SSUET, University of Karachi host National Conference on Space Sciences

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The first-ever National Conference on Space Sciences, spread over a couple of days, concluded in Karachi on October 9 with the Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Engr Z A Nizami, calling upon the engineers to keep pace with the fast changing technologies. 

The conference was organized by the SSUET with the collaboration of the University of Karachi, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) as a part of World Space Week-2012. 

The opening session was inaugurated by the Sindh Education Minister, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq at the University of Karachi while the concluding session was held at SSUET on the second day with Chancellor Z A Nizami being the chief guest on the occasion.

Engr Nizami remarked that the technologies are witnessing rapid changes every moment and one can take advantages of the latest development only by keeping pace with the same. 

He referred to his visit to the Harvard University some time back and said the chief speaker on the occasion, a Nobel Prize winner, while giving his remarks had stated that he is making speech exact at 4.30 but cannot say what will be a change in the very next moment. 

At SSUET, the Chancellor said, a system has been worked out to introduce all important aspects of the engineering disciplines being taught here keeping the technological changes taking place so rapidly in view and it is here for the engineers to keep pace with the same if they want to progress. 

He informed that in India engineering subjects are taught in consonance with the employment related survey which is carried out every year and released only two months before the start of admissions. He desired similar practice in Pakistan. “We are faced with lot of challenges in space technology and we have to address them efficiently and promptly,” he asserted. 

He pointed out that over a hundred projects in various engineering disciplines are developed here at this university every year and he is introducing a system to make these projects self-financing. 

In this regard he assured all out support, whatever required from the university, to project developers. 

He considered the conference very fruitful and a laudable effort and said that new upcoming technologies will have to be pursued to achieve success in various engineering fields. 

Earlier Dr M. Jawed Qamar, Founder Director, Institute of Space and Astrophysics, University of Karachi, presented some of the recommendations formulated at the conference asking for introduction of astronomy at school level, introduction of astronomy and space science at degree level in simple term and labs, observatory etc at science level; focusing importance on basic sciences mainly Astrophysics in developing countries, specially Pakistan. 

Another recommendation called for maintaining peaceful conditions, necessary for continuous research, particularly in space sciences. 

The Vice-Chancellor SSUET, Prof Dr Jawed H. Rizvi, said the conference brought new problems and issues to lime light, which needs to be considered by international bodies like the UN. 

The conference, he said, has also helped in promoting personal contacts between scientists and engineers, attending the 2-day moot. 

Dr Jawed Iqbal, In charge Institute of Space, University of Karachi, spoke highly about the outcome of the conference and thanked KU, SUPARCO and HEC for their valuable coordination. 

Dr Syed Faisal Ahmed Bukhari, Chairman, Department of Computer Engineering and Convener, Organizing Committee, SSUET, presented the vote of thanks and said this conference was a contribution towards World Space Week 2012 on the theme of ‘Space for Human Safety and Security’ and it produced valuable results. 

At the conference space engineers and scientists made over a dozen technical presentations. The session concluded with distribution of certificates among chairmen of various sessions of the conference and shields to session secretaries.