International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and United Nation’s Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) both endorsed the year as the International Year of Chemistry (IYC).
UNESCO and IUPAC both strongly believe that it is time to celebrate the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the world of science and technology.
It was in August 2007 that the IUPAC General Assembly in Italy decided to dedicate 2011 to the advancement of chemistry.
Among the broader objectives of the IYC, according to UNESCO’s website, are to increase the public appreciation and understanding of chemistry in meeting world needs; encourage the interest of young people in chemistry; celebrate the role of women in chemistry or major historical events in chemistry, including the centenaries of Marie Curie’s Nobel Prize and founding of the International Association of Chemical Societies; and lectures and visits of young minds to chemistry labs and industries related to the field of chemistry.
The head of the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary told Dawn.com that the National core group in chemistry has planned many important events of chemistry in Pakistan for 2011. National core group in chemistry was established on 17 January, 2002 by the Ministry of science and technology to promote research in chemistry at various levels.
“The Hussain Ibrahim Jamal (HEJ) research institute will host a large conference in collaboration with the department of chemistry at the University of Karachi. ‘Chemistry for life’ is the theme of the moot and will be held in March 2011,” said Dr. Choudhary.
Dr. Choudhary also said that IYC will be celebrated and honoured in multiple ways by holding lectures and talks by prominent international scientists, student visits to labs and newsletters will also be published
Pakistan also holds an outstanding record of achievements in chemistry such as publications, books awards, patents, conferences and visits by internationally-renowned chemists.
Dr. Salim uz Zaman Siddiqui and Dr. Mehdi Hassan were both eminent chemists from Pakistan. Dr. Siddiqui was a Fellow of Royal Society and did monumental work on natural products chemistry while Dr. Siddiqui established the HEJ institute at the University of Karachi, currently the best research institute in the country in the field of chemical sciences. The institute was also declared the most productive chemistry research institute in the Islamic world.
Dr Atta ur Rehman is a world-renowned chemist with 900 research papers with dozens of patents. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society and a UNESCO science laureate. Dr. Rehman played an important role in promoting higher education, and science and technology, not only in Pakistan but also in the Islamic world.
Worldwide, a variety of diverse events will take place to highlight the role of chemistry in health, environment and improving everyday life. A timeline of the international events can be viewed at: http://www.chemistry2011.org/.
via Dawn
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