The International Travelling Expo titled "It's all about Chemistry" started here at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Wednesday aimed at increasing interest of young people in the chemistry. Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), the Embassy of France in Islamabad and Scientific, Technical, Industrial and Cultural Centre (CCSTI) France arranged the Expo in collaboration with Centre Sciences-France and Unesco.
PSF Chairman Professor Dr Manzoor H Soomro inaugurated the three-day expo while French Attaché for Co-operation Gilles Angles, AIOU faculty of Sciences Dean Professor Dr Noshad A Khan and AIOU Chemistry Department's Chairperson Professor Dr Naghmana Rashid were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Manzoor H Soomro highlighted the PSF programmes and activities for promotion of science and socio-economic development of the country. Dr Soomro said AIOU and PSF had common grounds as both were reaching the masses at their doorsteps for achieving their objectives of education and promotion of science and technology to bring Pakistan at par with developed countries.
The PSF Chairman said that PSF and CCSTI France would continue collaboration in this regard, while MoUs with other institutions of France for promotion of science in Pakistan would be signed. French Attaché for Co-operation Gilles Angles said they were having fruitful co-operation with PSF to promote inquiry-based science learning, adding they would like to further strengthen the existing ties. Angles hoped that the expo in Islamabad would have tremendous response and results like other cities of the country.
The expo started its journey from Karachi in January and after travelling through Tandojam, Khairpur, DG Khan, Multan, Lahore, Mansehra, Peshawar and Swat has reached Islamabad from where it would travel to Sibi and concluded in Quetta. The displays of the expo included black and white Chemistry, molecules in action, nature returns with a bang, intelligent textiles, dress intelligently, dress usefully, materials that heal automatically, oil-bases or water-based paint, pure air at home, what's going on in my saucepan, town water or field water, experts against fraud, when art and science meet, molecular motors, bio-fuels for green driving and responsible farming etc.