Events

January 10-11, 2017

Program of the Workshop

In a world where the gap between science and society continues to widen and where the science communication landscape is changing fast, there is a growing demand for people with professional skills in the effective public communication of science. Realizing the need, a workshop was jointly organized by COMSTECH and Technology Times in January 2017 at COMSTECH, Islamabad.

This two-day workshop exclusively addressed the needs of scientific writing and science communication. It endeavoured to impart required knowledge and expertise so that science could be presented in various media in an informative as well as entertaining manner and to attract and hold the attention of a common person.

The Workshop was designed to provide professional development opportunities for people working in environments where science and research outcomes need to be made accessible to the general public and to science policy audiences. The workshop comprised of the following modules;

Communicating Science to the Public

Communicating Global Challenges: Climate Change, Water, Food & Energy

Communicating Science to Policymakers and Science Diplomacy

Analysis of Media Reporting on Life Sciences

Issues & Risks Associated with Science Communication in Digital Age

Science Communication and Academia

Scientists, science communication officers and media persons benefited from the workshop. Many suggestions came from the participants, such as;

introduction of Science Communication as an exclusive beat in media houses;

curriculum reform to incorporate explicit training on Science Communication

adding strategic value of effective and innovative science communication for S&T organizations

continuing program to promote science popularization through Science Communication

support for existing science and technology media houses

April 10 – 12, 2017, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstracts of the Talks and Profiles of the Speakers

Prof. Syed Qasim Mehdi, a scientist of exceptional talents and great achievements, breathed his last on 28th September, 2016.  To honour Prof. Mehdi’s seminal contributions to human genetics research in Pakistan, COMSTECH with support of Dr. Qasim Ayub (Prof. Mehdi’s long time research associate) organized a symposium in his memory. Many former students, colleagues, and family members of Prof. Mehdi attended the symposium paying a befitting tribute to Prof. Mehdi.

The symposium was spread over two and a half days. It started on 10th April’s afternoon with a tribute to Prof. Mehdi and insights into his life and scientific career presented by his friends and colleagues. This was followed by two days of scientific presentations. The first day was focused on human population genomics and the second on disease genetics. Talks were focused on 1) how genomic data have contributed towards the story of modern humans as they expanded from Africa to all corners of the globe, and 2) understanding the genetic basis of disease.

Young scientists were also provided opportunity to present their work in the field of human population and disease genetics. The total number of registered participants was 93, but many others participated in the sessions of their interest. The registered participants included one each from Senegal and Sudan, two from Azerbaijan, four from Iraq, and 85 from Pakistan.

May 22 to 26, 2017, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstracts of the talks download

COMSTECH regularly organizes workshops, training courses and conferences to build capability of the 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in emerging areas of science and technology. In this perspective a one-week intensive hands-on workshop on “Rational Design of Materials for Energy Needs: Computation & Experimentation” was organized by COMSTECH in collaboration with COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Islamabad from May 22 to 26, 2017.

The training workshop was aimed to introduce students, young researchers and young faculty members with modern trends in experimentation and computation with their applications in materials discovery for energy needs.

Foreign experts each delivered a series of lectures on various aspects of this theme besides guiding the hands-on computational activities. The foreign faculty comprised Prof. Talat Rahman, Prof. Laurene Tetard, Prof. Peter Dowben, Prof. Marisol A. Ortigoza and Prof. Ted Einstein from USA. Condensed matter experts from some local institutions also contributed lectures in the workshop. The practical exercises on computation and modelling of materials for energy needs were conducted, In addition to the foreign faculty, by Dr. Altaf Karim (CIIT, Islamabad), Dr. Gul Rahman (QAU, Islamabad), and Mr. Naseem Uddin & Mr. Tao Jiang (Research Assistants at the University of Central Florida).

Besides the local and foreign experts, thirty-five participants attended the workshop. Most of these participants were young faculty members and researchers. Several MPhil and PhD students also attended the workshop.

The workshop focused on the following themes;

A Crash Course on Quantum Mechanical Approach to Materials: Density Functional Theory (DFT) Methods

Crash Courses on Molecular Dynamics and Kinetic Monte Carlo Methods and their Applications to Surfaces.

Multiscale Modeling: Connecting the Scales together

Computational Catalyst Design

Tailoring Properties of 2D materials: Looking Beyond Graphene

Novel Pathways in the Rational Design of Materials: An Application to Clean Energy

Energy Storage and Conversion Materials

Photo Water Splitting

All participants were asked to fill out an assessment questionnaire anonymously to evaluate the training. Participants were asked to rate the overall programme, lectures, relevance of lectures to the course aim and objectives, significance of their learning goals and general comments related to the programme

Participants found the hands-on exercises very useful and many of them found the allocated time insufficient for these exercises. In response to a question “if any topic of participants’ interest was not covered”, few of the participants stated material chemistry and experimental techniques. Many of the participants were in favor of using both computational and experimental analysis side by side. Some of the experimental researchers mentioned that through this workshop they learnt about the problem solving style of theoretical scientists using theoretical calculations. One of the participants was of the view that “the concept of experiments and theory going in parallel should be introduced in universities on larger scale”.

Prof. Dr. Farid Abou Rageh Mohamed Harraz

Professor at the Advanced Materials and Nano-Research Centre,
Najran University, Saudi Arabia

Date and Time: 16th December 2020
03:00 pm Pakistan Standard Time; 02:00 pm Gulf Standard Time: 10:00 am Greenwich Mean Time

In this webinar speaker will give an overview of recent research being done in the area of sensors technology (chemical sensors, electrochemical sensors and biosensors) and photochemical applications, focusing on photocatalysis under visible light illumination.

Target Audience: This webinar is open to academicians, scientists (particularly from chemistry, biology, nanoscience and materials engineering background), and general public from all the member OIC states.

Poster of webinar:  Attached

Abstract of talk: Attached

Profile of Speaker: Attached

Link for registration and E- certificate:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdS65xBv4YJRWB2jK2aAnLVA4eWYdPTvLcPJPa9sUDm0Jw9uQ/viewform

Procedure to join:

Topic: Webinar on Nanomaterials for Sensors and Photochemical Applications

Time: Dec 16, 2020 03:00 PM Islamabad, Karachi, Tashkent

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85425333990?pwd=VFFTWWpNeW5tcXNaL0NrdXZRK0JyUT09

Meeting ID: 854 2533 3990

Passcode: 203765Address: COMSTECH Secretariat, 33-Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad 
Phone No. : 92 51 9220681-3
Email:Khazima@comstech.org ; comstech@comstech.org

May 22 to 26, 2017, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstracts of the talks download

COMSTECH regularly organizes workshops, training courses and conferences to build capability of the 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in emerging areas of science and technology. In this perspective a one-week intensive hands-on workshop on “Rational Design of Materials for Energy Needs: Computation & Experimentation” was organized by COMSTECH in collaboration with COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Islamabad from May 22 to 26, 2017.

The training workshop was aimed to introduce students, young researchers and young faculty members with modern trends in experimentation and computation with their applications in materials discovery for energy needs.

Foreign experts each delivered a series of lectures on various aspects of this theme besides guiding the hands-on computational activities. The foreign faculty comprised Prof. Talat Rahman, Prof. Laurene Tetard, Prof. Peter Dowben, Prof. Marisol A. Ortigoza and Prof. Ted Einstein from USA. Condensed matter experts from some local institutions also contributed lectures in the workshop. The practical exercises on computation and modelling of materials for energy needs were conducted, In addition to the foreign faculty, by Dr. Altaf Karim (CIIT, Islamabad), Dr. Gul Rahman (QAU, Islamabad), and Mr. Naseem Uddin & Mr. Tao Jiang (Research Assistants at the University of Central Florida).

Besides the local and foreign experts, thirty-five participants attended the workshop. Most of these participants were young faculty members and researchers. Several MPhil and PhD students also attended the workshop.

The workshop focused on the following themes;

A Crash Course on Quantum Mechanical Approach to Materials: Density Functional Theory (DFT) Methods

Crash Courses on Molecular Dynamics and Kinetic Monte Carlo Methods and their Applications to Surfaces.

Multiscale Modeling: Connecting the Scales together

Computational Catalyst Design

Tailoring Properties of 2D materials: Looking Beyond Graphene

Novel Pathways in the Rational Design of Materials: An Application to Clean Energy

Energy Storage and Conversion Materials

Photo Water Splitting

All participants were asked to fill out an assessment questionnaire anonymously to evaluate the training. Participants were asked to rate the overall programme, lectures, relevance of lectures to the course aim and objectives, significance of their learning goals and general comments related to the programme

Participants found the hands-on exercises very useful and many of them found the allocated time insufficient for these exercises. In response to a question “if any topic of participants’ interest was not covered”, few of the participants stated material chemistry and experimental techniques. Many of the participants were in favor of using both computational and experimental analysis side by side. Some of the experimental researchers mentioned that through this workshop they learnt about the problem solving style of theoretical scientists using theoretical calculations. One of the participants was of the view that “the concept of experiments and theory going in parallel should be introduced in universities on larger scale”.

AI Workshop & Exhibition Coverage

CFM Participation Coverage

International Coverage COMSTECH Awards

Dr. Sajad Jafari
Assistant professor, Amirkabir University of Technology , Iran,
Clarivate Analytics, Highly Cited Researchers in 2019 and 2020 COMSTECH Award in Mathematics (2019)

Date and Time: 03 December 2020
03:00 pm Pakistan Standard Time; 02:00 pm Gulf Standard Time:
10:00 am Greenwich Mean Time

COMSTECH has arranged a webinar to understand phenomena of Multistability. Multistability is one of the most important phenomena in dynamical systems. It occurs in many areas of science including physics, chemistry, biology, economics, and nature.

Target Audience: This webinar is open to academicians, scientists (Particularly from Mathematics and Physics background), and general public from all the member OIC states.

Poster of webinar:  Attached

Abstract of talk: Attached

Profile of Speaker: Attached

Procedure to join:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86259884853?pwd=R1JIZVFRc1ZmQTBwaERwVjZ6NkIrZz09

Meeting ID: 862 5988 4853

Passcode: 934995

Address: COMSTECH Secretariat, 33-Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad 
Phone No. : 92 51 9220681-3
Email: Khazima@comstech.org ; comstech@comstech.org

Genomic analysis of any emerging virus is important to understand its structure, pathogenicity and evolution (i.e. it’s change and adaption in new environmental conditions). Massive genome sequencing efforts are underway globally to document a comprehensive mutational spectrum of SARC-Car-2. In this context, scientists at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi University, Karachi, Pakistan, have successfully carried out the sequencing and analysis of 48 genomes of SARS-CoV-2 from Karachi. Samples were collected in a time phased approach from May to August 2020 from the areas designated as COVID hot spots by the local administrative authorities.

The ICCBS analysis identified 109 mutations including 36 recurrent mutations. (Recurrent mutations are those which are observed in more than one sample). Few frequent mutations were found that are associated with increased infectivity and fatality while several mutations were found in the spike protein which is very important for entry of virus into host cells. This data depicts the first detailed mutational spectrum from Pakistan and an in-depth analysis is underway for further insights. With the current onset of the second wave of the virus, the scientists at ICCBS are collecting samples for genome analysis related to this second wave.

Whole genome sequencing of 48 SARS-CoV-2 samples was carried out by using Illumina MiSeq NGS sequencing system with reference genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 from Wuhan. Notably, two missense mutations P4715L in ORF1ab and D614G in Spike protein gene were found in 25 cases each. These two mutations have been reported to be associated with higher fatality in BCG-vaccinated countries, while another study has reported that D614G mutation enhances replication on human lung epithelial cells and primary human airway tissues through an improved infectivity of virions.

The ICCBS intends to complete 1000 – genome SARS-CoV project in next 6 months.  

Technical details of the analysis are provided in the footnote (https://www.cogconsortium.uk/)

17^th Decemeber2020- (14-15 PST/9-10 AM UK)

COMSTECH, Islamabad, Pakistan

COMSTECH is hosting a webinar on One Health together with UP SIGN and the Pakistan Academy of Sciences. The event will be highlighting the need for taking immediate actions to protect our health through protecting our food system. The entire developing world and Pakistan facing an increasing threat from the vector-borne diseases spreading in both farm animals and humans, which are caused, by bacteria and viruses and are transmitted by various vectors (Mosquitoes, Ticks, Flies, Fleas, etc.). The uncertainty in weather with increasing temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increased use of pesticides have made a lot of such species resistant. Climate change is providing favorable conditions for the breeding and survival of various vectors and arthropods. This phenomenon of global warming will change the current geographical map of vector-borne diseases and will boost the emergence and re-emergence of various diseases to regions, which lack either population immunity or strong public health infrastructure. A Health emergency is needed to be declared to combat those colossal problems, created by extreme weather, drought, storms, and hurricanes. Food safety has become the biggest global challenge. Establishing and maintaining food safety in today’s global markets has been characterized as a complex problem that lacks easy or straight forward solutions and one that will require a One Health approach. Unsafe food poses global health threats, endangering everyone. Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with an underlying illness are particularly vulnerable. Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances, causes more than 200 diseases – ranging from diarrhea to cancers. Foodborne diseases impede socioeconomic development by straining health care systems and harming national economies, tourism, and trade. Food supply chains now cross multiple national borders. Good collaboration between governments, producers, and consumers helps ensure food safety.

Food security is highly dependent on livestock productivity, which can directly affect the trade and food supply chain. According to the 1996 Rome Declaration on World Food Security and World Food Summit Plan of Action, “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”. While global demands for safe and sustainable sources of food are greater now than they were in 1996 when this declaration was developed, the problems associated with achieving safe and secure food supplies remain extremely complex. The large variety of diverse factors that impact production and distribution of safe food supplies including the availability of natural resources, healthy ecosystems, market globalization, climate change, political instability, and poverty all underscore the need to address these issues using a One Health approach.

Prof Fiona Tomley, Professor of Experimental Parasitology and Director of the UKRI GCRF One Health Poultry Hub

Fiona is Professor of Experimental Parasitology at the Royal Veterinary College and Director of the UKRI GCRF One Health Poultry Hub. She has BSc (Microbiology) and PhD (Virology) degrees from the University of Manchester and spent several years as a researcher in avian virology before moving into parasitology where she leads research into protozoan parasites of chickens.  

As Director of the One Health Poultry Hub she has oversight and responsibility for an international and interdisciplinary impact-driven programme that seeks to ensure that escalating global demand for chicken meat and eggs can be met in a safe, sustainable and equitable manner.  The Hub is committed to collecting, analysing and disseminating evidence to stakeholders on the risks of public health hazards emanating from production, marketing and consumption of poultry products, as well as to evaluating approaches to reduce zoonotic disease, and improve food safety and animal health.

Prof Munir Iqbal, Pirbright Institute

Professor Munir Iqbal is head of the Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) group at The Pirbright Institute and Visiting Professor at the Royal Veterinary College, London. Munir obtained Veterinary Medicine and MPhil degrees in Pakistan and a PhD in Biotechnology at Imperial College London in 1991. He worked as postdoctoral researcher at the University of Liverpool and the University of St Andrews, before joining the Institute in 1996. Currently, he is leading a number of research projects aimed to define the impact of evolutionary molecular changes on AIV antigenicity, pathogenicity and cross-species transmission and the development of new vaccines and diagnostics for better control of avian respiratory viruses (including avian infleunza, Newcastle, avian adenovirus, Avian metapneumoviruses… )

Dr Osman Dar , Public Health England

Osman A Dar is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh) and a fellow of the Faculty of Public Health at the Royal College of Physicians (London).At Chatham House, he is director of the Global Health Programme’s One Health project, an umbrella term referring to the programme’s work on zoonotic diseases, emerging infections, antimicrobial resistance, and food security. Osman has helped build the EDCTP-PANDORA partnership which aims to strengthen weak health systems across Africa by developing research collaborations to improve the prevention, preparedness for, and response to emerging infectious disease outbreaks.

He also leads a project to support the operationalisation of One Health initiatives in national and regional settings with partnerships across a range of national and international agencies and institutions including the WHO, OIE, FAO, the African Union CDC, the World Bank, and the B&M Gates Foundation.

In his role at Public Health England, Osman is a medical consultant in global public health where he works to support low and middle income countries build core capacities under the International Health Regulations and in the design and implementation of their broader Health System Strengthening initiatives.

Prof. Dr. Seval Akgun

MD, PhDs, Professor of Public Health and Medicine

Chief Quality Officer, Director, Employee and Environmental Health Departments Baskent University Hospitals Network, TURKEY

Professor Akgun is ( MD, PhDs, MSc, CPHHA) a  Professor of Medicine and Public Health with more than 30 plus years of strong experience in quality and accreditation in higher education and health care. The variety of research topics she has addressed and working as a consultant with collaboration of several international technical supports, demonstrates the wide scope of her interests in public health,  quality improvement and accreditation in higher education and  health care.

Dr Zahida Fatima, Deputy Director, Pakistan Agri Research Council

Dr. Zahida Fatima is Principal Scientific Officer (Animal Health )at Animal Sciences Division, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC). She has experience of control of Bird Flu/Avian Influenza (AI) in Pakistan and main focus was on Investigation of field outbreaks of AI, Collection of Epidemiological information and appropriate sampling for laboratory investigation and performing different Lab Tests including HA, HI,ELISA for sero-monitoring/Virus detection etc. Dr. Fatima is PhD in Epidemiology and Public Health from University of Veterinary and Animal Science Lahore.

Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmed Khan Pakistan Academy of Sciences

Prof Khan is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. He is a distinguished National Professor and got Pakistan’s highest civil award, Sitara-E-Imtiaz (Civil Award, Government of Pakistan) (2012).

Dr Khalid Mahmood, UPSIGN, UK

Dr Mahmood is Agritech Innovation Lead and is keen in addressing Food security challenges through promoting, translation of research to benefit smallholders in developing world. 

Link for registration and E- certificate:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePcKZIGtJvdn3WJ0jALp_xCWsOJigZ0hMhXCZJUfrx98-1OA/viewform

Procedure to join:

Time: Dec 17, 2020, 02:00 PM Islamabad, Karachi, Pakistan Time

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87213785964?pwd=dHdRa002b3BGam1qalNCMkNKd280dz09

Meeting ID: 872 1378 5964
Passcode: 215583

Contact Information: 

Address: COMSTECH Secretariat, 33-Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad 
Phone No. : 92 51 9220681-3
Fax : 92 51 9211115, 9220265, 9205264
Email: Khazima@comstech.org ; comstech@comstech.org ;