INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE
(Hybrid event)
Commemorating the 80th Birthday of
Legendary Scientist
Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS
22nd September, 2022, Karachi, Pakistan
Organized by:
International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) and COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad
at the:
International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi, Pakistan
INVITATION
It is a great pleasure to invite you to “International Symposium on Excellence in Science”, whichwill be held on 22nd September 2022, at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. The symposium is being organized to commemorate the 80th birthday of one of the most distinguished natural product chemists of the world, Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS.
The objective of celebrating this event on a mega level is to commemorate the personality and achievements of this legendary scientist of the developing world, who made phenomenal contributions in the S&T capacity building of Pakistan, and other developing countries. This is indeed a tribute to the towering personality of Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS and a token of appreciation to his unparalleled services.
I will look forward to welcoming you all at the ICCBS to join us with his colleagues, students and peers, who continue to cherish and benefit from his passion, his dedication to research and science, and his vast knowledge of the subject.
Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary
Mustafa (pubh) Prize Laureate, H.I., S.I., T.I.
Director, ICCBS / Coordinator General COMSTECH
Distinguished National Professor / UNESCO Chair
INTRODUCTION
Late Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui FRS described Prof. Atta-ur- Rahman in the following words: “I have often referred to Prof. Atta-ur- Rahman as my greatest discovery and I am glad to say that his contributions in the field of natural product chemistry and his efforts in the development of H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry have proved me right —- His vision of science of the future will undoubtedly take the institute to still greater heights.” The contributions of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman have also been greatly appreciated by many Nobel Laureates who have paid glowing tributes to his outstanding services to science. These are available at: https://atta-ur-rahman.com/nobel_laureates.php
Prof. Rahman was elected as Fellow Royal Society (London) in 2006 and signed the famous 360-year-old book of the Royal Society with a feather pen, once signed by Sir Issac Newton and Charles Darwin. Only 3 scientists from the Muslim world had previously received this honor in the last 360 years. He is the first scientist from the Muslim world to have won the prestigious UNESCO Science Prize (1999) in the 35-year-old history of the Prize. He was elected Honorary Life Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University, UK, in 2007, a unique honor. Research Institutions have been established in his name in China (“Academician Professor Atta-ur-Rahman One Belt and One Road TCM Research Center” at the Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China), Malaysia (“Atta-ur-Rahman Institute for Natural Product Discovery (AuRIns)” University of Technology Mara, UiTM, Malaysia) and several institutions in Pakistan.
History rarely witnesses the emergence of personalities whose monumental achievements change the course of science, and higher education beyond the borders of their own countries. Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman FRS is one of such towering personalities whose contributions are multi-dimensional, and far-reaching. Since over half a century, he has advanced our understanding of natural products, bioorganic chemistry as well as NMR spectroscopy and inspired several generations of young scientists to choose these branches of chemical sciences for their future endeavors. His students came and joined him from all corners of the globe to learn natural product and medicinal chemistry. Thus, his enthusiasm for research and learning has spread far and wide.
His research journey began with the development of synthetic approaches to complex anti-tumor alkaloids. He discovered over a thousand natural products many of which proved to be novel with exciting biological properties. More than 1,108 publications, 83 international patents and over 161 books (9 authored, 152 edited) published by major international publishers, are evidence of his enormous contributions in the field of natural product chemistry. His work has been universally acclaimed, and he was awarded numerous honorary doctorate degrees by many top universities including the University of Cambridge.
The Austrian government honored Prof. Rahman with its highest civil award (“Grosse Goldene Ehrenzeischen am Bande”) (2007) in recognition of his eminent contributions in the field of science and technology. Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman also awarded with the most prestigious “International Science and Technology Cooperation Award of China” by President Xi Jinping in 2019. He is the most decorated scientist of Pakistan having won 4 Civil Awards (Nishan-i-Imtiaz, Hilal i-Imtiaz, Sitara i-Imtiaz, and Tamgha i-Imtiaz).
The contributions of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman FRS go far beyond his achievements in the field of chemical sciences. His leadership as the Minister for Science and Technology, Information Technology and later as Founding Chairman Higher Education Commission completely transformed the landscape of higher education, science and technology of Pakistan during 2000-2008. This resulted in several universities in Pakistan were ranked among the top 400 universities of the world. COMSTECH (OIC Ministerial Committee on S & T) too was transformed to a dynamic institution during 1996-2012 when Prof. Rahman was Coordinator General. The establishment of the Pak Austrian Fachhochschule in Haripur Hazara is just one example of his illustrious career. This brief overview represents a small glimpse of his glittering career.
SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES
This important commemorating event will not only be a small token of thanks to a great scientist of the world who make notable contributions for the development of science and technology in Pakistan and in developing world but also provide an opportunity to discuss with him affairs and existing problems of S&T not only in Pakistan but globally, especially in the OIC world.
SYMPOSIUM CONTENT
The program will include a series of plenary, keynote lectures and discussion sessions related to the major scientific contributions of Professor Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman FRS, in science and his efforts and achievement for bringing revolutionary changes in the higher education sector landscape of Pakistan. The event also includes a plenary lecture of Professor Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman FRS with his recommendations including mechanism of actions to overcome education crisis in Pakistan.
Patron
Prof. Dr. Nasira Khatoon
Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi,
Karachi, Pakistan
Chief Organizer
Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary
Mustafa (pubh) Prize Laureat, H.I., S.I., T.I.
Director, ICCBS / Coordinator General COMSTECH
Distinguished National Professor / UNESCO Chair
E-mail: iqbal.choudhary@iccs.edu
For correspondence and further enquiries, kindly contact:
Prof. Dr. Sammer Yousuf
HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry,
ICCBS, University of Karachi
Email: dr.sammer.yousuf@gmail.com
Mr. Aftab H. Zaidi
Senior Director (HR & Admin),
COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad – Pakistan
Email: aftab.zaidi@comstech.org
For Rgistration:
Kindly follow the link:
https://bit.ly/3bdISOEIS
For physical participation short-listed candidates will be informed by 25th August, 2022
