Advisor ECOSF addresses the 6th International Conference on Advances in Biosciences at GCU Lahore
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The 6th International Conference on Advances in Biosciences was organized by the Biological Society of Pakistan (BSP) and the Government College University (GCU) Lahore, Pakistan on 18-19 April 2024 at the GCU. The conference was supported by the GCU, Punjab Higher Education Commission and Pakistan Science Foundation.
The conference was opened by Prof. Dr. Kauser Abdulla Malik, the Former Federal Minister of Food Security and Research of Pakistan, President of Pakistan Academy of Sciences and the Dean of Postgraduate Studies at the Foraman Christian College University Lahore. In his speech Prof. Kauser Malik, highlighted the importance of biosciences and the global developments taking place especially in the wake of pandemics and food insecurity and emphasized on scientific community to address the newer issues of plant and animal as well as human sciences in the wake of climate changes badly affecting Pakistan.
On behalf of ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF), its Advisor and Immediate Past President Prof. Manzoor Hussain Soomro joined the conference. He chaired the first plenary session, where Prof. Kauser A. Malik and Prof. M. Qaiser, both renowned Pakistani scientists were the plenary speakers.
Prof. Soomro in his keynote presentation titled; “Climate Science Education of Stakeholders for Sustainable Conservation of Biodiversity & Ecosystems” emphasized that sustainable development is concern and priority of all nations, and all UN member countries, including Pakistan are signatory to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 SDGs and 169 targets are all very important, interconnected and interdependent to be achieved by 2030. It must be kept in mind therefore, that the issues of development are to be addressed holistically, rather than in isolation! Hence, the nations need to address various SDGs simultaneously, he said. He pointed out that since, the participants of “6th International Conference on Advances in Biosciences” are biologists and educationists; the focus of his presentation was on climate science education of stakeholders for sustainable conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. He further said, “we depend on nature for survival and food security, and if we leave nature untouched, we cannot exist; but if we destroy nature, we will perish. Therefore, our urgent task is to protect nature, not for the sake of nature, but for the sake of mankind! Hence, we must keep a balance and sustained use of natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystems, for they serve life on earth in many ways. For this purpose, education of stakeholders, especially the youth is a key action, all nations must take.”
He highlighted that science education plays a vital role to prepare societies for the global challenges, including the climate change. He pointed out that usual traditional monologue and top-down methods have been used for teaching, which emphasize more on memorization of the facts and scenarios. However, the “inquiry based” hand-on & minds-on methods have been proven to be the best way of teaching and training the learners. He then shared the global success stories of educating stakeholders in in an inquiry-based learning manner and shared the ECOSF Programme of Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) for climate education and the UNESCO concept of Biosphere Reserves framework for education of stakeholders.
Finally, Dr. Soomro highlighted that ECOSF is an intergovernmental organization of 10 countries promoting IBSE as one of its flagship programmes in cooperation with IAP SEP, LAMAP Foundation France and ISTIC Malaysia, ever since its establishment.
Earlier, Prof. Dr. Ikramul Haq the Secretary General of the BSP welcomed the distinguished guests and participants and shared the scope and spread of conference themes and research papers to be presented in the conference. Prof. Adnan Ahmed, the Vice Chancellor also spoke on the occasion. He welcomed the participants and appreciated the BSF and team of Prof. Ikramul Haq of organizing the international conference. In addition to Pakistani participants, there were scientist joining from Iran, Malaysia, UK and USA.