Government College University (GCU) Center for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP) has been equipped with Materials Fabrication and Characterisation Laboratories to fabricate and test advanced alloys. GCU Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Aftab on Thursday inaugurated the laboratories and inspected the working of the machinery.
The laboratories established with a cost of Rs 80 million are one of most high-tension facilities available to any educational institution in Pakistan. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has provided funds for the purchase of the high-tech machinery whereas the engineers from China, Japan, England and Singapore provided the technical support for the establishment of the laboratories.
CASP Director Professor Ijaz Mujtaba Ghauri briefed the vice chancellor about the working of various equipment at the laboratory and research projects being carried out through these equipments. He said that the laboratory houses transmission electron microscope, which provides high magnifications to view distances of few angstroms (10-10 meters).
The scanning electron microscope greatly magnifies the surface of a sample to study the effects of various treatments the sample has received. Professor Khalid Aftab also inspected the fully automatic RF-Induction Furnace, which can melt down almost all the chemical elements of the periodic table and is helping GCU scholars in studying and experimenting with advanced alloys.
Speaking on the occasion, the vice chancellor said that GCU has always encouraged innovative and qualitative research and would provide all facilities to its students for this purpose. He called on the researchers to work for the self-reliance of the country in the field of science of technology. He also issued directions to the management of the center that they should always keep the equipment operational, so that the maximum researchers can draw benefit out of them.