President ECOSF presides over the 3rd International Conference of Pakistan Phytopathological Society, University of Karachi

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President ECOSF presides over the 3rd International Conference of Pakistan Phytopathological Society, University of Karachi - 23-25 Jan 2014

An International Conference of Pakistan Phytopathological Society was held at the University of Karachi from 23-25 Jan 2014. The theme of the conference was "Climate Change and Plant Diseases; Challenges and Opportunities". The International conference was presided over by the ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro whereas, the special guest and speaker was the President of International Society for Plant Pathology, Dr. Greg Johnson from Australia. In all, 260 papers were presented in the conference which have been compiled in an abstract book of the conference. In addition to over 200 delegates/plant pathologists from within Pakistan, 11 scientists from other countries including Australia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nigeria participated in the conference. The conference held exclusive sessions on Climate Change & Plant Diseases, Pre &Post Harvest Crop Diseases, and Nematolgy.

President ECOSF in his presidential address spoke about the importance of research in general and influence of climate change on plant and animal diseases in the context of biodiversity and ecosystem services. He also spoke about the newly established intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services (IPBES) as well as the role of ECO Science Foundation as an observer member/stakeholder of IPBES. Dr. Soomro elaborated on the working of ECO Science Foundation as well as IPBES and invited the participating experts to contribute towards achieving the objectives of IPBES through the ECO Science Foundation, keeping in view the fact that ECOSF is an observer member/stakeholder of the panel.

As an invited speaker in the technical session, Prof. Soomro made a presentation on "Innovative Strategies for Development, Role of S & T – Pakistan Scenario". His presentation focused on the prerequisites for innovation and S&T based Economic Development, and shared the reasons of failures of innovative strategies as well as some successful stories. He also highlighted the Government of Pakistan's recent "Science, Technology and Innovation Policy"; which put emphasis on innovation.

He discussed the mechanism of ORICs (Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialization) established by Higher Education Commission (HEC) in all the Universities in Pakistan and R & D Industry Programme of Pakistan Science Foundation. Finally, he presented a model for Economic Development based on Science, Technology and Innovation, thereby, linking the Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE), R&D Organizations, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Industry/Private Sector.

Dr. Soomro concluded that "linking public sector capability with private sector marketability is the way to Public-Private- Partnership (PPP) and commercialization of technology". He considered the "development of human minds and behaviors" leading to just, rational, knowledgeable, innovative and enterprising society as the key interventions; which in turn can happen if the children, at very early stage, are grooms as rational and positive human beings.

[    Abstract of Dr. Manzoor Soomro    ]

On the occasion of closing of the conference, the renowned and celebrated Mycologist/Botanist and former Chief Editor of Pakistan Journal of Botany and Pakistan Journal of Nematology, Senior Fellow of Pakistan Academy of Sciences- Professor Dr. Abdul Ghaffar was honoured with a "Life time Achievement Award". The award was jointly presented to Dr. Ghaffar by Prof. Manzoor Soomro and Prof. Greg Johnson.

Group photo with Prof. Dr. Abdul Ghaffar after he received the life time achievement award