The Lindau Alumni Association of Pakistan
Brief Report on the participation in the 57th meeting of Noble
Laureates in Physiology or Medicine with students and young
researchers, 1st-6th July, 2007, Lindau, Germany.
By: Dr. Waqas Tariq Qureshi
It was a worth remembering day when I received a selection email from Nobel
laureates meeting council of Lindau. I still cherish the day and I remember when I
saw the joy and happiness in the eyes of my parents after breaking the much awaited
news. Later on our group leader and one of the top scientists of Pakistan, Dr. N. M.
Butt notified us about the visit through the emails. He had remained quite active in
selecting the group of pakistani young researchers throughout the laborious
procedure that he has set for the selection for the Lindau meeting participation. I was
told via email that a group of 7 pakistani students have been selected by the council.
While scrolling down the email, I was being more grateful to God for showing his
kindness as I conjured up the shine of hope in all those 125 students who were
selected through a rigorous process. First, all the major news papers and educational
institutions were directly contacted by the Higher Education Commission and
Pakistan Science foundation. Then out of them, a list of 125 PhDs, Post doc students,
medical doctors, physiologists and what not were selected. Meeting those laureates
during the interview day made me feel that it is a gathering of top notches of
Pakistan. I was interviewed in the category of Medical Students. A board of almost a
dozen professors, education directors, vice chancelors, well renowned medical doctors
were seated on a table, who were demonstrated my Curriculum Vitae on a power
point presentation. I had to face each of them who tested my general knowledge,
research accumen, aptitude, IQ, communication skills, personality, and many other
things about which we found out later. 8 students were short listed out of them and
unfortunately one of them did not get selected for the meeting.
“A time well spent is a life-time’s experience” – Carlyl Thomas
We reached Fankfurt on 29th of June, 2007 from where we reached Lindau by train.
A wonderful motel was arranged for us by the council. The next day we were
welcomed by Countess Sonja and we registered with the desk. The meetings started
and we had a lot of interaction with Nobel Laureates. We cleared our doubts and took
professional help regarding our future research projects that we seek in Pakistan. It
was a healthy interaction which nobody of our team can forget. it was not before the
end of this week of immense importance that I was able to answer the following
questions:
A. How good were you as compared to your fellow participants of
advanced countries ?
During the meetings we had a lot of time to interact with our science colleagues and
we found out our common interests. Exchanging our views and talking over lunches
and dinners. I found out that even though we are studying in developing country but
still we talk at par to them. Science has become a global language now and meetings
like this have surely enhanced the healthy and fruitful exchange of innovative ideas
throughout the world. The canyon between the level of knowledge of a student from
advanced country and developing country has almost filled.
B. Was the public money worth spending for this participation ?
The project was well funded by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan which was
giving daily allowances to us and was actually working side by side with Pakistan
Science Foundation. Dr. N. M. Butt and Mr. Waqar Butt really worked hard to get the
grants for this program. They have gained the confidence of Government by showing
the education commission those emails and appreciations that they have received
from Lindau Council so there is an inclination towards this program along with the
political willingness now. This public money which was spent made us share our ideas
and views with our international science fellows which would definitely make us
capable of working with a new sense of dedication and innovation onwards and it was
worth it.
C. What benefits you think the Pakistani students derive from such
participation and should this programme be continued in future ?
The benefits I think a Pakistani student would gain was a question, one could not
have answered until and unless one gets to be a part of such conferences. Finally they
assembled themselves in my mind as follows:
1. An interaction with the top notch students and nobel laureates is itself a
benefit. Its not every day’s experience to be in such a large gathering where
everybody is so friendly and open to share his/her views.
2. For a developing country like Pakistan, we need a flow of knowledge from the
outer world to feed our youth.
3. The meetings inspire the young researchers to do something that helps them,
outshine the others and shine brilliantly as a star on the horizons of science and
technology and well to achieve a nobel prize as well. Atleast it has inspired me to go
the extra mile, do the extra lap and be extraordinary.
In the end, I would like to thank the Lindau Council for the excellent
care they provided and the state of the art facililties which were
appreciated by everyone there. I would also like to thank them for
providing us with an oppurtunity to witness this auspicious event. In
addition to this I am grateful to Dr. N. M. Butt and Mr. Waqar Butt for
making this miracle possible for me.
Laureates in Physiology or Medicine with students and young
researchers, 1st-6th July, 2007, Lindau, Germany.
By: Dr. Waqas Tariq Qureshi
It was a worth remembering day when I received a selection email from Nobel
laureates meeting council of Lindau. I still cherish the day and I remember when I
saw the joy and happiness in the eyes of my parents after breaking the much awaited
news. Later on our group leader and one of the top scientists of Pakistan, Dr. N. M.
Butt notified us about the visit through the emails. He had remained quite active in
selecting the group of pakistani young researchers throughout the laborious
procedure that he has set for the selection for the Lindau meeting participation. I was
told via email that a group of 7 pakistani students have been selected by the council.
While scrolling down the email, I was being more grateful to God for showing his
kindness as I conjured up the shine of hope in all those 125 students who were
selected through a rigorous process. First, all the major news papers and educational
institutions were directly contacted by the Higher Education Commission and
Pakistan Science foundation. Then out of them, a list of 125 PhDs, Post doc students,
medical doctors, physiologists and what not were selected. Meeting those laureates
during the interview day made me feel that it is a gathering of top notches of
Pakistan. I was interviewed in the category of Medical Students. A board of almost a
dozen professors, education directors, vice chancelors, well renowned medical doctors
were seated on a table, who were demonstrated my Curriculum Vitae on a power
point presentation. I had to face each of them who tested my general knowledge,
research accumen, aptitude, IQ, communication skills, personality, and many other
things about which we found out later. 8 students were short listed out of them and
unfortunately one of them did not get selected for the meeting.
“A time well spent is a life-time’s experience” – Carlyl Thomas
We reached Fankfurt on 29th of June, 2007 from where we reached Lindau by train.
A wonderful motel was arranged for us by the council. The next day we were
welcomed by Countess Sonja and we registered with the desk. The meetings started
and we had a lot of interaction with Nobel Laureates. We cleared our doubts and took
professional help regarding our future research projects that we seek in Pakistan. It
was a healthy interaction which nobody of our team can forget. it was not before the
end of this week of immense importance that I was able to answer the following
questions:
A. How good were you as compared to your fellow participants of
advanced countries ?
During the meetings we had a lot of time to interact with our science colleagues and
we found out our common interests. Exchanging our views and talking over lunches
and dinners. I found out that even though we are studying in developing country but
still we talk at par to them. Science has become a global language now and meetings
like this have surely enhanced the healthy and fruitful exchange of innovative ideas
throughout the world. The canyon between the level of knowledge of a student from
advanced country and developing country has almost filled.
B. Was the public money worth spending for this participation ?
The project was well funded by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan which was
giving daily allowances to us and was actually working side by side with Pakistan
Science Foundation. Dr. N. M. Butt and Mr. Waqar Butt really worked hard to get the
grants for this program. They have gained the confidence of Government by showing
the education commission those emails and appreciations that they have received
from Lindau Council so there is an inclination towards this program along with the
political willingness now. This public money which was spent made us share our ideas
and views with our international science fellows which would definitely make us
capable of working with a new sense of dedication and innovation onwards and it was
worth it.
C. What benefits you think the Pakistani students derive from such
participation and should this programme be continued in future ?
The benefits I think a Pakistani student would gain was a question, one could not
have answered until and unless one gets to be a part of such conferences. Finally they
assembled themselves in my mind as follows:
1. An interaction with the top notch students and nobel laureates is itself a
benefit. Its not every day’s experience to be in such a large gathering where
everybody is so friendly and open to share his/her views.
2. For a developing country like Pakistan, we need a flow of knowledge from the
outer world to feed our youth.
3. The meetings inspire the young researchers to do something that helps them,
outshine the others and shine brilliantly as a star on the horizons of science and
technology and well to achieve a nobel prize as well. Atleast it has inspired me to go
the extra mile, do the extra lap and be extraordinary.
In the end, I would like to thank the Lindau Council for the excellent
care they provided and the state of the art facililties which were
appreciated by everyone there. I would also like to thank them for
providing us with an oppurtunity to witness this auspicious event. In
addition to this I am grateful to Dr. N. M. Butt and Mr. Waqar Butt for
making this miracle possible for me.
If you have any comments or queries,
please feel free to contact us:
editor@promotingresearch.com
please feel free to contact us:
editor@promotingresearch.com
To continue that positive and useful interaction and
exchange of ideas, a forum has also been made. Hopefully it
would be a platform for generating good discussions and
staying in touch with fellow students/scientists from around
the world. International Participants are also invited to
become members and share their experiences and ideas and
participate actively in the discussions.
Meetings of Young Scientists with Nobel Laureates
http://lindaualumni.blogspot.com/
exchange of ideas, a forum has also been made. Hopefully it
would be a platform for generating good discussions and
staying in touch with fellow students/scientists from around
the world. International Participants are also invited to
become members and share their experiences and ideas and
participate actively in the discussions.
Meetings of Young Scientists with Nobel Laureates
http://lindaualumni.blogspot.com/
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