A new joint study uncovers the remarkable potential of ultrafast lasers that could provide innovative solutions in 2D materials processing for several technology developers, such as high-speed photodetectors, flexible electronics, biohybrids, and next-generation solar cells.
The manipulation of 2D materials, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), is crucial for the advancement of next-generation electronic, photonic, quantum, and sensor technologies. These materials exhibit unique properties, including high electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and tunable optical characteristics.
However, Traditional processing methods often lack the necessary precision and can cause thermal damage. This is where ultrafast laser processing comes into play, offering unprecedented control over the material properties at the nanoscale.
A new study by Aleksei Emelianov, Mika Pettersson from the University of Jyväskylä (Finland), and Ivan Bobrinetskiy from Biosense Institute (Serbia) explores the remarkable potential of ultrafast laser techniques in manipulating 2D layered materials and van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures toward novel applications.
“Ultrafast laser processing has emerged as a versatile technique for modifying materials and introducing novel functionalities. Unlike continuous-wave and long-pulsed optical methods, ultrafast lasers offer a solution for thermal heating issues. The nonlinear interactions between ultrafast laser pulses and the atomic lattice of 2D materials substantially influence their chemical and physical properties,” tells Postdoctoral Researcher Aleksei Emelianov from the University of Jyväskylä.
Ultrafast light-matter interactions are being actively probed to study the unique optical properties of low-dimensional materials.
A new tool for altering the properties of 2D materials
The researchers describe progress made over the past decade and primarily focus on the transformative role of ultrafast laser pulses in maskless green technology, enabling subtractive and additive processes that unveil ways for advanced devices. It is feasible to achieve resolution down to several nanometers by utilizing the synergetic effect between the energy states within the atomic layers and ultrafast laser irradiation.
“Ultrafast light-matter interactions are being actively probed to study the unique optical properties of low-dimensional materials, says Aleksei Emelianov. In our research, we discovered that ultrafast laser processing has the potential to become a new technological tool for manipulating the properties of 2D materials,” said Aleksei.
Journal Reference:
Aleksei V. Emelianov, Mika Pettersson, Ivan I. Bobrinetskiy. Ultrafast Laser Processing of 2D Materials: Novel Routes to Advanced Devices. Advanced Materials, 2024; DOI: 10.1002/adma.202402907
A recent powerful solar storm has underscored the significant challenges radiation poses for future Mars colonists. While the dream of colonizing Mars captures the imagination, the reality of dealing with high radiation levels on the Red Planet presents one of the biggest hurdles to long-term human settlement.
Unlike Earth, Mars lacks a substantial magnetic field and a thick atmosphere, leaving its surface highly vulnerable to space radiation, particularly during heightened solar activity.
TheDangerofSolarStorms
Solar storms, which include solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), occur when the Sun releases vast amounts of charged particles into space. When reaching Mars, these particles can pose severe health risks to astronauts. On Earth, its magnetic field and atmosphere provide a protective shield, deflecting and absorbing much of this radiation.
However, Mars’s thin atmosphere and weak magnetic field mean that these charged particles can easily penetrate the surface, creating a hazardous environment for any potential colonists.
The Sun goes through an 11-year cycle of solar activity, known as the solar maximum, during which the frequency and intensity of solar storms increase. During these periods, the amount of radiation hitting Mars can rise dramatically, posing a critical challenge to the safety of astronauts living and working on the Martian surface.
The specks in the sequence of images in this video were caused by charged particles from a solar storm hitting one of the navigation cameras aboard NASA’s Curiosi NASA’ss rover. The mission uses the rover’s navigator’s smears to try capturing images of dust devils and wind gusts, like the gust seen here. (Credit: Space.com)
HealthRisksofRadiation
Radiation exposure on Mars can lead to a range of health problems, from acute radiation sickness to long-term issues like cancer and cardiovascular diseases. NASA’s CuriosiNASA’ser and the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission have been instrumental in studying these radiation levels.
The Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) aboard Curiosity has provided valuable data showing that high-energy particles from solar storms can reach the Martian surface. This information is crucial for developing effective protective measures for astronauts.
Radiation on Mars comes from two main sources: galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and solar energetic particles (SEPs). GCRs are high-energy particles originating from outside our solar system, while SEPs are associated with solar storms. Both types of radiation are dangerous, but solar storms can cause sudden spikes in radiation levels, making them particularly concerning for human missions.
InnovativeSolutionsforRadiationProtection
Addressing the radiation problem on Mars requires innovative solutions. One proposed method is to use Martian regolith, or soil, as a protective shield. By covering habitats with a thick layer of regolith, it’s possible to block a significant portion of the incoming radiation.
Another idea is to utilize natural features such as caves and lava tubes, which offer inherent protection against radiation. These underground structures could serve as ready-made shelters for astronauts, providing a safer environment with less exposure to harmful radiation.
In addition to these physical barriers, future missions might incorporate advanced technologies like magnetic shielding to create artificial magnetic fields around habitats. Research is also ongoing into developing pharmaceuticals that could help protect against or repair the damage caused by radiation.
A view of a solar flare blasting from the sun. (Image credit: NASA/SDO)
MonitoringandEarlyWarningSystems
NASA’s MAVEN plays a crucial role in monitoring solar activity and providing early warnings of incoming solar storms. By analyzing data from MAVEN and other spacecraft, scientists can predict when solar storms are likely to occur and how intense they will be.
This early warning system is vital for protecting both robotic missions and future human explorers on Mars. When a significant solar event is detected, mission control can take steps to safeguard astronauts and sensitive equipment, such as shutting down vulnerable systems or directing astronauts to take shelter.
The journey to Mars and the dream of establishing a human presence on the Red Planet are fraught with challenges, and radiation exposure is one of the most formidable. However, with continued research and innovative solutions, it is possible to mitigate these risks.
Understanding the behavior of solar storms and developing effective protective measures will be critical in making Mars colonization a reality. As we stand on the brink of this new era of exploration, addressing the radiation challenge will be essential for ensuring the safety and success of future Mars missions.
“The rewards for biotechnology are tremendous -to solve disease, eliminate poverty, age gracefully. It sounds so much cooler than Facebook”, says George M. Church, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. An estimated 17.9 million people died from CVDs in 2019.1 The heart is a unique organ that has the innate potential to grow additional blood vessels (angiogenesis). Scientists are exploiting the heart’s ability to remodel itself for the treatment of chronic angina due to coronary artery disease.
Angiogenic gene therapy that employs alferminogene tadenovec, Ad5FGF-4— a replication-deficient human adenovirus serotype 5— that expresses human fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF4), an angiogenic protein that enhances the formation of new blood vessels, thus improving reperfusion of ischemic myocardium.2
Biotechnology is the science of leveraging living organisms or their products for the welfare of humankind, while biomanufacturing is a type of biotechnology that employs biological systems to produce commercially important products. From promoting food and medicine production in the 19th century to the manipulation of genetic material and living tissues, these technologies have served humanity through top-notch innovations.
In this piece of writing we will look through the trailblazing advancements of biotechnology that are transforming our lives.
E-waste management
Electronic waste is one of the rising problems across the globe. With technological breakthroughs, electrical appliances have become an integral part of our lives. Their waste (the electronic apparatus that is deemed useless after the end of its life) poses significant health risks to humans and is detrimental to the environment.
Many upcycling technologies, including mechanical and chemical techniques, have been used, but environmentally and economically sound microbial technology is garnering global attention. Organic acids (e.g., citric, gluconic, oxalic, and malic acid) of microbial origin have been proven fruitful as chelating agents in the biohydrometallurgical process for extracting metals from disposed lithium-ion batteries.
A schematic illustrating e-waste management via biotechnological approaches [3]
According to a report, Aspergillus niger produced gluconic acid that has the potential to dissolve Li, Cu, Mn, Al, Ni, and Co. This biohydrometallurgical process holds immense promise for recovering metals from spent electronic devices as they contain up to 60 percent of metals and elements.4
Food Security
Population explosions, climate change, availability of arable lands and water crisis are undermining global food production and sustainability. Cell culture technologies such as animal cell culture (cultured meat), microbial cell culture (mycoprotein), and vegetable and fruit plant cell culture can minimize the use of arable land.
They also offer pathogens-free food, provide controlled production, and are geographically and seasonal independent. Moreover, animal cell culture does not hurt the sentiments of animal lovers, thus justifying its ethical grounds.
To meet the escalating demand for food supply, crop improvements such as photosynthetic efficiency, withstanding environmental stressors, and insect and herbicide resistance are being conducted to enhance yield using advanced plant breeding with marker-assisted selection (molecular breeding) and genetic modification. Molecular breeding uses DNA markers to reshape the genetic makeup of plants.5
“Agri-biotechnology…is one of the key forces to promote food security, social progress, and economic prosperity in the world.” – Hepeng Jia, Science Communicator, China.
The various techniques and tools for genetic engineering to acquire desirable traits in plants.
Bioeconomy
A bio-economy is defined as “an economy where the basic building blocks for materials, chemicals, and energy are derived from renewable biological resources.” 6 This notion is meant to attain a net zero-carbon society.
The transition from fossil-based to bio-based products (circular economy) and energy is crucial from climate change, food security, health, industry restructuring, and energy security perspectives. It hinges on biomass carbon (i.e., any biodegradable organic sources) as the building block.
A study finds the use of coconut juice residues (CJRs) as the feedstock to produce bacterial cellulose, which could be acetylated to synthesize bio-cellulose acetate (bio-CA) membranes.
These membranes could then be harnessed to separate CO2 from biogas produced during bio-waste anaerobic breakdown, yielding biomethane (CH4), a renewable fuel, and CO2. This captured CO2 can be used for microalgae cultivation which bedsides fulfilling food and feed requirements, it can also be used for biofuels, cosmetics, fertilizers and health supplements.7
Another pressing issue is burning crop residues that result in mounted air pollution levels, greenhouse gas emissions with a threat to public health, and a decline in organic matter in the soil. The conversion of crop residues to industrially sustainable products such as enzymes, biofuels, and soil additives, thereby contributing to the circular economy.8
“Bioeconomy pathways can yield many benefits for health, livelihoods, climate and resilience. But we must carefully design, evaluate, and implement policies and technologies to achieve these benefits and minimize trade-offs”, Andrew Haines, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Medical Biotechnology
The World health system is witnessing a paradigm shift in prophylactics, diagnostics, and therapeutics thanks to novel approaches to biotechnology and biomanufacturing. Biologics such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are proving their worth in treating autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, etc.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) based vaccines are substituting conventional vaccine methods to fight infectious diseases and cancers due to their high efficacy, capacity for rapid development, and safe route of administration [9]. Gene silencing using interference RNA to target the mRNAs of disease-associated genes has therapeutic activities.10
Gene therapy to supplant malfunctioning genes and genetic engineering tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 are being utilized to combat hereditary diseases and mitigate antimicrobial resistance by knocking out resistance genes.
Genome sequencing techniques are applied to evaluate rare disorders, screen genetic abnormalities, to monitor emerging pathogens. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a persuasive technique for detecting specific DNA sequences, gene mapping and discovering oncogenes responsible for any type of cancer.11
Bioremediation
Given the worsening environmental pollution levels owing to human activities, biotechnological interventions to degrade pollutants such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals, agricultural wastes, nuclear waste, and plastics are groundbreaking.
Bioremediation refers to the use of living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, or their enzymes to degrade these noxious compounds. Scale-up fermentation to obtain microbial biomass and enzymes for bioremediation techniques can help reduce or eliminate recalcitrant polymers and xenobiotic compounds.
Schematic representation of different bioremediation techniques
The potential of biotechnology and biomanufacturing can be harnessed to transform human health, improve food security and sustainability, secure our supply chains, and foster economies across the globe.
Discoveries of gene editing tools such as Crispr-Cas technologies help combat antimicrobial resistance by knocking out drug resistance genes, curing inheritable diseases that were hard to treat, and manipulating genes at early embryonic levels to acquire desirable characteristics.
Molecular typing methodologies have paced the diagnostics and therapeutics. Agricultural biotechnology can help mitigate climate change by covering crops and producing microbial enzymes that can draw excess atmospheric CO2. Genetically modified plants are tolerant to biotic and abiotic stressors.
Scale-up production of industrially important enzymes to help reduce pollution levels via bioremediation techniques. Bio-based economies are contributing to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As we unravel new horizons of technologies such as artificial intelligence, it can lead to significant breakthroughs in biological sciences.
Wikandari, R., Manikharda, Baldermann, S., Ningrum, A., & Taherzadeh, M. J. (2021). Application of cell culture technology and genetic engineering for the production of future foods and crop improvement to strengthen food security. Bioengineered, 12(2), 11305–11330. https://doi.org/10.1080/21655979.2021.2003665
Pardi, N., Hogan, M., Porter, F. et al. mRNA vaccines — a new era in vaccinology. Nat Rev Drug Discov 17, 261–279 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd.2017.
Agrawal N, Dasaradhi PVN, Mohmmed A, Malhotra P, Bhatnagar RK, Mukherjee SK2003.RNA Interference: Biology, Mechanism, and Applications. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev67:.https://doi.org/10.1128/mmbr.67.4.657-685.2003
Shakoori, A.R. (2017). Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) and Its Applications. In: Bhat, T., Wani, A. (eds) Chromosome Structure and Aberrations. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-3673-3_16
In the ongoing debate over environmental sustainability, population growth is often cited as a significant contributing factor to environmental degradation. However, the correlation between population and environmental pollution is not as straightforward as it might seem.
In fact, a growing population that is educated about environmental issues and practices minimalism could potentially contribute more positively to ecological sustainability than a smaller, less environmentally conscious population.
The assumption that a larger population inevitably leads to greater environmental harm stems from a simplified view of resource consumption and waste production. While more people can lead to increased resource demand, this does not necessarily translate into more pollution. The critical factor is how these people live and consume.
For instance, a single child in a household that prioritizes material wealth and consumption—marked by an abundance of toys, furniture, and clothing—can have a significantly larger environmental footprint than multiple children in a household that practices minimalism and environmental stewardship. This highlights that the number of people is less significant than their consumption patterns and lifestyle choices.
Environmental awareness plays a crucial role in determining the impact of a population on the environment. Educating individuals about the importance of sustainable practices can lead to a more environmentally friendly society, regardless of size.
When people understand the consequences of their actions on the environment, they are more likely to adopt behaviors that reduce pollution and conserve resources. Communities prioritizing recycling, energy efficiency, and sustainable consumption can significantly reduce their environmental footprint.
Such communities can flourish even with a larger population because the cumulative effect of their environmentally conscious behaviors outweighs the impact of their numbers.
Minimalism, the practice of living with less, directly combats the culture of overconsumption. Raising children with minimalist values instills a sense of environmental responsibility from a young age.
These children grow up understanding that their happiness and well-being are not dependent on accumulating material goods but rather on experiences, relationships, and a healthy environment. Minimalism reduces waste and conserves resources, which can mitigate the environmental impact of a growing population.
A family that practices minimalism avoids excessive consumption, which leads to environmental conservation. They might choose to buy fewer, high-quality items that last longer, reducing the demand for mass-produced goods that often come with significant environmental costs.
In the ongoing debate over environmental sustainability, population growth is often cited as a major contributing factor to environmental degradation.
Some individuals, particularly in developed countries, often point fingers at the populations of developing countries, blaming their higher birth rates for environmental problems.
These critics, who often portray themselves as champions of sustainability by having only one or two children, overlook the stark reality that the carbon footprint of individuals in developing countries is typically much lower than that of those in wealthier nations.
In developing countries, the so-called “unprivileged” populations often live more sustainably by necessity, consuming fewer resources and generating less waste. In contrast, those in developed countries with fewer children may still have a significant environmental impact due to their consumption patterns, striving to provide their children with every conceivable comfort and luxury without considering the associated carbon footprint.
Combining environmental education with minimalist practices offers a pathway to sustainable population growth. By raising environmentally conscious children who practice minimalism, society can ensure that a larger population does not equate to more significant environmental harm.
Instead, this approach can lead to a more sustainable and resilient society. Education systems can play a pivotal role by incorporating environmental studies into their curricula, teaching students about the impacts of their choices on the environment, and promoting sustainable practices. Communities can support these efforts by creating environments that encourage minimalism and sustainable living.
Moreover, policy interventions can support this cultural shift by incentivizing sustainable behaviors and reducing barriers to minimalism. For instance, policies that promote the sharing economy, support local and sustainable businesses, and encourage public transportation can all contribute to a more sustainable population.
The relationship between population growth and environmental pollution is complex and mediated by numerous factors, particularly the behaviors and lifestyles of individuals. By fostering environmental awareness and minimalist values, society can mitigate the environmental impact of a growing population.
Raising more children who are conscious of their environmental footprint and practice minimalism can ultimately lead to a healthier planet. Rather than viewing population growth as a threat to the environment, we should focus on how we can educate and inspire future generations to live sustainably.
Monroe, M. C. (2019). The role of environmental education in fostering sustainable behaviors. Frontiers in Education, 4, 26. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2019.00026
Kollmuss, A., & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the gap: Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behavior? Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 239-260. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620220145401
Ivanova, D., Barrett, J., Wiedenhofer, D., Macura, B., Callaghan, M., & Creutzig, F. (2020). Quantifying the potential for climate change mitigation of consumption options. Nature Climate Change, 10, 745-751. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-020-0834-0
Sterling, S. (2020). Educating for the future: A vision for sustainability in education. Environmental Education Research, 26(6), 788-798. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2020.1863358
According to the studies conducted by Space biologists Joshua P. Vandenbrink and John Z. Kiss in the Department of Biology, University of Mississippi USA, they found it interesting to study plant physiology and development in a unique environment of microgravity where they found that plants can grow seed-to-seed in microgravity as well as identifying the responses to other stimuli like light.
Initially, the experiments were carried out with difficulty. Still, the investigations and studies later determined that the improved experiments should be designed to maximize the value and applicability of the results generated.8
Critical analysis of scientific theories has been beneficial because it sets the grounds for more reliable approaches, novel scientific methodologies, and techniques, setting up systematic and well-organized research solutions and pioneering ways to advance inventions.
The main goal of scrutinizing the scientific approaches is to enhance societal well-being. Scientific theory is not stagnant; it flows for improvement in one way or another until it becomes a unanimous solution.
As Paloto said,“Science is nothing but perception”. Ever since prehistoric scholars began documenting their observations and experimentation, their research has been challenged by their peers and descendants, generation after generation. For decades, knowledge meant the knowledge proven, either by intellectual commentary, sensical shreds of evidence, or by systematic counter.2
After the pandemic, a heated wave of debates sprang up over the use of vaccines. Based on the published research, some doubts were raised about specific vaccines in terms of their adverse side effects.
The Historical Chinese Perspective
History narrates some exciting twists in scientific evolution, mainly affected by social and cultural influences. Some societies, like Chinese and Indian culture, had solid affiliations with sacred elements, more of a metaphysical nature, and supernatural powers. So, they somehow denied the involvement of scientific principles and natural phenomena.
The attitude of Chinese society towards natural phenomena was quite different from that of European countries, mainly during the Renaissance period.
The Chinese were stubborn about separating material things from their sacred world. They had no evident conviction that people could dominate nature and have any influential role in natural occurrences.
Nor even were they interested in developing a scientific method for their observations, due to which their theories often remained divorced from experimentation (Hellemans & Bunch, 1988, p. 59)1
What Is Good About Critical Analysis?
The critical approach paves the way for continued research and makes it more beneficial. It provides solid grounds for the continuation of the process. Unlike any other discipline, which might not need analysis for its continuity, scientific methodology and study of nature involve constant assessment and evaluation.
The scientific method is interrogated at every step to redefine the procedures for repeated results unless it becomes a theory or a law.
The nature of critical studies in science depends upon the nature of the scientific discipline. For instance, history and sociology of science demonstrate the socially determined origins of scientific ideas and methodologies by critical analysts (Kuhn, 1970; Latour, 1987; Shapin, 1995; Thackray, 1995; Fine, 1996).
The analysts who evaluate the cultural aspects of scientific data are mostly related to the dimensions of the communities and cultures in which they live (Pickering, 1992; Rouse, 1993).
The case studies regarding how the critical viewpoints have expanded, improved, and navigated the discoveries and provided well-researched, durable, and reliable solutions to problems faced by humanity, for instance, drug designing, mechanical solutions, pathological testing for disease diagnosis, and other disciplines of scientific research.
Medicine, health, and science are ripe with disputes and debates. Throughout history, spirited replies and rebuttals have been written and accompanied by rejoinders, responses, and editorials, and helped clarify or rebut essential concepts.4
Humoral Immunity to Severe COVID-19
The expert pediatricians (Fanous et al. (2020)) claimed that the neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 have generally been assumed to be protective against COVID-19 but with limited durability.
Humoral immunity is the ability of B cells to bind to a specific antigen, against which it will trigger an antibody response. Many factors that lead to severe immunodeficiencies are characterized by life-threatening viral infections that determine the susceptibility to severe cases of COVID-19.
However, further research proved that these neutralizing antibody responses are not demonstrated to be protective against or susceptible to severe cases of COVID-19.7
Anaphylactic Reactions to Pfizer’s Vaccine
All vaccines, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, should meet the criteria of safety, effectiveness, durability, affordability, and availability requirements. According to the informative investigation by de Vrieze (2021) that reports:
“At least 12 people suffered an anaphylactic reaction after receiving Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine,” then how could the vaccine have been approved as safe, especially given the widely self-reported success rates claimed by Pfizer and BioNTech of around 95 percent in the news and social media reporting?
The investigations found the cause may be due to the compound polyethylene glycol (PEG) in their vaccine, which is also contained in the vaccine produced by Moderna.
Anaphylactic reactions are frequently caused by bee stings, eating peanuts, and some other varieties of tree nuts, so the compound polyethylene glycol (PEG) must have been known to cause similar reactions in vaccinated individuals, regardless of its previous use in vaccines.
As this was purportedly the first time the PEG compound was used in vaccine production, greater scrutiny should have been instigated and investigated in clinical laboratory trials before the vaccines were submitted for regulatory approval.
Since the second industrial revolution, the use of fossil fuels has skyrocketed, but it wasn’t until 1968 that the world learned about the adverse effects of climate change caused by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. The report presented to the American Petroleum Institute by Stanford Research Institute stated:
“If the Earth’s temperature increases significantly, several events might be expected to occur, including the melting of the Antarctic ice cap, a rise in sea levels, warming of the oceans, and an increase in photosynthesis.” (O. Milman, 2016)
Fossil fuels in transportation
The awareness around the topic grew, and the Firth Earth Day was observed in 1971. Since then, there have been several awareness campaigns and policy-making initiatives to promote the use of sustainable energy options such as solar power. But as the graph shows below, the highest contribution towards the use of fossil fuels is from the transportation sector.
Multiple alternatives like solar power, hydropower, and wind have gained popularity for electric power. However, because these methods require enormous setup, they failed to impact the transportation sector, including fuel for cars, trucks, ships, and aviation.
Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Feeling the need to create sustainable transportation methods, battery-powered systems were invented. Although the first practical electric vehicle (EV) was created in the 1890s in America, petrol-powered vehicles were used mainly due to the rise of internal combustion engines.
The modern EVs emerged into the market with the introduction of the Toyota Prius in 1997. With continuous research and development, the 2000s marked the revival of EV cars, battery-powered or hybrid systems (EVBox, 2023).
Since then, electric vehicles have gained massive popularity and now account for every 1 in 7 cars sold globally. All major automobile manufacturers like Tesla, Nissan, Mercedes, and BMW grabbed the opportunity and introduced new and better designs for cars and trucks.
In 2022, a net-zero, fully battery-powered cargo ship was introduced by the name of Yara Birkeland, which is 80 meters long and can carry a little over 100 containers. The first all-electric aircraft, Alice, also took its first flight in September 2022, created by the company Eviation.
Furthermore, tons of research is still being carried forward to improve battery systems to have higher capacity, lower maintenance, and lower costs.
Limitations of EV technology
Although international government bodies are endorsing the use of EV transportation, major concerns need to be addressed regarding this technology.
EV cars have a limited battery range. The latest Tesla Model 3 is advertised as having a battery range of 341 miles, which may differ depending on the driver. However, a petrol-fueled car can easily drive 300-400 miles in a full tank, and a diesel car may drive up to 700 miles.
The infrastructure around charging stations for EV cars is also underdeveloped. In many countries, including Pakistan, that is a significant hindrance for the masses not to buy complete EVs. Furthermore, charging times at these stations are also quite long. Fully charging an EV car can take up to 30-40 minutes, while a petrol or diesel-fueled vehicle can be refueled in 5 mins (S. Samarasinghe, 2024).
The biggest disconcertment with EV transportation is the manufacturing of batteries that use minerals like Nickel, Magnesium, Cobalt, Lithium, and Graphite, emitting huge amounts of greenhouse gases during mining.
This makes the production of these batteries have a more significant amount of carbon footprint compared to the production of internal combustion engines, i.e., petrol or diesel engines (Tallodi, 2022).
The Green Fuel Solution: Hydrogen
Due to technical and environmental issues in the EV sector, the automotive and aviation industry has started looking for zero-emission solutions like hydrogen. Hydrogen is a highly flammable gas that can be used in internal combustion engines like diesel and petrol. It will only produce water vapors as waste.
However, combustion hydrogen engines will not be utterly emission-free because they create excess heat that generates nitrogen oxides, which are harmful greenhouse gases. Combustion is also not a very efficient process due to the loss of energy as heat (J. Nebergall, 2022).
Another alternative way of using hydrogen as a fuel is using Hydrogen Fuel Cells. In these fuel cells, hydrogen and oxygen are supplied at pressure, and an electrochemical process occurs across a membrane, creating electricity.
This process also generates water vapors like hydrogen combustion engines. The electricity produced can be used to drive motors like in an EV, and this transportation system is called a hydrogen-electric powertrain (Sopp+Sopp, 2015).
A lot of research and development is going on about hydrogen fuel cells in the automotive and avionics industries. The first widely available car based on hydrogen fuel cells is the Toyota Mirai, launched in 2014.
Along with Toyota, Hyundai and Honda have also launched cars based on hydrogen fuel cells, and recently, BMW and Audi have displayed their concept cars, iX5 Hydrogen and Q5 FCEV, respectively, which are also based on similar technology.
Regarding global climate change, the aviation industry is also a significant contributor to the cause. Several efforts have been made to reach zero-emission aviation engines. In that pursuit, multiple aviation companies are also working on enhancing the hydrogen-electric power trains that are used for aircraft.
In fact, H2FLY, ZeroAvia, and Universal Hydrogen have successfully flown manned flights with hydrogen-electric power trains.
A deeper dive into Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Hydrogen fuel cell technology is still in the early stages of development and requires great engineering efforts to make it a good quality industrial product. The schematic diagram below demonstrates the basic workings of the PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) Fuel Cell.
A PEM fuel cell. Credit: University of Strathclyde.
Hydrogen on the anode side splits into proton and electron; the proton goes through the membrane and combines with oxygen on the cathode side to create water, while the electrons gather up on the anode side, creating a potential difference between the cathode and anode. Multiple cells are assembled to create a fuel cell stack (University of Strathclyde).
Bipolar Plate Assemblies in PEMFC. Credit: Ennovi
Fuel Cell Stack by EH group. Credit: Hyfindr
The fuel cell stack design is highly complicated, mainly because of the Bipolar plates (BPPs). These plates are designed to meet the requirements for an efficient electrochemical reaction across the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA).
MEAs are sandwiched between BBPs, which ensures the correct quantity and pressure of gases to be fed to either side of the MEA. It simultaneously maintains enough contact for efficient electron transfer. Depending on the sealing method used, the BPPs should also be able to bear enough stress to support the compression required for the stacks to be leak-tight.
Furthermore, these MEAs used are damped in strong acid, which can easily corrode metal plates. So, another layer of protective coating needs to be applied to save the BPPs from corrosion. The plates are generally made from thin sheets of metal, which are created using press forming. This is also a complicated process because of the complicated design of the BPPs.
Apart from BPPs and MEAs, the temperature management system, water emission system, and pressure and mass flow regulation are also quite challenging. There are two types of Hydrogen fuel cell systems: Low-Temperature PEM fuel cells (LTPEM) and High-Temperature PEM fuel cells (HTPEM).
As the name suggests, with a water-based cooling system, the LTPEM system operates at lower temperatures, averaging around 80 degrees C. HTPEM operates at higher temperatures of around 180 degrees C with an air-based cooling system.
HTPEM systems are still in the prototyping stages but have shown better results compared to LTPEM, especially with high energy requirements like in a truck or an aircraft. HTPEM stacks are air-cooled, significantly reducing the overall system’s total weight.
As this technology is still emerging, it faces many challenges in making it widely available. The most common concern around hydrogen is safety because it is highly flammable, so its storage and the system need to be extremely safe for public use.
Secondly, the extraction of hydrogen from the electrolysis of water requires a lot of energy, which increases the price of hydrogen that can be used as fuel. The MEAs use precious metals like platinum and iridium as catalysts, which also add up to the overall cost.
Along with a lot of investment to build this technology and its infrastructure, an intensive regulatory framework is also required to convince government bodies that this technology is greener, more efficient, and safer to use (TWI).
The future of hydrogen-electric powertrains seems promising as many companies worldwide are investing vast amounts of money into this technology, and policymakers are providing guidelines and incentives to the companies to pursue this dream of the Net-Zero Emission energy system. Therefore, according to Forbes magazine, green hydrogen will become the 21st-century version of oil.
References
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High-speed bipolar plate welding with FL-arm lasers: Coherent (2022) Coherent. Available at: https://www.coherent.com/news/blog/bipolar-plate-welding (Accessed: 02 June 2024).
History of the electric car [2023 update] (2023) EVBox. Available at: https://blog.evbox.com/uk-en/electric-cars-history#:~:text=The%20world’ s%20first%20electric%20vehicles, Morrison’s%20vehicle%20from%20around%201890 (Accessed: 02 June 2024).
Linder, M. et al. (2023) The race to decarbonize electric-vehicle batteries, McKinsey & Company. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/the-race-to-decarbonize-electric-vehicle-batteries (Accessed: 02 June 2024).
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The Oil industry knew of ‘serious’ climate concerns more than 45 years ago (2016) The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/13/climate-change-oil-industry-environment-warning-1968#:~:text=The%20Stanford%20Research%20Institute%20presented,harmful%20consequences%20for%20the%20planet (Accessed: 02 June 2024).
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Pakistan’s inaugural lunar mission on May 3rd, 2024, has generated nationwide excitement, providing a much-needed boost to the country’s space program. As the world prepares to co-habitat Mars and send humans back to the Moon, Pakistan’s space journey has just started, and it’s about time!
Are we late to the Space Race?
Pakistan was one of the pioneers in space technology in South Asia in the 1960s. Pakistan’s space exploration agency, The Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, SUPARCO, established in 1961— began its space journey by launching groundbreaking satellites lBadr-I.
Pakistan manufactured the first domestic satellite in 1985, followed by Badr-II in 2001, Paksat-1R in 2011, and the revolutionary PRSS-1 & PAK TES-1A in 2018. The launch of ICUBE-Q in 2024 is the first time when a Pakistani satellite will collect samples from the far side of the moon!
Pakistan manufactured the first domestic satellite, Badr-I, in 1985.
Our neighboring countries- like China and India- have a successful lunar mission history and a vibrant space industry. As Pakistan works towards realizing its vision for the 2040 space program, it currently relies on international partnerships for space missions due to economic limitations and the early stage of development of its space industry. Having forefathers like Dr. Abdus Salam, Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, and Dr Tariq Mustaf, the nation has failed to produce more such visionaries for decades.
The lack of education and economic challenges are some of the basic hindrances in Paksitan’s space exploration program. Despite the challenges, Pakistan has become the sixth country to launch its first-ever moon satellite: iCube Qamar.
Getting the Basics Right
With the advancement in space exploration and striving to achieve sustainable development goals, it has become even more significant to have a strong focus on the space policy for national security and human development.
According to statistics released by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC), over one million students are presently pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in universities and degree colleges. On the contrary, UNICEF data reveals an alarming 22.8 million aged 5-16 are out of school.
The literacy rate lies at a mere 58 percent of the total population, and it is good to know that many are pursuing STEM education. It is worth mentioning that Pakistan’s science, technology, and innovation sectors are gradually progressing, with the government focusing on more robust policies and implementation of STIs, but the advancement in space technology and exploration is still not in the spotlight.
The literacy rate of Pakistan lies at a mere 58 percent of the total population. Credit: World Bank
Space exploration stimulates innovation, encourages global cooperation, and sparks the imagination of future scientists and engineers, fueling economic progress and enriching our standard of living.
The Need for Space Exploration
Although space exploration is a big-budget venture, it yields tangible advantages for life on Earth. Innovations crafted for space missions, such as satellite communication and Earth observation, enhance everyday tasks like communication, navigation, and disaster management.
The National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy 2022 includes only a brief overview of the importance of the inclusion of space technology in the science policy, mentioned as an emerging technology, that doesn’t really do justice to the agenda.
Astronomy education is not deeply integrated into the curriculum, with no specific school courses dedicated to the subject. Basic concepts are introduced at different levels, such as the Solar system and eclipses in primary education and topics like Newtonian gravity and Special relativity in secondary and higher secondary school.
Pakistan has only three planetariums in Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi, only the one in Karachi is functional, operating under Pakistan International Airlines.
Moreover, Insufficient funding stands as a primary obstacle for SUPARCO; with a budget of only USD26 million for 2023, the agency operates within limited financial means compared to its competitors like the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), which enjoys an annual budget exceeding 1.5 billion USD.
According to BBC Urdu, Dr. Khurram, a member of the “iCubeQamar” mission team, highlights that while SUPARCO is persistently striving in Pakistan, students entering this field often lack special recognition and face limited opportunities within the country.
Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, recently met with the SUPARCO Chairman, underscoring the significance of space exploration for Pakistan’s advancement. Ahsan Iqbal recommended bolstering the capabilities of the Institute of Space Technology and the National Center of Excellence for Satellite and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Furthermore, he proposed the creation of a space museum at the Narowal Learning Center aimed at promoting science education among children.
The Hope is Still Alive!
Despite the challenges, Young Entrepreneurs and Space enthusiasts in Pakistan are working tirelessly to revive its space industry. The latest triumph of students from Pakistan’s Institute of Space Science and Technology (ISST) in building the payload ICUBE- Qamar onboard the Chang’e 6 mission.
The design and development of ICUBE-Q are a collaborative effort between IST faculty and students, Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO, and China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU).
The launch of ICUBE-Q in 2024 is the first time when a Pakistani satellite will collect samples from the far side of the moon! Credit: IST
While talking to Samaa TV, Dr. Rahman Mehmood, Director of the Small Satellite Technology project, expressed that observing our neighboring countries and numerous others making significant strides in space exploration motivated us to focus on technological advancement as well.
The launch of this iCube Qmar was made possible by collaborative efforts of students at IST and Shanghai University says prof Khurram Khurshid on Kainaati Chai. Nearly seventy students at IST, along with fifteen students from Shanghai University, worked on this project.
These students were from diverse STEM backgrounds like mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, avionics, and computer science. These efforts and dedication will help pave the way for future collaboration and opportunities between China and Pakistan.
Efforts to spread Space education in Pakistan
Outside the classroom, a few amateur astronomical societies in Pakistan support astronomy education in major urban cities like Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. Private entities like Taqwa Observatory, Kastrodome, ZED, and Eden Observatories contribute significantly to promoting astronomy. Exploration Classroom by Yumna Majeed organizes hands-on learning opportunities for kids about space using telescopes and space meteorites.
Khawarizmi Society is also renowned for organizing STEM-based events, including Science Melas and mobile planetariums. Rah-e-Qamar helps organize events like NASA Space App Challenges and the International Astronomical Union’s citizen scientists programs with the collaboration of space enthusiasts and science societies.
In Addition, SUPARCO also has a space education and awareness drive named SEAD Program that actively organizes space-related contests and activities in schools and universities nationwide.
Pakistan ranked as the third nation for organizing 7,836 events for the celebration of World Space Week (Oct 4-10, 2023). Most of these events were student-led, depicting their commitment and passion for space exploration and awareness.
We are collectively enhancing our comprehension of space sciences and technology by participating in such events and discussions on social media, in classrooms, and within our homes. Pakistan can carve out a significant role in the global space community through continued investment in STEM education, policy reforms, and international collaborations.
In recent years, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education has been dramatically emphasized worldwide and demands the need for equity and inclusion. Although there is a global discourse on this need, it is particularly significant in countries like Pakistan.
The World Economic Forum explains the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in STEM through an analogy that “Inviting everyone to the party is diversity, sharing DJ responsibility is inclusion, and having a large enough dance floor for everyone to groove on is equity.”
This highlights the need for active participation and equal opportunities for all (Urbina-Blanco et al., 2020).
Pakistan stands at the crossroads of innovation and inequality, where the future in STEM fields seems bright. Still, disparities of inequality, fewer opportunities, and access to these fields come in the way.
Barriers to Equity in STEM
While growing up and acknowledging the diversity of subjects and fields, I felt and comprehended the need for diversity and inclusion in STEM education. Students from background areas in Pakistan, not from the bigger cities, may face the dilemma of hardly knowing the options to opt for higher studies.
Most common perceptions are about being a doctor, engineer, or other arts subject, and the knowledge about the diversity of subjects, fields, and careers in STEM is minimal.
I believe this is due to the lack of career counseling, advisory student counselors, or facilities in those areas. If we talk about public schools, their curriculum, approach to learning, and teaching practices differ from those of private schools. This highlights the issues in equity, inclusion, access, and diversity of STEM education for every such student.
Pakistan, like many other countries, faces various issues of gender inequality, regional or ethnic differences, and socioeconomic distinctions that impact access and inclusion in the STEM fields.
Particularly if we talk about women’s rights and education in Pakistan, they face many challenges, including cultural or social barriers, lack of support, and access to opportunities. This lack of gender and racial equality has been under study for more than four and a half decades, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) (Hamrick, 2021).
Although there is an increased ratio of undergraduate women in science fields, their number in computer science, engineering, and technology needs to be improved (Fry et al., 2021). Due to the ethnic differences, they are mainly in number in these high-earning STEM occupations (Hamrick, 2021).
Students from background areas in Pakistan, not from the bigger cities, may face the dilemma of hardly knowing the options to opt for higher studies. Credits: UNICEF/PAKISTAN
The Pew Research Center is a Washington-based nonprofit think tank that informs the public about the issues and trends shaping our world. It reports, “Despite the continuous efforts to increase diversity in STEM education, the current trends in the attainment of degrees in STEM are unlikely to close or narrow down all these gaps” (Fry et al., 2021).
Additionally, students from minority backgrounds and marginalized areas have also been primarily excluded and face issues to fully engage in STEM education and careers. Many studies highlight that the climate of higher education STEM programs is not welcoming for these kinds of students.
The Chilly Climate Theory
The “chilly climate theory” states that minority students experience discrimination in their college lives, in every aspect, including the interactions with their fellows, faculty, and administrators, due to a chilly culture in educational institutions that fosters discrimination and biases towards these students (Bottia et al., 2021).
This theory also highlights women’s negative experiences in higher education, such as speaking less or being hesitant during STEM classes. It highlights the chilly climate as racist and sexist in higher education (Bottia et al., 2021).
Another reason is that these minority students often lack sufficient academic preparation to adapt and pursue STEM fields and thus withdraw from them. One of the possible theories is that they might exit due to their limited knowledge or interest in these subjects, which is called deficit thinking.
However, anti-deficit theory highlights the disparity of educational institutions in preparing students inadequately for their further academic levels (Palid et al., 2023).
Approaches for Equity and Inclusion in STEM
As the need for STEM education evolves with time, the need for specialized and focused workforce also increases essentially, but unfortunately, not everyone has equal access and opportunity. There is a need to understand the significance of an inclusive workforce in getting scientific advancements and innovation. For that purpose, the accessibility of the population is equally important.
“If this nation wants to be a competitive leader in STEM, it has to revitalize its vision of what it needs to do, particularly in the public schools where most Black and brown people are, about producing the human and physical infrastructure to teach STEM,” says Joseph L. Graves Jr., professor of biological sciences at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (O’Rourke, 2021).
What needs to be done?
The struggle to include diversity in STEM fields required continuous research into diversity-focused interventions. Fostering equity and inclusion involves several approaches.
The science curriculum must foster mathematical reasoning, scientific literacy, and a deep practical understanding of the content rather than just learning about the procedures or definitions in the text (Harrison et al., 2020). The studies focus on enhancing students’ empowerment to identify themselves as engineers, biologists, etc., particularly in identifying the fields of their interest.
A focus on STEM educators’ training to highlight the significance of equity in the educational process. It includes supporting all the students equally, not favoring certain groups, and adopting approaches that enhance their interests and participation in STEM fields like practical demonstrations, study circles, etc.
The educators should train about the integration of STEM education in all disciplines. This may include using technology-based tools like study casts and projectors and incorporating arts and reading. (Harrison et al., 2020).
There is a dire need for a few innovative approaches to fill the opportunity gaps for students who face cultural, social, or financial barriers (Ladson-Billings, 2013). This may include conducting free summer camps, assistive technology, etc.
Authorities should work to enhance ongoing professional development and training programs for educators, incorporating diversity and anti-biased training for professionals, giving equal representation to individuals from marginalized areas in STEM careers by high recruiting (Urbina-Blanco et al., 2020), using technology for education all the public and private sector schools, helping the students to identify their careers, etc.
There is a need to provide appropriate infrastructure, educational resources, scholarships, and financial aid to students from underprivileged areas and minority groups (Palid et al., 2023). This practice may help bridge the socioeconomic gaps in our society.
There should be more initiatives to break gender stereotypes and assist women’s education and career opportunities.
Overall, by creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported, Pakistan can unlock the full potential of its diversified, talented population and promote innovation and excellence. It paves the way for an inclusive and accessible STEM landscape for national development.
References
Bottia, M. C., Mickelson, R. A., Jamil, C., Moniz, K., & Barry, L. (2021). Factors associated with college STEM participation of racially minoritized students: A synthesis research. Review of Educational Research, 91(4), 614–648.
Fry, R., Kennedy, B., & Funk, C. (2021). STEM Jobs See Uneven Progress in Increasing Gender, Racial and Ethnic Diversity.
Hamrick, K. (2021). Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in science and engineering. National Science Foundation Retrieved from https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf21321/report
Ladson-Billings, G. (2013). Lack of achievement or loss of opportunity. Closing the opportunity gap: What America must do to give every child an even chance, 11, 11-22.
O’Rourke, B. (2021). Increasing access and opportunity is crucial, say experts. Harvard Gazette.
Palid, O., Cashdollar, S., Deangelo, S., Chu, C., & Bates, M. (2023). Inclusion in practice: A systematic review of diversity-focused STEM programming in the United States. International Journal of STEM Education, 10(1), 2.
Urbina-Blanco, C. A., Jilani, S. Z., & Speight, I. R. (2020, August 17). Science is everybody’s party: 6 ways to support diversity and inclusion in STEM. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/08/science-stem-support-inclusion-diversity-equality/
The Physician is a 2013 historical drama film about a young orphan boy, Rob Cole, who aspires to become a physician in the 11th century. The film provides a glimpse into the Islamic world of science during this period and how it shaped the development of modern medicine. The film is directed by Philipp Stölzl and stars Tom Payne, Stellan Skarsgard, and Emma Rigby. Here
The film is a sweeping epic that takes the audience on a journey through the medieval world, depicting the harsh realities of life during this period. The film is a visual feast, with stunning cinematography and production design that takes the viewer back in time.
The attention to detail in the costumes and sets is awe-inspiring, adding to the sense of immersion in the film’s historical setting.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the film is its portrayal of the medieval Persian physician Ibn-i-Sina, who is portrayed as a wise and compassionate mentor to the young protagonist. Photo Movie Nation
One of the most intriguing aspects of the film is its portrayal of the medieval Persian physician Ibn-i-Sina, who is portrayed as a wise and compassionate mentor to the young protagonist. The film highlights the contributions of Ibn-i-Sina to the field of medicine and his influence on the development of modern medical practices.
He was a polymath who wrote extensively on medicine, philosophy, and other sciences. His most famous work, “The Canon of Medicine,” was a medical encyclopedia used as a textbook in European medical schools for centuries.
The film also depicts the Islamic Golden Age, a period of intellectual and scientific flourishing in the Islamic world between the 8th and 14th centuries. It was a time whenn several groundbreaking discoveries and innovations were made, and it played a vital role in transmitting knowledge from the ancient to the modern world.
The film also provides a glimpse into Islamic hospitals and their role in the development of medicine. Islamic hospitals were some of the first institutions to offer free and comprehensive medical care, and they were a significant source of medical knowledge during this period.
They were also equipped with libraries, research facilities, and teaching rooms, which served as centers for advancing medical knowledge.
Diplomacy has deep roots in history as it is one of the oldest methods of sustaining exquisite relations among nations based on their interests in trade, information, and security education. According to the National Museum of American Diplomacy, it is an art and practice of building and maintaining relationships and conducting negotiations with people using tact and mutual respect2.
It first commenced in Mesopotamia, now Iraq, in 2850 B.C.E between leaders of Iraq and Canaan1. The United Nations stresses bilateral cooperation among countries to sort out their issues so that conflicts in the world are reduced, as before diplomacy, the planet was no less than a theatre of wars.
SCIENCE DIPLOMACY
The concept of Science Diplomacy was minted in a meeting held in 2009 at Wilton House, United Kingdom, organized by the Royal Society London & American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). However, countries started working to correlate with the help of science informally after World War II.
After the Second World War, countries actively engaged in Science Diplomacy to enhance international Collaboration. Two organizations that emerged due to these efforts include the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), founded in 1945, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), founded in 1957.
Another significant project that emerged was the International Space Station (ISS), which collaborated with collaboration agencies in the U.S., Russia, Japan, the European Union, and Canada.
Among the matters conferred in diplomacy, Science and Technology are essential; as science progresses at an indispensable speed; extended innovations happen to be seen with every passing day. While observing all these happenings, diplomacy attempted to evolve itself by including observations on Scientific problems and discussions.
The experts and advisors develop a clan of aces from all across the world to resolve scientific issues and assist developing nations in joining the technology race following the footprints of developed countries.
In recent examples, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) being assembled in France and the Synthrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Application in the Middle East (SESAME) being funded by the EU are some prominent examples4.
The American Association For The Advancement Of Science (AAAS) also aims to bridge nations based on their scientific cooperation, elevate the science level, address global scientific problems & find solutions. Explicitly, the world has been growing in levels of science diplomacy each day.
Pakistan’s Science Diplomacy
Pakistan has long been working to fit Science into its Diplomatic initiatives. In 2016, the United States, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Japan joined together to formalize a Foreign Ministries Science and Technology Advisors Network aimed at elevating S&T inputs for diplomacy as Pakistan launched its SDI (Pakistan Science Diplomacy Initiative) in 2018.
Pakistan is allocating only 0.0552 percent of its total budget to Science and Technology, which is PKR 8000 million for a total of PKR14.485 trillion5. Meanwhile, India spends 0.36 percent of the total budget!
Pakistan’s Science Diplomacy Initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS), and the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) to facilitate successful international scientific collaborations.
Despite making excellent progress, Pakistan still needs efforts to put in to equalize its potential to the rest of the world. Pakistan lacks Science Policy and diplomatic initiatives in it. Here are the reasons and instances that show how uninspiring Pakistan is when it comes to its science policy.
Major Economic Upheavals
Pakistan is allocating only 0.0552 percent of its total budget to Science and Technology, which is PKR 8000 million for a total of PKR14.485 trillion5. Meanwhile, India spends 0.36 percent of the total budget, Korea 4.8 percent of its GDP, the United States 3.45 percent, and China 2.4 percent of its GDP6.
Pakistan has been facing challenges on Economic grounds that have restricted it from spending more on R&D in S&T. The country has been entangled in gnawing debts that fade its fate to see its prosperity in science-based relationships.
Science in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a very minuscule portion to discuss on International platforms since MoFA is spending its majority of interests and priorities on stabilizing the economy.
Political Instability
Ever since its Independece, one major obstacle that impedes Pakistan from progress is Political Instability. Every new government tried to shift science policy according to their own agendas. This led to inconsistent science policies that dissembled Pakistan on Science Forums in research and development.
It also undermined Pakistan’s credibility as a reliable partner in science collaboration. Inconsistent Policies have been making International Partners reluctant to initiate joint research programmes with Pakistan’s Science experts and minds.
The solution to this problem is as simple as a problem—Politicians and experts must ensure the completion of ongoing projects in collaboration with International partners so that the confidence of international forums and communities in making treaties with Pakistan is not compromised.
Relations with Neighbors
Pakistan shares its border with China, India, Iran and Afghanistan. Despite having profligate relations with China, three of these states are going through border tensions with Pakistan due to several political issues that stymie collaboration founded on science.
There is a burgeoning effort undergone recently that illustrates how effective regional cooperation is to set practical examples. Pakistan and China have collaborated on a lunar mission, with Pakistan’sICUBE-Q satellite launching aboard China’s Chang’e-6lunar mission.
This mission marks a significant milestone for Pakistan’s space program and is a testament to the country’s growing capabilities in space technology.
The project is a collaboration between Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology (IST), China’s Shanghai University, and the China National Space Agency (CNSA).
Pakistan and China have collaborated on a lunar mission, with Pakistan’sICUBE-Q satellite launching aboard China’s Chang’e-6lunar mission.
Amid border tensions with India due to territorial conflicts, Pakistan is confronting major challenges to resume diplomacy on Science. India has been making remarkable achievements in several science sectors.
According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology India, in 2022, India’s IT sector exports reached $178 billion, with IT services accounting for $104 billion. 2023 the IT sector is estimated to spend over $110 billion. MEITY projected a nine percent increase in IT Exports by the end of 2023, reaching the graph to $194 billion7.
In a fairly recent development, India joined the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom in the space exploration race by overcoming all obstacles to reach the Moon as part of the July 2023-launched Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Reviving research cooperation between Pakistan and India is imperative, putting aside political and geographical disputes in order to attain international respect in scientific forums. Despite the fact that Pakistan and India have occasionally collaborated in the past, a partnership between two TWAS Fellows, Dorairajan Balasubramanian of India and Anwar Nasim of Pakistan, created several opportunities.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan must ensure all possible steps to reconcile with Indian Research Institutes relinquishing all territorial disputes. These efforts would revive science diplomacy and benefit humanity, unearthing several undiscovered treasures.
Issues that Pakistan could have solved with Science Diplomacy
Air Pollution: In Pakistan and India, burning crops is a typical practice for growing crops for the next year. However,, excessive crop burning is deteriorating the quality of the air in both countries. Although air quality is deemed acceptable at 100 and healthy at 50, Lahore, Pakistan, had the highest levels of air pollution in 2023, with New Delhi coming in at 333.
The problems and effects caused by unchecked smoke emissions could have been discussed by both countries’ researchers and analysts at a joint conference. Providing both countries with methods to prevent air quality from being dilapidated would be beneficial.
Water Management: Water had been one of the major problems that Pakistan encountered efficiently at the time when Pakistan was one blink away from the water war with India because India’s ability to control the Indus’ headwaters allowed it to make Fertile Pakistan a desert.
Some water-related problems between India and Pakistan are resolved, but the country fears water scarcity across Pakistan since India announced building more dams.
In order to prevent this problem from becoming the source of political unrest, Pakistan and India could have used scientific diplomacy to forge ahead with international partners in the development of cutting-edge technology for sustainable agricultural methods, water conservation, and desalination.
Climate Change: The greenhouse effect, a phenomenon that results from the accumulation of CO2 from burning fossil fuels in any form, is the main factor causing climate change and global warming.
Pakistan ranked fifth among the most vulnerable countries due to climate change. Its geographic location makes extreme weather events like floods and droughts perpetually common. According to World Bank estimates, air pollution and environmental deterioration could result in an 18–20 percent decline in Pakistan’s GDP by 2050 10.
In order to mitigate the mounting risk of climate change, Pakistan’s science policy ought to focus on international communities while urging them to act on sustainable measures to cut carbon emissions.
Shahbaz Sharif, the premier of Pakistan, warned about climate change at the World Economic Forum ( WEF ) in Riyadh during his most recent visit to Saudi Arabia. He emphasized the need for collective efforts to allay worries about climate change.
“Pakistan was not responsible for any global emissions, yet in 2022, it faced the worst climate-triggered floods, which hugely devastated the infrastructure and buildings. Consequently, they had to spend billions of rupees to rehabilitate the affected people”.
