The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -ISESCO- is pleased to announce the launch of "ISESCO Prizes for Science and Technology, 2012". These prizes are awarded for outstanding innovative scientific contributions of socio-economic significance in the fields of biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, physics and technology, undertaken by scientists and researchers in the Member States. The laureates of ISESCO Prizes will be recognized and awarded in a ceremony during the 6th Session of the Islamic Conference of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific research which will be held in Sudan, October 2012. Each prize consists of a reward of US$ 5000 and a Certificate.

You are kindly requested to announce the prizes to relevant institutions in your esteemed country, such as science academies, universities, research centers and scientific institutions (no more than two nominees in each field). Please notify that the closing date for nomination through the National Commission for ISESCO is 31st March 2012.

For more information and nominations forms in the three working languages (Arabic, English and French) you may kindly refer the applicants to our Web Site:

http://www.icpsr.org.ma/?page=SciencePrizes

We are sure that you will kindly undertake the necessary measures to communicate the information and the nomination forms to the concerned scientific institutions in your country, encouraging them to apply for these prestigious and valuable prizes.

Thanking you for your kind cooperation, please accept the assurances of our highest consideration.

Pakistan Scientific & Technological Information Centre (PASTIC), Pakistan Science Foundation, Ministry of Science & Technology, in collaboration with HEJ, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi organized a one-day Workshop on “Patent Protection for R&D” on February 01, 2012 at the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi. Prof. Dr. Manzoor Soomro, Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) Islamabad was the Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Iqbal Choudhary, Director, HEJ, ICCBS was Guest of Honour and Mr. Faisal Mubeen, Chief Operating Officer, Shan Foods (Private) Ltd was invited Guest.

Pakistan Scientific & Technological Information Centre (PASTIC), Pakistan Science Foundation, Ministry of Science & Technology, in collaboration with Institute of Research Promotion (IRP), Energy Update and Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) organized a one day conference on Power Generation & Exhibition on Innovative Energy Solutions at Marriott Hotel Karachi on 2nd February, 2012. H. E Dr. Tilo Klinner, Consul General of Germany in Karachi was the chief guest and Mr. Shaigan Shareef Malik, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Prof. Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro, Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation, Islamabad and Mian Abrar Hussain, President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) were guest of honour. The event is being organized under a University- Industry Partnership Programme (UIP) which was launched last year by PASTIC & IRP. The Power Generation conference and exhibition was part of this programme and could help in developing R&D based solutions for energy problems of Pakistan. The main objectives of Exhibition are to promote developed solutions as well as to keep up to date with the latest innovative energy solutions and to provide a common forum for interaction between industrialists and researchers that will lead to industrial need base R&D in the country.

Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad organized a three-day training course on the theme of ”Art of Scientific Digital Photography with Advanced features”. The objective of the training was to train the scientists in the field of digital photography for better representation of their research work through professional techniques. Mr. Maqsood Ahmed a senior photographer having 30 years of hands on experience in the field of scientific photography was invited as a resource person.

Director General, PASTIC, Dr. Khalil Ahmad Ibupoto inaugurated the training on January 11th . A number of scientists and researchers from Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre (PASTIC), Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) and Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) participated in the training course. The participants learnt various facets of scientific photography in terms of fixed point and field photography. They practiced their learning about the subject in the field through group work. Certificates were distributed by the Director General on the Conclusion of the training.