Pakistan Academy of Sciences
Encyclopedia
The Pakistan Academy of Sciences (Urdu: پاکستان اكيڈ مى ﺁف سائس; shortened to PAS, is a learned society
Learned society
A learned society is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline/profession, as well a group of disciplines. Membership may be open to all, may require possession of some qualification, or may be an honor conferred by election, as is the case with the oldest learned societies,...

 for science and technology based in Pakistan. The academy consisted and served as the network of science across the Pakistan as well as auxiliary scientific and social infrastructure such as libraries and hospitals. Founded in February of 1953 by scientist Salimuzzaman Siddiqui
Salimuzzaman Siddiqui
Salimuzzaman Siddiqui , HI, MBE, SI, D.Phil., FPAS, FRS. was a leading Pakistani scientist in Natural Product Chemistry. He is credited for pioneering the isolation of unique chemical compounds from the Neem , Rauwolfia, and various other flora. As the founder director of H.E.J...

, it was granted a federal status by Prime minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...

 Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin
Khawaja Nazimuddin
Hajji Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, KCIE , was the second Governor-General of Pakistan, and later the second Prime Minister of Pakistan as well.-Early life:...

, as Royal Pakistan Academy of Sciences. The PAS is a non-governmental and non-political think tank of distinguished scientists in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

, working for the promotion of science and its applications for the general welfare of humanity. The major function of the body is to advise the federal and provincial governments on issues relevant to the scientific education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...

, Research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...

. The affairs of the Academy are regulated by its Charter and Bylaws approved by the Fellows.

Foundation

The concept of establishing a national level "Academy of Sciences" was initiated at the first National Educational Conference that was held at Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...

 in November 17th of 1947. The concept was heavily inspired the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...

, and Pakistani scientists had pressed the government to established the organization on different occasions. At the occasion, eminent scientists were elected as Foundation Fellows of the proposed Academy. At the fifth Pakistan Science Conference in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...

, the Academy was officially inaugurated on February 16, 1953 by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...

, Khwaja Nazimuddin.

Academy fellows

The membership of the Academy is restricted to scientists who have proven extraordinary contributions to the advancement of scientific research, education and knowledge. The scientists are chosen by the voting and their status of achievements. This enables the Academy to be regarded as a repository of the highest scientific talent available in the country.

Research

The Academy has a rich tradition of organizing conferences promoting the work of researchers from multiple fields of science. The Academy's Lahore chapter recently held a National Research Conference in Lahore on June 29th and 30th, 2007.

Publications

The Academy regularly publishes a quarterly journal The Proceedings of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences since 1963 that is distributed to international scientific organizations and universities by subscription and on exchange basis.

See also

  • Salimuzzaman Siddiqui
    Salimuzzaman Siddiqui
    Salimuzzaman Siddiqui , HI, MBE, SI, D.Phil., FPAS, FRS. was a leading Pakistani scientist in Natural Product Chemistry. He is credited for pioneering the isolation of unique chemical compounds from the Neem , Rauwolfia, and various other flora. As the founder director of H.E.J...

    , Foundation Fellow of the Academy
  • Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman
    Atta ur Rahman
    Atta-ur-Rahman, D.Phil., TI, SI HI, NI, is a leading scientist and scholar in the field of organic chemistry from Pakistan, especially renowned for his research in the various areas relating to natural product chemistry...

    , former President of the Academy.
  • Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
  • Higher Education Commission of Pakistan
  • Pakistan Educational Research Network
    Pakistan Educational Research Network
    The Pakistan Education and Research Network connects universities and research institutes through high-speed Internet bandwidth. The main purpose of this network is to facilitate researchers/students in sharing data and to coordinate with each other though video conferencing.Currently 56 Pakistani...

  • Hussain Ebrahim Jamal Research Institute of Chemistry
    Hussain Ebrahim Jamal Research Institute of Chemistry
    The Hussain Ebrahim Jamal Research Institute of Chemistry, widely known as H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, is an advanced and academic Chemistry and Mathematics research institute in Karachi, Sindh Province of Pakistan...


External links

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