Fozia Azam

A leading Chinese organisation provided 10 space maker kits to Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) for holding a teenager camp for young Pakistani students, WealthPK reports. The kits, provided by the Children and Youth Science Centre (CYSC) of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), were handed over by PSF to the Institute of Space Technology (IST) at a ceremony in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The ceremony was held at the Ministry of Science and Technology for signing a Memorandum of Understanding between PSF and IST for the promotion and popularisation of science, STEAM education in space science, technology and its application. The ceremony was attended by Federal Minister Agha Hassan Baloch, Secretary G.M Memon and other senior officers of the ministry and representatives of PSF and IST.

The MoU was signed by PSF Chairman Prof Shahid Mahmood Baig and IST Vice-chancellor Major General (R) Rehan Abdul Baqi. PSF and IST have planned to jointly organise a teenagers’ space maker camp for young Pakistani students. Teenage students will be trained at the camp to make space balloons with these kits. The balloons would reach up to 30 kilometres in space. The objective of the MoU is to define the general framework of scientific and technological cooperation between PSF and IST.

It is aimed at getting benefits from each other’s expertise through mutual collaboration and interaction in joint scientific activities. The MoU will also cover the areas of joint management, participation in international Olympiads, moots, galas and competitions. Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister Agha Hassan Baloch said that it was the first programme of its nature that would show positive results by developing the scientific skills of teenage students and harnessing their talent in the right direction.

He said that for the promotion of scientific aptitudes in the students, 50 STEM schools equipped with the latest laboratories were being set up across the country. He said that training sessions for STEM teachers would be started in January next year. The minister also directed PSF to send scientific caravans to hold exhibitions at schools in backward and remote areas of the country to create awareness among students. The minister reiterated his resolve to enhance practical scientific research in the country according to the needs of the 21st century, said a press release received by WealthPK.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk