LAHORE: The Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences of the Government College University (GCU) Lahore is one of the institutions that have been declared the Emerging Regional Centres of Excellence by the European Mathematical Society (EMS).
This was stated by the EMS president Prof Dr Marta Sanz-Solé at the opening ceremony of the fifth World Conference on 21st century Mathematics. “The EMS strongly believes that the expertise of the large and diverse network it represents can be used to reinforce these Emerging Regional Centres of Excellence in countries outside Europe,” said Dr Marta.
“The idea is for the EMS to select, endorse and help a number of such centres to offer training to MSc level students. Subsequently, the EMS will help those who wish to, and are capable of, continuing their studies, either in their countries of origin or (partially or totally) in European research institutions,” she told the gathering of 70 delegates and hundreds of students at the Bokhari Auditorium.
The EMS can also facilitate and collaborate in the organisation of lectures, given by leading researchers, and courses at the Emerging Centres of Excellence. The centres can also apply for grants for members of the centres to attend conferences abroad.
The chief guest said that the aim of the conference was to provide Pakistani scholars with a scientific base so the workforce can compete with the rest of the world.
While talking about how essential mathematics is, Dr Marta said, “It is the language of all natural sciences. Historically,” she said, “mathematics has played, and continues to play, a crucial role in the scientific, technological and cultural development of humanity. Mathematical theories underpin many of the most brilliant discoveries in physics, chemistry, life sciences, economics, etc. It is also a crucial ingredient in industrial innovation. Hence, it brings prosperity and development to a society.”
200 research papers are scheduled to be presented at the five-day conference spread over 22 scientific sessions besides meetings and talks.
The EMS president also congratulated the GCU Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences (ASSMS) on organising the conference, under the auspices of the National Centre for Mathematics, the Higher Education Commission Pakistan, the European Mathematical Society, the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy, the International Mathematical Union and UNESCO.
Delegates from 40 countries including Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Norway, Nepal, China, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Turkey and USA attended the opening ceremony.
One of the participants from Belgium said that this visit to Pakistan was his second one. “The perception about Pakistan is negative. The reality, however, is the opposite, “ he said.
GCU vice chancellor Khalid Aftab said that the conference would provide a platform to mathematicians from all over the world to exchange ideas. Prof Aftab stressed the need for promoting the culture of research in the country’s universities, saying that it makes teaching-learning more effective. “Research contributes in developing the culture of reading and writing, publication, paper presentation, using libraries and participating in workshops, conferences and seminars,” he added.
Addressing the ceremony, GCU Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences (ASSMS) director general Dr AD Raza Chaudhry told the participants that in 2009 and 2010, the GCU ASSMS students and faculty had published more than 270 research papers in core areas of mathematics in international journals.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2011.
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