LAHORE: The 17th National Symposium on Frontiers of Physics began on Thursday at the Government College University with deliberations on new technologies and challenges for Pakistan in the field of science.

Nobel Laureate Sir Roger Penrose is also scheduled to address the three-day symposium organised by the GCU Physics Department in collaboration with the Punjab Higher Education Commission and the Pakistan Academy of Sciences.

GCU VC Prof Asghar Zaidi called upon the participants to also discuss the societal impact of research being presented at the conference.

Dr Shoaib Ahmad from the National Centre for Physics seconded Mr Zaidi’s idea and said something wrong happened which detracted us from science and education and undermined the role of educational institutions.

In his keynote address, noted plasma physicist and mathematician Prof Dr G Murtaza noted the world of science was witnessing rapid development and knowledge was accumulating at very fast pace and physicists were making great progress in uncovering the deep mysteries of nature.

He explained the recent major breakthroughs in physics had resulted in the development of quark model of matter. He explained to the students the technological advancements which had won the Nobel Prize in the last two decades.

GCU Dean Prof. Dr Raiz Ahmad said a large number of physicists from Pakistan’s leading universities and R&D organisations were participating in this three-day event which would have more than 20 technical sessions on different topics.

About 50 physicists will hold talks and present papers at the symposium highlighting the recent important developments in physics and the impact of these developments on various aspects of our lives.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2022