Research in nano science could bring countless benefits to human environment, said Chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, while inaugurating a two-day workshop on 'Nano Science and Catalysis' at the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) jointly organised by the National Centre for Physics and the Chemical Society of Pakistan.
He proposed support from the HEC for QAU's Centre for Industrial Nano- Material that would cover a variety of materials, including nano-medicines, catalysts and nano-materials for cleaning the environment. 'Such initiative would forge the nation ahead', he said, adding that, 'We must not suffer from 'paralysis from analysis' and must take such decisions promptly.'
Further, he said the HEC is doing its best in creating a highly qualified faculty in our universities and so far, has sent 2500 students to technologically advanced countries for doctoral studies.
He stressed on creating an enabling environment for the returning scholars who have at their disposal grants of up to Rs 6 million for research that can be won in the last year of their foreign studies. It means that Pakistan can have 2500 international linkages with universities with high quality foreign scientists as collaborators.
The HEC encourages good research and not a single project for research grants has been rejected due to lack of funds, he said adding that conditions have been improved immensely so that young people are enthusiastically joining the academia so that they can indulge their love for research and discovery. The online journals and e-book, video conferencing facilities in most universities as well as the countless opportunities for further studies have created excitement in the universities.
Moreover, he emphasised the upgradation of Pakistan Educational and Research Network (PERN) that will largely increase in bandwidth of one-gigabit connections to universities. It will also enable an increased access to research networks across the world.
The vice-chancellor, QAU, Dr Qasim Jan, said that nano science presented a new world of small and complex things that are still set to make an impact on our lives. He said the workshop would deliver new concepts that would enhance future industrial growth. It is essential to keep us abreast of all the new developments in the field of science, he added.
He said that higher education spending was presently one seventh of the amount spent on lower level education. The total spending on education this year was about Rs 255 billion, out of that only Rs 33 billion are being spent on higher education. No government can afford to ignore investment in higher education, he said.
The President, Pakistan Chemical Society chaired three sessions of the inaugural day, while Dr Din Mohammad, Professor Dr Arshad Bhatti and Professor Dr S Khurshid Hassnain presented lectures on the subject.
Topics included Nano technology and its need for developing countries, nano structured metal/mixed metal oxide thin films, synthesis, characterisation and application, Magnetic and optical properties studies of nano scale zinc oxide, Carbon nano-tubes production and its industrial applications, Analytical Systems for nano materials characterisation, Electrochemical processing of nano material, Metal nano particles as building blocks for new material fabrication and Carbon based nano composites and their applications.