ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Museum for Natural History (PMNH) on Sunday said it has envisaged an initiative to impart photography and videography skills to schoolchildren to capture and preserve the beauty of nature.

“The students will be imparted photography and videomaking skills under the newly-conceived project, ‘Media Project for Conservation of Environment and Nature,” said PMNH Director General Dr Saima Huma Tanveer.

“These students will be trained in capturing different aspects of the environment and nature including flowers, birds, mountains, rivers etc,” she said.

The DG said: “The use of social media platform among the students of all ages is at its peak who seem to be interested to create their own Youtube contents, TikTok and Facebook accounts for the sake of fun as well as to earn money. However, they seemed to be clueless as to what they should portray or project on these platforms.”

She said: “This project will broaden the vision of students to explore beauty of nature through awakening their aesthetic sense and utilising their minds toward positive things.”

“If they see any unique bird, insect or any other species, they can make a picture or video and send to PMNH for the purpose of conservation,” the DG added.

The PMNH was established in 1976 under the patronage of Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), Ministry of Science and Technology. It has four divisions - Botanical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Zoological Sciences and Public Services.

The first three divisions were engaged in the collection, preservation, identification and research activities related to plants, animals, fossils, rocks and minerals resources of Pakistan while the latter is responsible for public education through dioramas, exhibits, lectures, workshop, seminar, posters and film shows, etc.

PMNH also provides consultancy and advisory services to public and private sector organisations. Its scientists work on various projects for the popularisation of natural history through research publications, displays, exhibits, and dioramas.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2023