Global audience: 5 Karachi students all set for LA science fair

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair selects the best out of 7m students.


Noman Ahmed February 21, 2014
Nine students from across Pakistan will be taking part in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles. PHOTO COURTESY: ISEF

KARACHI:


Five students from Karachi are all set to represent the country at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2014 in Los Angeles in May.


Each year, around seven million high school students across the globe develop original research projects and present their work at local science competitions with the hope of making it to the Intel ISEF. However, only the best and the brightest - 1,600 winners of local and national competitions - are invited to participate in the week-long celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths. These students also compete for more than US$4 million in awards and scholarships.

Apart from the five Karachi students, Syeda Minahil from Forward Girls College, Peshawar, and Shazia Khair Muhammad, Iqra Irshad and Sana Batool from Punjab Danish School, Hasilpur, will be participating in Intel ISEF 2014.

Sidra Riaz, a resident of Saddar Town's neighbourhood of Bhimpura, never thought that this honour to represent the country at the world level will be given to her. "It's like a dream coming true. "Being an Intel ISEF finalist was, and still is, the most incredible experience I have ever had," she told The Express Tribune.

In the environmental sciences category, Sidra, who is a class XI student at Kutchi Memon Academy Gaya Girls' College, is going to represent Pakistan with her project on prevention of ozone layer depletion through an environmental pollution filter.

"Though I was not as fluent in English as a majority of other participants at the national-level competition, I had confidence in my ability as well as in my work," said Sidra. "Partaking in the world's largest international pre-college science competition will boost my confidence to pursue my research once I graduate from high school."

She was inspired to start this project after a visit to the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research laboratories in Karachi. "I came across a newspaper article on the impact of industrial emissions on ozone depletion and decided to take it up as my college's science project this year."

After long discussions with her science teacher and mentor, Prof Sohail Ibrahim, Sidra was able to develop her project to the level that it stood out in the prerequisite provincial and national science fairs.

Sidra explained that the research project is aimed at offering a low cost, most-efficient and easy-to-assemble environmental pollution filters. "In a metropolis like Karachi with multiple industrial zones, one of the biggest sources of pollution is the generation of chlorofluorocarbons in industries," she pointed out. "In the absence of any practical governmental measures to regulate production, these fumes spread out in the environment in the form of gases and live up to 100 years."

Syed Talal Wasim, a class XI student at Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, is one of those kids whose toys never survived his curiosity. Talal is, nevertheless, confident to stand out in the international competition. "I have been very interested in electronics since my childhood," he said, recalling how he tore apart his toys and use their parts to make new things.

"All that we, Pakistani, students need is a platform to demonstrate our abilities," said Talal. "Intel science fairs are one of those platforms that not only give us a chance to get our projects evaluated but also provide us an opportunity to meet professionals who can guide us."

Muhammad Babar Shah, Haris Bin Ashraf and Muhammad Tahir - a trio from Defence Authority Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed College, are also vying to make a difference in the field of environmental sciences with their endeavour for a cheap and efficient conversion of plastic garbage into combustible oil.

"After being announced the grand winner, I pinched myself a couple of times to check if it was a reality or still a dream," Shah recalled, smiling. "We will try our best to make Pakistan proud in Los Angeles."

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2014.

COMMENTS (2)

talat haque | 10 years ago | Reply

its great you being there with the best in the world!

shah | 10 years ago | Reply

Best of luck kids!!

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