ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): In a landmark achievement, Pakistan clinched its first-ever gold medal at the 35th International Biology Olympiad (IBO), held in the Philippines from July 20 to 27.
Abdul Raffay Paracha from Siddique Public School won this historic gold medal for Pakistan at the prestigious 35th IBO.
The STEM Careers Programme, a joint effort between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), sponsored the participation of the Pakistani team.
Dr Asma Imran and Dr Asma Rehman of the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), a PIEAS-affiliated organisation within the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), headed the delegation.
The team’s other members also gave excellent performances. While Sadia Zulfiqar from Rawalpindi and Arooj Fatima from Shakargarh proudly represented Pakistan in the international tournament, Ayyan Aslam from Government College University in Lahore was awarded an Honourable Mention.
Meanwhile, Daniyal Shahzad Hamid, from Rawat, won a bronze medal for Pakistan at the 55th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), held in France from July 17 to 25
In addition, Muhammad Bilal from Lahore won an Honorable Mention, while Eiman Fatima from Fazaia Inter College in Rawalpindi received the Thales Solidarity IPhO Award. The prize comprises a €5,000 educational scholarship and a one-year mentoring to promote diversity in science and technology.
Under the auspices of PAEC, PIEAS hosts the National Science Talent Contest (NSTC) every year in four different disciplines: mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. The National Physics Talent Contest (NPTC) was the forerunner of NSTC. It was introduced by PIEAS in 1995 and has been held regularly since 2003.
Pakistan has sent more than 380 students to participate in International Science Olympiads (ISOs) so far, and they have taken home more than 140 medals. More than 240 training camps have also been held at HEC-designated institutions nationwide, providing advanced scientific instruction to more than 4,500 students.
The STEM Careers Program seeks to develop young, intermediate-level scientists and get them ready for international contests. Subject-specific institutes such as PIEAS for Physics, NIBGE-C for Biology, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry (University of Karachi) for Chemistry, and COMSATS Lahore for Mathematics screen and train students from 19 cities in Pakistan each year.
