On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, meet our alumnae from the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network who are contributing towards STEM fields in Pakistan.
Samiya Farooq, Global Undergraduate Exchange Program
During my services (beginner level) at a local NGO in Lahore, I became aware of the Richard Branson’s $25m prize for scalable and sustainable ways to remove the greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. One of the finalists of the challenge is Savory Institute Colorado. This institute believes in connecting the dots between climate changes, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women empowerment. Savory institute operates in many different regions across the globe. Principals of Holistic management (established over a period of 40 years of remarkable efforts and experience) taught by savory institute focus on a holistic approach towards nature (effective water cycle, efficient solar energy flow, adequate soil biodiversity and carbon sequestration through livestock management) achieving more production and controlling the desertification.
Later in year 2015 our team was selected to be a hub candidate (we are working to get the hub accreditation too). Against all the odds (and the fact that I was few months old employee and a recent graduate with veterinary background), I was nominated to attend two trainings (in USA and Africa). These trainings were organized by savory institute and were sponsored by the NGO I worked with. After successfully completing the two trainings and five comprehensive online courses I managed to bag the title of first Pakistani holistic management accredited professional educator trainee of south Asian region (certified by savory institute through online interview).
To test the protocols of holistic management in Pakistan, we have set up a demonstration farm at sub-urban campus of UVAS (university of veterinary and Animal Sciences) in district kasur. Several times, I can sense the reservations about me, working with men on a farm with no other female staff. But good leadership and peer support is pushing me well through it. I might fail in the end (with the research), but the motivation that being spread among the young female veterinarians and the female students around is worth the struggle that I am going through.
Later in year 2015 our team was selected to be a hub candidate (we are working to get the hub accreditation too). Against all the odds (and the fact that I was few months old employee and a recent graduate with veterinary background), I was nominated to attend two trainings (in USA and Africa). These trainings were organized by savory institute and were sponsored by the NGO I worked with. After successfully completing the two trainings and five comprehensive online courses I managed to bag the title of first Pakistani holistic management accredited professional educator trainee of south Asian region (certified by savory institute through online interview).
To test the protocols of holistic management in Pakistan, we have set up a demonstration farm at sub-urban campus of UVAS (university of veterinary and Animal Sciences) in district kasur. Several times, I can sense the reservations about me, working with men on a farm with no other female staff. But good leadership and peer support is pushing me well through it. I might fail in the end (with the research), but the motivation that being spread among the young female veterinarians and the female students around is worth the struggle that I am going through.
Sameen Ghaffar, Global Undergraduate Exchange Program
I hailed from a society where women seldom gets opportunities, yet here I am, A Mechatronics and Control Engineer; from well known university of Pakistan (UET Lahore). My successful voyage was not ended there, I am Currently doing Post Graduation from one of the top most university of Pakistan “LUMS” on fully funded scholarship in the field of “Embedded and Electronics System”. A woman and Engineering? Surprisingly Great! No. not only this, A women in Sports too! I have chosen my Final year project “Cricket Bowling Analysis” which is related to the field of Biomedical Engineering which is an emerging field in Pakistan. I served as Lab engineer in Workshop Technology Lab in LUMS and organized a number of Robotic Competitions. This journey was not like a bed of roses! It was difficult! Very difficult!! But a strong Motivation and the urge to prove myself made my ways Easier and made me a proud Citizen.
Ayesha Rauf, Professional Fellow
Ayesha is a sustainable development enthusiast, passionate about improving lives of people through technology. She was awarded Cambridge Trust Scholarship for pursuing MPhil in Technology Policy, at the University of Cambridge. Being an electrical engineer, she holds a unique mix of experience from both technology and social development sector. UNDP awarded her with a fellowship to represent Pakistan at ITU Telecom Youth Forum ‘02. She has advocated ICT4D at multiple fora and contributed to youth declarations at ITU Youth Forum and World Summit on Information Society ‘05. With an experience in policy analysis, technology transfer management, innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems, she has helped develop Intellectual Property Policy for a public sector Engineering University in Pakistan. Ayesha has been an active member of technology managers, supported by CLDP and aims at helping organisations and governments for developing innovation ecosystem that promotes commercialization of indigenous solutions for sustainable development.
Anum Asif, International Visitors Leadership Program
Major STEM achievements of Asif include:
– Research Paper on Manufacturing of nano compound zinc cobaltite that serves as super conductor.
– Worked on Carbon sequestration and developed a project to earn carbon credits and make our industries environmental friendly.
– Lead shifts as Shift Manager in ICI, this is one practical example of pursuing field job which is highly odd in our country.
– Lead project development and production of Bleaching Earth with a method which has never been used in Pakistan at International Petrochemicals. It added economic benefit and sustainability.
– Selected by Nestle Sheikhupura to lead process shift as Team leader, this is being done first time in Nestle to make a space for female process leaders and I am on task to sent an example and make way for other female candidates.
– Reviewed design of coal fired boiler and steam turbine which was successfully commissioned in 2015 at ICI.
– Research Paper on Manufacturing of nano compound zinc cobaltite that serves as super conductor.
– Worked on Carbon sequestration and developed a project to earn carbon credits and make our industries environmental friendly.
– Lead shifts as Shift Manager in ICI, this is one practical example of pursuing field job which is highly odd in our country.
– Lead project development and production of Bleaching Earth with a method which has never been used in Pakistan at International Petrochemicals. It added economic benefit and sustainability.
– Selected by Nestle Sheikhupura to lead process shift as Team leader, this is being done first time in Nestle to make a space for female process leaders and I am on task to sent an example and make way for other female candidates.
– Reviewed design of coal fired boiler and steam turbine which was successfully commissioned in 2015 at ICI.
Yasha Nazir Butt, Global Undergraduate Exchange Program
During my exchange semester I studied as a full-time Chemistry student and got additional opportunity to take free extra Crystallography classes from Dr. Jerry P. Jasinski, also the co-editor of Acta Crystallographica-Section E. Dr. J was surprised and happy when I successfully refined ten crystal structures and produced ortep diagrams using set of scientific softwares. That is when I became a co-author of an impact factor publication for the first time. Today I am a published scientist of more than eight publications in renowned journals.
Things became more interesting with the passage of time. I developed more interest in research based work. On my return from the States during summer break I joined Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) Lab Complex where I got an opportunity to carry out independent research work under the supervision of Scientific Officers, Miss Nasim Zahra and Ms. Alim-un-Nisa. My mentors at the Food and Biotechnology Research Center Lab were of great help and advice in this whole process of analysis and interpretation and I learned so much from their guideline and instructions. It was after immense efforts and endeavors that I successfully completed my research work on Aflatoxins found in different food samples by developing an adsorption based clean-up technology used in TLC against artificial dyes. Eventually, I became a published scientist with research work published in renowned journals and that’s when my hidden talent got revealed: power of reviewing and writing. I continued with scientific writing concurrently with my studies after the summer break was over and spent free hours reviewing previous publications of scientists.
Hall of Fame: Distinguished Scientific Achievements
• Position holder, Scientific Essay Writing Competition by National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS).
• Best eSci comic Award of 2013 by Home of Science eSci Research
• Best Study Abroad Column writer award of the year 2014, Equinox Newspaper, Keene NH
• Global Ambassador in recognition of contributions to Global Education Office, Keene State College
• Grant recipient for Project Smile, Chief Organizer Seminar on Women Empowerment through IREX
• Successful completion of online course DNA from structure to Therapy, Germany.
• Poster presentation at International LS2 Annual Meeting in Lausanne Switzerland.
• Content writer of the Science Issue of Agha Khan University ‘Hybridoma’ and ‘The Educationist’
• Training at PCR & HPLC workshops in Collaboration with Office of Research Innovation & Commercialization.
• Attendee at one day Workshop on Best Research Practices (Western Perspective).
• Participation in HEC Scientific Essay Writing Competition.
• Delegate at All Pakistan Student Conference by National Student Council.
• Participation in the 11th Biennial Conference of Molecular Biosciences.
• Participation in Conference on Recent Advancements in Stem Cells Research.
• Participation in one day International symposium on Infectious diseases, prevention, and control.
• Completion of Biosafety Training Workshop for Young Scientists through AAAS Society.
• Successful Drive to promote science through social media: Insight Science insightscience.strikingly.com/
Things became more interesting with the passage of time. I developed more interest in research based work. On my return from the States during summer break I joined Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) Lab Complex where I got an opportunity to carry out independent research work under the supervision of Scientific Officers, Miss Nasim Zahra and Ms. Alim-un-Nisa. My mentors at the Food and Biotechnology Research Center Lab were of great help and advice in this whole process of analysis and interpretation and I learned so much from their guideline and instructions. It was after immense efforts and endeavors that I successfully completed my research work on Aflatoxins found in different food samples by developing an adsorption based clean-up technology used in TLC against artificial dyes. Eventually, I became a published scientist with research work published in renowned journals and that’s when my hidden talent got revealed: power of reviewing and writing. I continued with scientific writing concurrently with my studies after the summer break was over and spent free hours reviewing previous publications of scientists.
Hall of Fame: Distinguished Scientific Achievements
• Position holder, Scientific Essay Writing Competition by National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS).
• Best eSci comic Award of 2013 by Home of Science eSci Research
• Best Study Abroad Column writer award of the year 2014, Equinox Newspaper, Keene NH
• Global Ambassador in recognition of contributions to Global Education Office, Keene State College
• Grant recipient for Project Smile, Chief Organizer Seminar on Women Empowerment through IREX
• Successful completion of online course DNA from structure to Therapy, Germany.
• Poster presentation at International LS2 Annual Meeting in Lausanne Switzerland.
• Content writer of the Science Issue of Agha Khan University ‘Hybridoma’ and ‘The Educationist’
• Training at PCR & HPLC workshops in Collaboration with Office of Research Innovation & Commercialization.
• Attendee at one day Workshop on Best Research Practices (Western Perspective).
• Participation in HEC Scientific Essay Writing Competition.
• Delegate at All Pakistan Student Conference by National Student Council.
• Participation in the 11th Biennial Conference of Molecular Biosciences.
• Participation in Conference on Recent Advancements in Stem Cells Research.
• Participation in one day International symposium on Infectious diseases, prevention, and control.
• Completion of Biosafety Training Workshop for Young Scientists through AAAS Society.
• Successful Drive to promote science through social media: Insight Science insightscience.strikingly.com/
Maansi Seetlani, Global Undergraduate Exchange Program
Starting from the beginning,In 2015 i had applied for the Global UGRAD scholarship program where fortunately i got selected as a “principal candidate” in 2016. My journey started on 5th August 2016 to 17 December 2016. I was placed at Wilson college Chambersburg Pennsylvania for doing one semester in the field of medicine. Fortunately, during the Undergraduate exchange program, i got a chance to do an Observe-ship in the field of medicine Gastroenterology for the period of one month with a local doctor of Chambersburg Pennsylvania. Also, by the end of that month i got a certificate of Achievement for successfully completing an observe-ship that really means a lot to me. Although, It was not an essay job for me to manage studies at Wilson college and give time to the hospital for observe-ship. However, my time management skills that i learned in united states helped me a lot to deal with this overloaded work. From Doctor Khokhar, I learned many screening procedures that are yet to be done in rural areas of Pakistan. Apparently, i’m applying my those medical skills on people by encouraging them to seek medical attention towards screening procedures. Considerably, these screening procedures will consequently reduce the risk of many lethal and devastating diseases in Pakistan.
Facebook Comments Box
