The visit of Nobel laureates to GC University is a great intellectual and philanthropic act for students and the scholars to learn from the enriched research experiences of the Nobel laureates Professor Douglas Osheroff and Professor Peter Agre.
Punjab Education Minister Mian Imran Masood stated this while addressing on the eve of special lectures by Nobel Laureates in the Bokhari auditorium of GCU here on Friday. He pledged that government was committed to open up new universities with time demanded new disciplines.
He said that the real key to national development was education and Pakistan was spearheading in the same direction. Education also plays vital role in promoting peace and inter-communal harmony, he maintained. The minister suggested the Vice Chancellor of GCU to develop permanent connections with Nobel Laureates in order to provide the students with sustainable and continuous academic support to GCU students.
Prior to him, the Vice Chancellor GCU Professor Dr Kahlid Aftab in his welcome address expressed his deep gratitude to the distinguished Nobel laureates for their visit to the oldest institution of the South Asia and alma mater of two Nobel Laureates Dr Abdus Salam in Physics and Professor Dr Hargobind Khorana in Chemistry.
He further said that the lectures by enlightened scholars Professor Osheroff and Professor Peter would sensitise the young scientists of the GC University and they would create and disseminate innovative knowledge. He also stressed that Pakistani universities must accept the challenges of tomorrow's world and plan their academic programs accordingly as much of the professional skills that we impart today, would likely become out-dated in a short time of few years.
Professor Douglas Osheroff, a Nobel laureate in Physics in 1996 delivered his lecture on "The adventure of lifetime" followed by the question-answer session. Douglas conducted research at world reputed Bell Telephone Laboratories from 1972 to 1982 and headed solid state and low temperature research from 1982 to 1987. He was given Nobel Prize in Physics in 1996 for discovering super fluidity in a helium isotope. His lecture was moderated by Chairman Physics Department of GCU Professor Hassan.
The second presentation was made by Professor Peter Agre, a Nobel Prize winner in the subject of Chemistry in 2003. He delivered lecture on "Aqua Orin Water Channels: from atomic structure to clinical medicine. His lecture was moderated by Islam Ullah Khan of the Chemistry Department and was followed by question-answer session.
Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation and renowned nuclear scientist Professor Dr N M Butt said on the occasion that the aim of inviting Nobel Laureates is the propagation of scientific thought and modern knowledge among our young scientists and Pakistan Science Foundation, in collaboration with government of Pakistan would continue to invest resources for the promotion of science in the country.