KARACHI, July 4: A seven-day National Chemistry Talent contest at the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi, was inaugurated here on Monday by the Vice-Chancellor, University of Karachi, Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui. The competition is being organized by the International Centre for Chemical Sciences (ICCS), University of Karachi, and National Core Group of Chemistry (NCGC), Higher Education Commission.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, pointed out that there appeared to be a race for professionalism in the country and the youngsters wanted to either become doctors and engineers or businessmen.
He was of the view that basic sciences such as physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology were being ignored and the students were not being fully made aware of these disciplines.
The vice-chancellor pointed out that the country needed good teachers who were well aware of the significance of their role and responsibilities.
He also called for the enforcement of aptitude tests at the higher secondary level so that the students could move forward on the basis of their natural abilities.
Dr Pirzada appreciated
the services being rendered by the faculty members of the ICCS.
Meanwhile, out of 51 students selected from various educational institutions in the country on the basis of merit, 45 are participating in the contest.
Of these the four successful contestant of this event will represent Pakistan in the 38th International Chemistry Olympiad in Seoul, South Korea, to be held in 2006.
According to the coordinator of the contest, Dr M. Khalid Khan, the event is an extension of the National Physics Talent contest launched by Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) in 1995.
He informed that the Higher Education Commission had recently approved the PIEAS’s proposal to extend this activity to Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics as well.
Dr Khan said that Pakistan would obtain full membership of the International Chemistry Olympiad at the 37th ICO in Taiwan this month.
He said that this would enable our country to send top four competitors to attend the 38th ICO in Seoul, Korea.
Dr Khan said that the event would comprise of different educational and leisure activities including presentations, written examination, chemistry quiz, practical activities, lectures on different chemical issues, visit to industries,
visit to PIA Planetarium
and the Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum.
The closing ceremony will be attended by HEC Chairman Prof Dr Attaur Rehman, prominent social workers Abdus Sattar Edhi and Begum Bilquis Edhi.—APP
