3-Day Science, Technology and Arts Competition Concludes at AKHSS, Chitral

Reported by Muhammad Jalaluddin Shamil

A three-day Science Technology and Arts Competition concluded on November 18, 2018 at Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, in Chitral. Government officials, leadership of civil society organizations, NGOs, AKDN representatives, educationists, Teachers, students and dignitaries of Chitral witnessed the concluding ceremony.

The three-day event started on November 16. Activities of the inaugural session included display of projects.

A segment of the inaugural session was a stage talk presented by students of the host institution on a theme “The pace of Science and the  Response of Men”. The segment explored with profundity the future of scientific and technological developments and a possible human response to the astonishing development in the making.

Second day of Science, Technology and Arts Competition witnessed officials, students and the public visiting the displays, and engaging in conversation with the students. Dr. Carl Amrhein, Provost & Vice Presidents of AKU, Dr. Rosalind Raddatz, Dr. Sajid Ali, Dr. Sadruddin Pardhan, Dr. Ellen Amrhein, Ms. Salima Punjwani and Ms. Sughra Choudhry Khan, Director Education AKF (Pak) were among the visitors.

Independent judges assessed the projets based on a set of criteria declared in advance.

Young explorers from 14 schools and Colleges of Chitral competed in categories ranging from Information Technology, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics and Arts. Some of the most interesting projects included an ATM machine, Hydraulic Bridges, and working models of human organs, like heart, lungs, and liver, as well wind energy electricity production projects, projects on drip irrigation system, project using low cost and no-cost materials, and projects using LDR, PIR.

On the third day of the mega event (November 18) was the concluding ceremony, presided over by Commandant Chitral Scouts Col. Moenuddin and Deputy Commissioner Chitral Mr. Khurshid Alam was the Chief Guest. Renowned public intellectual Dr. Inayatuallah Faizi was guest of honor of the ceremony.

According to the assessment of the judges, the following positions were secured by different schools in different categories and were awarded with recognition tokens.

At the end of the program the guests visited the projects and appreciated the efforts of the students. The Science, Technology and Arts Competition-2018 attracted more than 2,000 people from different walks of life during the three days. A total of 133 students from 14 different Schools and Colleges presented 52 different projects during the event.

November 10 is celebrated globally as World Science Day for Peace and Development by UNESCO. By “highlighting the importance of science in society and the urge to involve general public in debates over evolving scientific issues”, the day aims to “ensure that citizen are well informed about scientific developments as well as about the role scientists play for the sustainability of society.”  The international body’s celebration of the days has a purpose; one being to “invite” people, organizations and institutions to be its partner in materializing the aims and objectives set for the “campaign”. This “invitation” was received by Aga Khan Higher Secondary School Chitral by organizing a three-day event on Science, Technology and Arts. Although, the event is one of the calendar activities of the institution, segments of the events were in total harmony with what UNESCO has had outlined in the aims and objectives for World Science Day celebrations and the participation of dozens of Schools across Chitral shows the responsiveness of these Institutions in bringing “science close to society”.

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