International collaboration: Moot on plasma physics next week

QAU’s National Centre for Physics to hold international college from Nov 11-15.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan’s National Centre for Physics (NCP) is set to take another step towards allowing Pakistani scientists to develop international linkages.

In collaboration with Italy-based Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), NCP is going to hold the first-ever “ICTP-NCP International College on Plasma Physics” from November 11-15, 2013, at its premises in the Quaid-e-Azam University campus in Islamabad.

NCP Director General Dr Hamid Saleem said the aim of holding the international college — the term denotes a college-like lecture-based interaction between scientists and researchers — is to promote research and collaboration among developing countries with a special focus on South Asia.

“Plasma physics has tremendous applications in space science, astrophysics, fusion for electricity production and industry,” said Hamid, adding that the NCP has a dedicated department for research and study in the field.



Scientists and researchers from countries including US, Japan, China, Belgium, Italy, India, Bangladesh, Iran, Russia, Thailand, Uganda, Nigeria, Nepal, Indonesia, Egypt and Jordan will participate in the event, according to NCP.

ICTP, founded by Pakistan’s only Nobel laureate Dr Abdus Salam, has been expanding its scientific activities in different directions since its inception in 1964.

During the past few years, it has started arranging regional activities in various developing countries.

ICTP Director Fernando Quevedo, who visited Pakistan in June, is supporting this programme and has encouraged scientists of developing countries to benefit from such activities.

More than 20 foreign and 100 local researchers will participate in the five-day international college.

Hamid said the conference would provide a forum to scholars and researchers to share their findings related to plasma physics.

This international activity would also give opportunities to young Pakistani researchers and students to discuss their research work with foreign experts, Hamid said

He said ICTP and NCP have agreed to continue this collaboration in the future.

The NCP has also established collaboration with other international research organisations such as European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).

Another joint activity of ICTP, CERN and NCP titled “School on Large Hadron Collider Physics” has been planned at NCP in the summer of 2014.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2013.