KARACHI: Freedom for research scientists urged: KU chemistry dept’s celebrations
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, May 28: While assigning great value to the scientific and technological uplift, speakers at an academic session observed that scientists of the country could mature to their highest potential only when they were allowed to work freely. They in particular highlighted the role of chemistry and personnel related to it in the betterment of industries and vitality for the societies overall and urged for more investment in the field of chemical sciences.
The academic session was organized by the chemistry department of the University of Karachi on Saturday, as part of its golden jubilee celebrations, on the campus.
The session, among others, was attended by the chairman of the Higher Education Commission and an old student of the department, Prof Dr Attaur Rehman, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr Pirzada Qasim.
Speaking before a large number of senior chemists and chemistry students coming from within the university and city colleges as well, the Director General of Biomedical and Genetic engineering division of KRL, Dr Qasim Mehdi discussed the progress and role of chemistry and called for more investments in this field.
He said that deluge like expansion of grants for higher education in the country was laudable, but it was still a long way to go as far as independence and creativity of scientists was concerned.
“Here the powerful baronial organization of the granting commission perpetuates fragmentation and favouritism. Very large sums are awarded to ‘centres of excellence’ in which the director can exert authority over what is done and who does it”, he added.
Dr Mehdi said that basic research had been the area of the individual investigator and would remain the lifeline of medicine and scientific research, but in Pakistan, even now, direction of research was vested in a relatively few people of “unproven scientific credentials”.
He was of the view that there existed conflicts within the science in the country, including the conflicts between the cultures of chemistry and big sciences versus little science, which could reduce our effectiveness.
Dr Mehdi added that the job of a scientist was to look for the reality and society should enable him or her accomplishing that job.
The HEC chairman highlighted the importance of science and technology and developments taking place under his leadership at the Higher Education Commission.
He referred to the increase of higher education budget during the last few years and hoped that a fund of about 11.7 billion would be made available to the HEC in the coming financial year.
The president of National Bank of Pakistan, Ali Raza, stressed the need of keeping education in top priorities.
A speaker coming from the University of Bahrain, Prof Saleem Akhtar, made scientific presentations on chemicals the people consume.
A post doctoral fellow at the Colorado State University, USA, Dr M Mahroof Tahir presented his research works on “chemistry of potential anti-diabetic Vanadium complexes”. Prof Iftikhar Imam Naqvi, chairman of the Chemistry department of KU, Dr Mahboob Mohammad, a former chairman of the chemistry department, Mazhar I Khan, also spoke at the session.
On the first day of the celebration on Friday, Dr Pirzada Qasim, while inaugurating the three-day celebrations, said that civilized societies never ignored its teachers and always held the educational institutions in high esteem.
A science exhibition was also held on Friday, while the vice-chancellor cut a big cake to mark the jubilation.
In the meantime, a group of teachers also held demonstration on the campus on Saturday to protest against the policies of the HEC.
KARACHI, May 28: While assigning great value to the scientific and technological uplift, speakers at an academic session observed that scientists of the country could mature to their highest potential only when they were allowed to work freely. They in particular highlighted the role of chemistry and personnel related to it in the betterment of industries and vitality for the societies overall and urged for more investment in the field of chemical sciences.
