Subject: Report of Open Day on World Science Day for Peace and Development (WSDPD), November 10, 2013 at University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (UAJK), Muzaffarabad, AK, Pakistan Dear Colleagues Kindly refer to the subject. In pursuance of the worldwide celebrations of WSDPD 2013 being held under the umbrella of UNESCO, an OPEN DAY was organized by the Department of Chemistry, University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir in the auditorium of the Zoology Department, UAJK on Sunday, November 10, 2013. The focus of the event was launching an awareness campaign aimed at the Use of Science in Daily Life and the target audience was the Science Teachers and Students of Boys/ Girls Government High/ Higher Secondary Schools of Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir. The gathering included about sixty invited participants from Education Department, GoAJK, some faculty members and students of UAJK. Following is brief report of the event: Mr. Jahanzeb Khan, Research Associate in Chemistry opened the event with the recitation of verses of Chapter Al-Rahman from Holy Quran. Mr. Hamza Abid, student of Govt. Pilot High School, Muzaffarabad paid tributes to the Holy Prophet (SAW). Dr. Kh. Ansar Yasin, Chairman, Department of Chemistry/ Focal Person of the event greeted all the guests for this world over celebrated event and also introduced the WSDPD history and objectives. He shared with the participants that the future of the nation are these young kids and polishing them in the right way can help our nation to excel in future. He marked high respect to the professional commitment of the school teachers for coming to this event. Mr. Muhammad Siddique Awan, Coordinator, BS program (Science Group), UAJK made a presentation on Careers in Biology. He discussed in detail the importance of various fields which are available to potential Biology graduates.
Dr. Muhammad Naeem Qureshi, Registrar, UAJK talked on the topic What is Mathematics? His very basic and informative presentation was very widely appreciated for clearing the misbelieves about the utility of mathematics in our daily life. A group of MSc students, Department of Chemistry, UAJK made practical presentations about the simple facts of chemistry. These included i) Display and Explanation of Models of Atomic Orbitals; ii) Making an Egg Float in Water; iii) Blowing Out the Colour of Coloured Water; iv) Making Water Sing; v) Volcanic Eruption with Kitchen Items; vi) Sliding an Egg into a Narrow Neck Flask and vii) Burning Money without Burning. The students explained the simple chemical phenomenon behind every interesting observation. The activities were supervised by Mr. Amer Rasheed, Lecturer, Department of Chemistry. The School Students showed a lot of interest in these small projects and discussed with the presenters about the various things. Dr. Kh. Muhammad Raffique, Chairman, Physics Department/ Director ORIC, UAJK despite of his severe physical ailment very diligently discussed Physics in Daily Life. His presentation showed various avenues where physics was being utilized ranging from simple illumination of an electric bulb to constructive/ destructive use of Nuclear Physics. After the technical session was over Dr. Tahseen Ghous, Director, Advanced Studies and Research, UAJK addressed the audience and emphasized the young students to work hard to gain the maximum in the field science and thus bring back the educational glory that had been once associated to our ancestors. Kh. Javeed Iqbal, Senior Subject Specialist, Kashmir Education Assessment Centre (KEAC), Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir who remained very instrumental on the side of Education Department, Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir for arranging this event also spoke on the occasion. He offered his thankfulness to the UAJK authorities for inviting the teachers and students of the school and thus creating a liaison between educational institutions of primary and tertiary levels.
Dr. Muhammad Naeem Qureshi, Registrar, UAJK thanked all the guests, especially the students and science teachers of the schools to attend this very important academic activity. He also stressed that to achieve an important place on the map of the world; a collaborative effort among all the educational institutions of the country is the need of the hour. He assured that UAJK will be doing her best efforts to act as a forerunner of this journey, insha Allah. He also praised the effort of the Department of Chemistry, especially the students for making this event a great success. In the end Dr. Kh. Ansar Yasin paid his highest tributes to all the faculty members, students of Department of Chemistry and allied staff of Departments of Chemistry and Zoology who had worked meticulously to successfully organize the only event of this kind in the history of UAJK. All the participants were also served with Lunch Boxes for some refreshment. (Picture Gallery is added at the end.) Dr. Kh. Ansar Yasin Chairman/ Focal Person Dated: November 10, 2013, Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir
Picture Gallery Figure 1 Audience at Open Day on WSDPD at UAJK Figure 2 Student Participants at Open Day on WSDPD at UAJK
Figure 3 M. Siddique Awan Giving Talk on Open Day on WSPPD at UAJK Figure 4 Dr. Qureshi in His Talk at Open Day on WSPPD at UAJK
Figure 5 Students Learning about Atomic Models Figure 6 Students in an Interesting Activity
Figure 7 Student Demonstrating "Make Water Sing" Figure 8 Student Demonstrating "Volcanic Eruption with Kitchen Item"
Figure 9 Student with Another Activity Figure 10 Dr. Raffique Discussing the Importance of Physics
Figure 11 Dr. Tahseen Ghous Addressing the Gathering Figure 12 Participants Learning About Models