ISLAMABAD: Use of space technology and its application will be promoted for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) adopted by member states of the United Nations.

This was highlighted by Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) Chairman Maj Gen Amer Nadeem on Monday while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the third International Conference on Space – 2022, the theme of which was ‘Role of Space Technology and Applications in Socio-Economic Development’.

The conference was organised by the commission in cooperation with Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (APSCO), Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) and Inter Islamic Network on Space Sciences and Technology (ISNET).

Maj Gen Nadeem said currently, technology was not only assisting in determining new and alternate ways to save and reproduce depleting resources but also suggesting their effective utilisation, adding that space technology also contributed significantly towards confronting countless challenges in the fields of climate change, resource monitoring, disaster management and mitigation, health and education.

“Suparco has completed numerous important projects in Pakistan and a few other countries related to agricultural monitoring, disaster management, forest estimation and monitoring, environment and GIS-based governance/planning, all of which were focused on achieving the defined sustainable development targets,” he added.

Eminent experts from different faculties of space sciences and technology from Azerbaijan, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, China, Canada, Egypt, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Switzerland, Senegal, Turkey and United Arab Emirates (UAE) attended the event.

After the inauguration, 34 papers and a number of keynote speeches were made by national and international speakers. ISNET in collaboration with Suparco, Iranian Space Agency (ISA), Turkish Space Agency (TUA) and Azerbaijan Space Agency (Azercosmos) organised a panel discussion titled ‘Promoting Space Education & Awareness in OIC Region: Lessons Learned from ISNET Member States’.

A workshop on data analytics and cloud computing was another highlight of the day while many interactive activities were organised including a technical exhibition and poster display. The exhibition showcases Suparco’s Air Monitoring Lab, space van, CubeSat, 2D clinostat and much more.

Upcoming sessions in the conference include presentation of 56 papers by the participants and workshops on ‘Application of Remote Sensing Data and Hazard Modelling’, ‘Space Technology: Navigation Error Analysis Tool’ and ‘Microgravity and Space Farming’.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2022