Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) on Tuesday organised a workshop on earth sciences and medicinal plants, here on Wednesday. Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), Dr M N Butt, as well as Chairman, National Nanotechnology Commission, inaugurated the two-day workshop, attended by 30 teachers of local private schools in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The participants of the workshop also received briefing on the role of museums in public education here on Monday. The first day's theme of the workshop related to earth sciences in conserving plant resources followed by an overview of the geological history of Pakistan.
On the second day, Thursday, teachers attending the workshop would receive briefing on medical plants and also go on field trips. Earlier, inaugurating the workshop, Dr N M Butt, assured participants of PSF's eagerness to help educational institutions, especially, in the field of research so that Pakistan could be equipped with modern methods and tools for advancements in science and technology.
'Development level of a country is often judged by the number of science museums,' Dr Butt added. Expressing his regret he said Pakistan had only one Museum of Natural History, so, in this respect the country was lagging behind many countries.
Therefore, he felt the need to establish many more museums of this kind that would benefit teachers and student alike. Earlier, Director Dr Shahid Hussain, in his introduction, highlighted the role of museums in public education.
This Museum was fortunate in that a large number of students from different educational institutions came here daily not only to learn, but also to see images of rivers spilling over their banks, rubble caused by the violent shaking of Earth's plates, as it occurred three years ago in NWFP and Azad Kashmir.
Director General, Rashid Awan, speaking on this occasion appreciated the co-operation of the PSF in arranging the workshop. PMNH was established in 1997. It has four divisions relating to botany, zoology, earth sciences and public services. In addition to undertaking research projects PMNH also implements projects relating to mass education and awareness about conservation of biodiversity and environmental issues.