Adaptation stressed to cope with warming

LAHORE

Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) in collaboration with the American Institute for Pakistan Studies (AIPS) and Information Technology University (ITU) organised a lecture by Professor Dr Timothy Beach from University of Texas (UT) Austin on Friday.

According to a press release, the lecture was titled “Is the development of Global Climate Policy (Paris Agreement?) Calibrated with the latest scientific evidence with particular reference to IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) to effectively address both short and long-term threats of climate change” 

The hour long talk was an interactive session with faculty and students from 10 institutions in attendance. Dr. Timothy Beach in his talk outlined the historical background with regard to climate change policy leading up to the Paris Agreement. He explicated the overwhelming scientific evidence available proving that global warming was real and stressed the importance of innovation and adaption to deal with the problem.

PHEC Chairperson Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin gave introductory remarks and stressed the relevance of the subject with regard to irregular climate patterns that the world observed in recent years. He emphasised the importance of holding lectures in higher education institutions (HEIs) of Punjab to raise awareness about this critical issue and its impact on our future. 

Dr Nizamuddin also invited proposals from HEIs in Punjab for possible collaborations with UT Austin in research projects pertaining to climate change. 

GCU visit: Economic Cooperation Organisation Science Foundation (ECOSF) President Prof Dr Manzoor Hussian Soomro visited Government College University (GCU) on Friday. According to a press release, ECOSF President visited the varsity on the invitation of the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (GCU-ORIC) and also addressed the university faculty members on the topic of Science and Technology Based Economic Development and Cooperation in the region.  GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah, ORIC Director Prof (Emeritus) Dr Ikram-ul-Haq, Quality Enhancement Cell Director Iram Sohail, academic heads and a large number of faculty members attended the lecture by the eminent scientist who had also previously served the Science Foundation as chief scientific officer of Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Soomro briefed the university faculty members about the overall goal of the ECOSF saying youths were the future of the world, thus promoting youths' engagement in science, technology and education for economic development and peace within the ECOSF region and beyond remained the priority of the ECOSF. He also shared with the audience the process of the ECOSF funding for the science projects.

Later, the ECOSF president held meetings with the vice-chancellor, director ORIC and physics department chairperson and discussed matters of mutual interest.