Pakistani teens bag prize at international science fair
Three Pakistani teenagers managed to snag fourth place at the international science fair in the US on Friday.
The project entitled “Energy Square for Cattle,” created by Mahnoor Hassan, Shiza Gulab and Bushra Shahed of the Institute of Computer and Management Sciences in Peshawar, took fourth prize, and a $500 award, in the Animal Sciences Category at the Grand Awards Ceremony of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh.
The event is the world’s largest pre-college science fair.
Hassan and Gulab, who were present to collect their prize, explained that their project is good for livestock in times of a natural disaster.
“People think of themselves in times of disaster before animals,” said Gulab, while referring to the recent floods in Pakistan. “This square makes it easier to look out for the well-being of livestock also,” she added.
The girls said that just a few licks of their energy square controlled diseases, increased milk production and increased weight in cattle after just 28 days.
The squares are a dry mix of a variety of ingredients, such as mulberry, urea and calcium, which provide vitamins and protein to the animal.
“Because people who have animals are usually poor, we have created an affordable option for them,” said Gulab.
The fair, held between May 13-18, concluded on Friday afternoon in a confetti haze as the top prizewinner was announced. The winner was 15-year-old Jack Andraka from the US state of Maryland, who created a Non-Invasive Pancreatic Cancer Detection Tool.
“This competition encourages millions of students to engage their skills for innovation and develop promising solutions for global challenges,” said Executive Director of the Intel Foundation Wendy Hawkins.
Meet the finalists
If you’re looking for inspiration, look no further than Pakistan’s finalists at the Isef.
“I want to be the greatest scientist in the world,” proclaimed finalist Syed Shahzeb Zarrar. Zarrar, along with two other finalists, arrived in Pittsburgh last week. While five finalists were named in Pakistan, only three managed to obtain a visa.
“Every Pakistani should know about Isef. Everyone has a hidden talent. Because of Isef, I was able to discover mine,” said Zarrar.
It took him approximately eight months to complete his project entitled ‘Production of Artificial Magnetic Domains in Non-Metals’. He explained that electricity could be produced cheaply if non metals were employed and added that his project could easily be used in Pakistan.
“I’ve made friends from India, Japan, and even New Mexico thanks to this conference. It’s amazing,” said Zarrar, who attends Iqra Army Public School and College in Quetta.
Another finalist who missed the event was Musa Rahim Khan of Aga Khan Higher Secondary School in Chitral, whose project was titled, ‘Water and Heat Detector’.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
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On such happy, full of pride,l occasions, when the performance/achievements of our outstanding youth,especially science students are recognized in International competitions, one is sure the soul of Prof. Dr. Salam, the Nobel Prized Physicist of Pakistan, must have been feeling very very happy and proud on all such successes. Dr. Abdus Salam , through out his life had done his best to guide and polish the gifted qualities of the promising students and the government must ensure that none of such students at school/college level is deprived of his further studies due to lack of financial resources. These-like bright stars will surely one day, make the face of all Pakistanis glow with more shining brightness.Inshaallah.
As a gesture of encouragement, one wishes all the talented five teen-aged student finalists from Pakistan, three of whom won the fourth place in this prestigious International Science Fair competition should have attended the awards-giving function at Pittsburgh, USA. Such kind of acts for the talented sons and daughters of the soil would have done great service for creating a soft image of the motherland,Inshaallah.
Future of Pakistan. Well done!
MashaAllah! Excellent work! I was in ISEF in 2002 representing the state of NJ and do not recall seeing anyone from Pakistan. But I am proud that my home country has such bright students. With such minds, the future is bright for Pakistan, inshaAllah! Keep working hard and stay focused!
You are the real Pakistan Awaaz. Keep it up the hard work.
Not just your nation, but the entire world should congratulate you, for your work has the potential to aid all mankind. We are all called upon to be stewards of the planet,not just a small patch of ground. You set an example I hope the world's youth follows. Keep up the good work.
This is the true face of Pakistani daughters. Create more avenues of education for girls instead of closing girls schools as is being done by some radical islamists. This is you bright future.
I always thought that Pakistanis are intelligent, hard working and compassionate people if given the chance but the leadership whether civilian or military has failed the nation again and again. Just look around the young generation, they are the future of Pakistan and God willing they will soon get Pakistan out of this quagmire that their leaders has pushed the country into for the last so many decades. My heart felt congrats to all those finalists, keep up the good work, the nation is proud of you.
All kids to follow these Bright Examples, not the Looters and corrupts (known as leaders)
Well done!!!
We really need more positive news and our youth must come forward and play their role in an otherwise gloom situation.
Shabaash !!!
so proud. we have so much talent may Allah guide them to a position of power in the future so they may serve Pakistan ameen
Very good work, impressive there is still hope
Great Work... really impressed with the thinking that must have gone into it.