Zubair Qureshi
In order to promote research, innovation and awareness about challenges in energy, environment and healthcare etc, the Rawalian Community Awareness Programme (RCAP) Friday organized a symposium titled ‘Innovaspire 23’ at the Rawalpindi Medical University with stakeholders, universities, corporate sector and public and private sector research and educational institutions holding their stalls and offering sustainable solutions here on Friday.
The daylong event attracted a large number of youths and entrepreneurs including students, researchers, young scientists and heads of institutions and organizations working in the fields of research and innovation.
Founder and Chief Programme Officer of the RCAP, DrAsif Maqsood Butt and President Dr Omaima Asif in on the occasion said the purpose of the symposium was to build up a culture of innovation and establish linkages among the schools, colleges and universities, particularly between the medical and the engineering universities to encourage students towards doing sustainable projects that provide solutions to the community’s problems. The theme is to inculcate project-based education and promote innovation and entrepreneurship, said Dr Asif Butt.
One could see at the event various stalls on diverse subjects and themes like healthcare, engineering projects, energy and climate-related issues.
One such project that Pakistan needed badly was utilization of wind and solar energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuel. These projects are not merely academic research conducted by the researchers, we shall take them further to the community and have their maximum usage, he further said.
Apart from the wind and solar, there were also stalls showing various health-related projects on dialysis, skin treatment, digital healthcare and even baby care. Water cleanliness was also an integral part of these stalls and apart from the twin cities’ various institutions participants from Karachi had also set up their stalls. COMSATS Islamabad’s healthcare projects also drew the public attention and those in the business asked various questions about them and showed interest in their commercial production.
Vice Chancellor of the Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU), Prof Muhammad Umar presided over the event and noted with pleasure that a purposeful symposium was being organized by the RCAP. Chief Guest, Vice Principal, Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Prof MirzaInaamulHaq visited the stalls and appreciated the efforts of the organizers. Guest of Honour on the occasion, Faheem (Sultan Group) also commended the RCAP for establishing linkages between the medical and engineering universities.
