HYDERABAD: Scientists urged to apply new research techniques
Bureau Report
HYDERABAD, Sept 21: The former vice chancellor of the Karachi University, Professor (Dr) Syed Irtefaq Ali, has called upon the scientists of the country to turn to new research techniques used by the advanced countries.
He was speaking while inaugurating a four-day national seminar on ‘advances in plant sciences’, jointly organized by the Institute of Botany, University of Sindh, and the Pakistan Botanical Society in collaboration with the Pakistan Science Foundation here on Wednesday.
He stressed upon the scientists to acquire current knowledge to come up to the international level, so that students would benefit from them. He said that our scholars must contribute towards developing an up-to-date curriculum for students.
Professor Ali said that research was progressing all over the world and they had to conduct research on new topics.
He said that the Higher Education Commission was providing funds for research development at the right time.
He said that the scholars must attend national and international seminars, exchange views, research experiences and ideas with other international scientists.
He said that the university and college teachers must encourage students to ask questions in the classrooms.
Dr Ali appreciated efforts of the university vice chancellor for encouraging scholars to exchange ideas and views for the betterment of education.
He congratulated scholars of the botany institute for holding the seminar and inviting scholars from across Pakistan.
The eminent botanist, Dr K.M. Khan, in his speech lauded the services of Prof Ali and said that his work on flora of Pakistan had provided an opportunity to study its history.
The dean of natural sciences, Dr M.Y. Khuhawar, said that it was the policy of the university to promote advanced knowledge in various fields of study and collect ideas for the betterment of syllabi.
The director of the Botany Institute, Professor Dr Mohammad Tahir Rajput, said that the history of botany started in Sindh hundred years before the creation of Pakistan.
He said that Major Nathaniel Vicary, a good amateur botanist, came to Sindh in 1838 with his regiment and started collecting plants of this region.
Mr Vicary published an important treatise entitled ‘notes on the botany of Sindh’ later in 1847 which was printed by the Royal Asian Society of Bengal.
Dr Rajput said that in the same year of 1846, Mr Jafri, an English botanist, published ‘Botany of Sindh’ in the Journal of Natural History.
He said that the Sindh University had sent a mega project of Rs43.948 million for herbarium and Botanic Garden to the HEC for approval.
The dean faculty of science, University of Karachi, Dr Mohammad Qaisar, in his address on the ‘role of palynology in plant systematic’ said that the study of pollen grains was helpful in a range of scientific studies.
President of the Pakistan Botanical Society Dr Hidayatullah Abro, the secretary of the organizing committee, Dr Baseer Ahmed, Dr Syed Ali and Dr Mohammad Tahir Rajput also expressed their views on the occasion.
