Scientists from world over huddle in Nathiagali

The International scientists’ symposium is the pet creation of Dr Abdus Salaam.

ISLAMABAD:

At picturesque Nathiagali, summer season tourism is not the only thing thriving in the cool mountain air this July.

Tucked away from the hordes of tourists, an exchange of scientific knowledge between Pakistani researchers and their foreign counterparts is also prospering.

Over 150 Pakistani students and researchers along with science faculty members and participants from 20 countries are participating in the ongoing two-week International Nathiagali Summer College (INSC) 2013.

The annual event, a forum for international scientific interaction, is the brainchild of Pakistan’s only Nobel laureate, Dr Abdus Salam, and has been organised every year since 1976 by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).



“During the sessions, I got to learn about relevant research taking place in the world in this field,” said Tasawar Abbas, a participant and a quantum optics researcher at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad.

Dr Muhammad Faisal, a participant from PAEC, said the INSC is a great opportunity for students to have discussions about scientific research with local and foreign teachers.

“It (INSC) is the best way of introducing young people to a new field of physics,” said Dr Dieter Meschede, a professor at Germany’s Bonn University.

Around 200 Pakistani students and researchers who participated in the 2012 International Nathiagali Summer College were able to go abroad for research thanks to the interaction they had with foreign scientists at the college, INSC Scientific Secretary Dr Hafeez Hoorani stated.

The INSC organisers believe the 2013 summer college will offer local scientists similar opportunities to expand their research horizons.

“PhDs, who want to go for post doctoral studies abroad, can discuss their research with foreign faculty who are usually not so easily accessible,” said INSC Executive Secretary Dr Javed Khurshid, adding that “they can also talk about scientific problems they are working on.”

For 2013, the college is focusing on accelerator technology and behaviour of atoms at extremely low temperatures — both topics are relevant to practical applications and theoretical research being conducted in Pakistan.

Khurshid said accelerator technology is important for Pakistan linear accelerators are used for radiotherapy in cancer treatment.

Even though the accelerators are expensive, if Pakistanis develop the expertise to fix the machines themselves, they would bring down the operations and maintenance costs, Khurshid added. The lowering of running costs could potentially benefit around 750,000 patients being treated every year, almost free of charge, at 18 PAEC cancer hospitals in the country, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2013.