session Dr Ishfaq called upon students to develop a passion for knowledge and transform that into technology for practical use.
He quoted the example of Noble Laureate Dr Abdul Salam, who studied at the JhangGovernmentCollege and then LahoreGovernmentCollege and was recognised around the world for his work. Dr Ishfaq said that Dr Salam in 1970s had suggested a yearly event for young scientists as a result of which the NathiagaliSummerCollege had been organised for the last 35 years.
PSF Chairman Dr Manzoor Soomro said, “Such events are very important for the foundation as they provide an opportunity to renowned scientists and the youth to gather at a platform and interact with each other.”
NCP Director General Dr Hamid Saleem said that NCP had been established on the lines of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics to promote research in physics and related disciplines, and to develop a scientific culture in the country.
NCP Collaborations and Academic Activities Director Dr Riffat Mahmmod Qureshi said the NCP had been organising different national and international scientific events every year in which a large number of young Pakistani students and researchers participated. He said the Winter Science Camp 2012 aimed at identifying competitive youth as nominees for the Asian Science Camp 2013.
