By: Shehneela Mazhar
University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore, in collaboration with Lahore College for Women University, on 12th and 13th October 2022, organized a two-days Counter-Deluge Hackathon. The Hackathon concluded with a closing ceremony of the US Mission Pakistan and Pak-US Alumni Network (PUAN)’s funded project, “Reshaping STEM workforce for economic growth and development” for which Dr. Ali Hussain Kazim, Director of Automotive Engineering Center was the project lead. Prof. Dr. Bushra Mirza (T.I), Vice Chancellor LCWU, and Prof. Dr. Syed Mansoor Sarwar, Vice Chancellor UET Lahore graced the closing ceremony as guests of honor and Mr. Karl Roger, the Public Affairs Officer and the oversees Alumni Program from the US Consulate was the Chief Guest for the occasion.
In this competition, 60 teams participated and built Electronic Prototypes that could predict or prevent an artificial flood, with the limited electronic tools provided to them. Teams also prepared and presented their analysis on Real Flooding based on historic data, facts, statistics, and various research. More than 200 students from various STEM disciplines participated in the Hackathon in which 1st position was obtained by an A-levels girls’ team from Crescent Model Higher Secondary School, 2nd position was attained by a team from Mechatronics Engineering Department, UET Lahore, and 3rd position was obtained by a team from Mechanical Engineering Department, UET Lahore.
The closing ceremony also marked the unveiling of the policy brief which assess the current STEM demographics and gives policy recommendations for making the STEM landscape more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
A panel discussion on the current and future of the STEM landscape was also undertaken in which Dr. Nausheen Mazhar and Dr. Saima Farhan from LCWU and Dr. Ali Raza, Dr. M. Azeem Raza, Dr. Rabia Nazar, and a vibrant student Ms. Sana Naz from UET Lahore participated.
The closing marked the conclusion of several activities undertaken under the umbrella of the project, including STEM awareness at a public primary school and the STEM talk series in which women who are role models in STEM shared their journeys.
