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Symposium
on Role of Physics in Biology and Medicine at AKU
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Developing Countries Must Invest Resources in Science and Technology
Otherwise They Will Continue to Trail Behind the Developed World
Karachi, Sept 7, 2005: Aga Khan University (AKU) held a symposium
on 'Physics and Health - Role of Physics in Biology and Medicine'
to celebrate 'World Year of Physics: 2005' on the centenary of the
publication of three seminal papers by Einstein which transformed
humanity's view of the physical universe.
The Chief Guest, Dr Ishfaq Ahmad, Advisor to the Prime Minister, former
Chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and one of country's
leading physicists, conveyed in his keynote address, read out by Dr
Shahid Kamal, Director, Karachi Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear
Medicine, that physical sciences form the bedrock on which other scientific
disciplines are built. More recently, he noted, this relevance has
been recognised in the establishment of the field of biophysics and
medicine.
In his inaugural address, Shamsh Kassim-Lakha H.I, S.I., President,
AKU, emphasised that AKU is serving the nation in the field of health
and education and that this symposium and the workshops associated
with it are part of the University's commitment to advance research
and development in Pakistan, and to act as a platform for national
and international academic activities. He stressed the multidisciplinary
nature of current scientific advancements and said, "Physics and other
basic sciences are of increasing importance to the development of
medicine. Developing countries must invest resources in science and
technology, especially in the new interdisciplinary fields, otherwise
they will continue to trail behind the developed world."
Dr Mohammad Khurshid, Dean of AKU Medical College, informed earlier
in his welcome address that AKU has been producing research of international
standards. He specifically mentioned the bioinformatics and medical
imaging workshops held at AKU, which are cutting-edge areas of research
and development in the filed of medicine.
Dr Saad Bashir, Coordinator of the symposium and Associate Professor
at AKU, highlighted the changing view of physics, chemistry and mathematics
in biology and medicine. He referred to the report by US National
Research Council that recommends making these sciences part of the
training of biologists.
Dr Shahid Kamal, Director of Karachi Institute of Radiotherapy & Nuclear
Medicine (KIRAN), explained the role of physics in the treatment of
cancer. Other speakers included Dr Nadeem Ahmed, Department Head of
Radiology, AKU; Dr Javed Akhter, PAEC; Dr Obaidur Rahman, Sindh Institute
of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT); and Professors Fauzia Khan,
Chairperson and Fazal Hameed Khan, Department of Anaesthesia, AKU.
They discussed the relevance and use of physics in the various disciplines
of radiology, anaesthesia, cardiology, and ultrasound, etc.
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