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| April 2, 2006 | Sunday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 3, 1427 |
Pakistan needs to improve science teaching
ISLAMABAD, April 1: Nobel Laureate Prof Charles Townes believes that Pakistan has outstanding scientists but its industrial development and science teaching are weak. Addressing a press conference along with another medical nuclear scientist Prof Ludwig Feinendegen at the conclusion of their week-long visit to Pakistan here on Saturday, Prof Townes emphasized the value of education for success of science.
“Science teaches how things worked and how human life could be improved. Your smart scientists must educate the young people in science and technology, but also improve salaries of teachers; students learning science subjects must be encouraged to establish contacts in different countries, and travel for improving their research abilities,” he said.
He said Pakistan’s political leadership understood these necessities and was very well occupied in establishing new universities and contacts with foreign centres of excellence.
Asked whether the 9/11 incident had closed the door of scientific knowledge on Asian countries, Prof Townes said the US was in a state of shock then, but it should now understand the requirements of modern countries.
However, he added, some scientists were very broad-minded in distribution of knowledge, and scientists share knowledge with each other. The important part is to make technology work for establishing good industries for which studies and encouragement of broad knowledge was essential. Science and technology need some time to lead up, Prof Townes observed.
In his turn, Prof L. Feinendegen praised the capacity and performance of Pakistani students, among 500 or more from 40+ countries who had the opportunity to meet more than a score of Nobel laureates at Lindau in Germany. They have proved to be good ambassadors of their country, the professor stated.
He said in his meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz he had been assured of the continuing support to this programme and more encouragement to Pakistani science students.
However, Frances Tones, 90, who has been married to Prof Townes since 60 years, stole the press conference.
“My impressions are very positive about this country,” she replied in response to a question. She said she had expected to see women only in burqas according to the images in the American media. But she has had a whale of time meeting women scientists here. As she put it, education of women is very important for the future of a country.
Women were discriminated against in the USA. Her two daughters who are professors and hold doctorate degrees find their way up blocked because of gender prejudice, she observed.
Ms Townes was most vocal in her disapproval of President George Bush who, she said, had made the US a hated country in Europe and the Middle East.
Earlier, PSF Chairman Dr N. M. Butt introduced the Nobel laureate professors. He said the Lindau-type meeting held in Pakistan had been very successful. A number of countries boast of hosting only one laureate. “We should be proud of having three of them visiting us,” Dr Butt said.
Our Reporter adds: A country which wants to excel in science, technology and engineering cannot afford to underestimate the role of mathematics in these areas, said Prof Dr J. Lewins, an eminent scientist of Britain and a professor of nuclear engineering at the Cambridge University.
Prof Lewins, who is presently on a visit to Air University, was speaking at the 9th national seminar on mathematics organized by the Pakistan Mathematical Society at the National Language Authority.
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