In memoriam: Dr Tajjamul Hussain’s dedication eulogised

The professor played a pivotal role in establishing Nanoscience dept at NCP.

ISLAMABAD:

The death of Dr Tajjamul Hussain, the Director of the Nanoscience Department at the National Centre for Physics (NCP), is an irreparable loss for Pakistan’s scientific community, speakers said at a memorial reference held at the NCP on Monday.

Board of Governors Chairperson Dr Ishfaq Ahmad said Professor Hussain was an honest, dedicated and very passionate scientist, who worked zealously for the development of NCP.

Professor Hussain, who passed away recently, had an illustrious teaching career, working with various international and national organisations during his life.

Before joining NCP, he had been a Senior Research Associate and Visiting Professor at the University of Alberta, Canada and the University of California, Berkeley.

He was also a visiting professor in several national universities including the Quaid-i-Azam University. Hussain was also the author of more than 300 international research papers, book chapters, patents and conference papers.

NCP Director-General Dr Hamid Saleem said the vacuum created by the death of Dr Hussain cannot be filled till decades. Hussain played a pivotal role in establishing the Nanoscience Department, Saleem said.

“Passion and dedication were the prime qualities of Dr Tajjamul Hussain. He was a legend,” said Dr Maria Sultan, the director of South Asian Strategic Stability Institute, a think-tank.

“He always brought new ideas and transferred them to other people. I have never seen such a dedicated person.”

Dr Fazal Khalid, dean of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute, said Hussain would always be firm and determined in his project planning. He developed many linkages with various research and development organisations, Khalid said.

The memorial reference was attended by a large number of scientists, students and researchers from various organisations and higher education institutions.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2013.