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Educating for Tomorrow: The Impacts of Science Communication in Sustainability Awareness

Saadeqa Khan
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Educating for Tomorrow: The Impacts of Science Communication in Sustainability Awareness

The city of Sudbury, Ontario, faced severe environmental degradation due to a century of mining and smelting, resulting in 80,000 hectares of contaminated land. Sudbury is Canada’s largest mining community and was built on Atikameksheng Anishinaabek, known as the people of Whitefish Lake. The boundaries of their tiny reserve were deliberately drawn to exclude mineral-rich lands. Although over $1 trillion has been taken from the Sudbury region, the First Nation has received no compensation and no apology.

Over more than 100 years of smelter operations, the major pollutants were sulphur dioxide, lead, nickel, cadmium, copper, arsenic, cobalt, and selenium. The contamination spread over 80,000 hectares. Despite the urgent need for regulation, it took over 50 years to effectively limit and ban these emissions and illegal mining activities.

For ten years, from 1999 to 2009, mining companies avoided reporting toxins in their waste rock piles and tailings impoundments to the National Pollutant Release Inventory until a MiningWatch Canada court case forced them to comply with the law. 

The restoration of 3,400 hectares of land across Sudbury was made possible by the brilliant work of university-based scientists from Laurentian University, community volunteers, a few dedicated mining company staff, and government subsidies. In fact, Laurentian University (LU) and the Science North center played a pivotal role in the region’s environmental recovery and sustainable transformation. 

Research conducted by LU’s scientists in collaboration with the Lakes Center provided robust data on pollution levels and ecosystem recovery, serving as the evidence base for new industrial regulations and local restoration efforts.

Moreover, science communication programs at Science North and within the university curriculum helped the public, including children and adults, understand the science behind local environmental issues in an accessible way. The efforts motivated local communities, and they initiated several campaigns. Students, inspired by their coursework, initiated tangible projects such as a paper recycling program and a “Beppi” forest corridor on campus, which became a popular public trail in Sudbury. 

A study published in the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education in August 2025 revealed that the decades of concerted effort, fueled by science communicators and community buy-in, resulted in a 90% reduction in pollution and the recovery of ecosystems, transforming Sudbury into a globally recognized model for environmental restoration.

Scientists at the University of Canada conducted this research to examine how sustainability education is nurtured and augmented through community engagement and various learning, teaching, and research activities at the University of Canada. 

This study suggests that universities and academic institutions interested in building capacity with complementary policies to support the SDGs should cultivate innovative curriculum development across disciplines within their educational programs. These relevant research activities can engage local communities in sustainability solutions.

Dr Andae Rivera Sosa, a coastal management expert in Mexico, set another inspiring example to follow. Her research on sewage contamination of coral reefs highlighted the connection between improper waste treatment and human health. By communicating the immediate, personal impact of the pollution on the local community’s livelihoods and health, Dr Rivera stimulated community collaboration to better integrate watershed management practices.

These case studies show that sustainable awareness is not just about knowing the facts—it’s about using that knowledge to make responsible choices and decisions. Science communication equips individuals and organizations with reliable information that influences decisions specifically related to environmental protection, healthcare, and SDGs. 

Science communication plays a vital role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals worldwide by bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and research to a diverse range of communities, from laypeople to students, researchers, and policymakers. It empowers people to make informed decisions and take collective action for a better and safer livelihood. It effectively communicates complex research, allowing policymakers to develop evidence-based strategies that promote public awareness and foster collaboration among all stakeholders.

However, being a developing country at the forefront of the climate crisis, Pakistan does not seem to have established the necessary framework to communicate science to its public effectively. The scientific knowledge gained from research conducted in universities and research institutions mostly stays in scientific journals and hardly communicates with the general public and policymakers for awareness and being utilized for national development. 

In Pakistan, students are taught science by memorising theories and scientific laws rather than understanding the core scientific concepts through experiments, thus curtailing students’ cognitive abilities. Under such circumstances, it is a daunting task to develop and nurture scientific thinking and analytical skills.

Worldwide, emerging social platforms are playing a crucial role in effective science communication, complementing both print and digital media on a global scale. However, in Pakistan, the public often spends time on social media engaged in creating memes, trolling, and arguing over trivial matters. Additionally, major media outlets tend to focus more on political and entertainment news, giving little attention to credible science reporting.

Prominent Science Communicator Manzoor Somroo stated in his research conducted in 2020 that Pakistani media, including electronic and print, are vibrant sources of information, but science reporting does not rank high among the priority areas of media outlets and newsroom hierarchies across the country.

“However, with the emergence of online and digital platforms, many startups and non-government entities have stepped up to leverage technology to promote Scientific culture in Pakistan. Over the decades, Pakistan has witnessed innovative and encouraging trends in the promotion of public awareness of science and technology.”

These efforts are not enough to address the serious challenges the country currently faces, such as climate change and environmental degradation. These issues are having a damaging effect on the core pillars of the nation’s economy, including agriculture, fisheries, and the textile industry. As these economic sectors suffer, it becomes increasingly important for people to be well-informed about the threats that lie ahead.

Raising public awareness about these issues is essential, as it equips individuals and communities with the knowledge and tools they need to develop effective solutions. Importantly, people should be empowered to take proactive measures and contribute to positive change, rather than relying solely on government intervention. By fostering a sense of responsibility and encouraging collective action, society can become more resilient in the face of these pressing environmental and economic challenges.

Science communicators can foster this awareness, motivate laypeople to inform decision-making, and force them to action towards sustainable practices by translating complex research into accessible information and promoting evidence-based practices. By making scientific knowledge understandable, relevant, and actionable for diverse audiences, they can significantly contribute to the transformative vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations. 

References: 

More from the author: Caring in Crisis— Protecting Pregnant Women and Newborns from Climate Change Fallout

Think Twice: Understanding the Psychology of Irrational Decision-Making

Khair ul Bariyah
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Think Twice: Understanding the Psychology of Irrational Decision-Making

In 2017, the world was stunned to learn that Mike Tyson, one of the greatest boxers in history, had gone bankrupt despite earning over $400 million during his career. Tyson had all the fame, wealth, skill, and widespread respect. However, he prioritised short-term pleasures over long-term stability, spent impulsively, trusted the wrong people, and struggled to control his emotions.

When the reporters asked him the reasons, Tyson was brutally honest: “I made emotional decisions.” Millions were left in shock. How could a man who was trained for discipline, strategy, and precision inside the ring turn out to be so indisciplined? At the core of human psychology lies the solution.

We frequently make the wrong decision even though we know what is right. Tyson’s story is a window into the science of decision-making, showing how the human brain is wired to prioritise short-term gains over long-term ones, and how emotions can overwhelm reason. His demise highlights a reality that intelligence does not shield us from making illogical choices. The science of decision-making starts right here.

Every day, humans make hundreds of decisions, from simple ones like choosing breakfast to life-changing ones such as enrolment in a degree program, a career path, property investment, or choosing a spouse. We normally believe our decisions are based on logic, reason, and careful analysis.

However, research in psychology, neuroscience, and behavioural economics reveals that although humans are intelligent beings but they are prone to irrationality. Good decisions are based on a clear integration of scientific evidence and human priorities, which in turn is best achieved through decision analysis. 

decision
Life is a chess match. Every decision you make has consequences. ~P.K.Subban. The photo is AI-generated by the author

For most of the 20th century, economics was based on the idea that people are completely rational in their decisions to get the most benefit. This idea was called Homo economicus. In the 1970s, psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky challenged this idea with their ground-breaking Prospect Theory. They showed that people do not always make decisions to get the maximum benefit; instead, emotions, mental shortcuts, and personal biases strongly influence their options.

People experience losses more intensely than gains. Consequently, even when taking a chance makes sense, people frequently avoid it. Behavioural economics, which blends psychology and economic decision-making, emerged out of this concept, which transformed conventional economics.

Although our brains operate quickly, we use mental shortcuts called heuristics to make decisions faster. These shortcuts enable us to deal with complicated situations, but they also lead to cognitive biases, which are common mistakes in thought. One such bias is anchoring, which happens when we rely too heavily on the first piece of information we receive.

For example, we might assume a Rs. 2000 handbag is inexpensive, as it was initially labelled Rs. 4000. Next is confirmation bias, which causes people to ignore opposing evidence and prefer information that supports their existing beliefs. This is reinforced by social media. Prospect theory explains why people oppose change because they fear losses more than they value gains.

Lastly, the availability heuristic leads people to conclude how likely an event is based on how easily examples come to mind. For instance, after hearing about aeroplane crashes, they may overestimate the danger of flying, even though it is statistically much safer than driving.

Traditionally, people believed that emotions hinder clearer thinking, but modern brain research reveals that emotions are actually required for making decisions. In a study published in 1994, Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio analysed some patients who had an injury in the part of the brain controlling emotions. Even though these people were intelligent enough to think logically, it was quite difficult for them to make simple decisions, like deciding what to eat. They could list the advantages and disadvantages, but without any feeling of the right choice.

Damasio’s research led to the Somatic Marker Hypothesis, which proposes that emotions work as shortcuts that help the brain quickly judge the possible results of our actions. Simply, what may seem like an irrational behaviour is actually the brain trying to combine feelings and real-life context in choice-making. 

Making all rational choices is neither possible nor necessary; the real challenge is to balance instinct with awareness for better judgment.

Besides our own internal biases, other factors influencing our decisions are the environment and the presentation of the information. This idea, called framing, was introduced by Kahneman and Tversky in 1981. It shows that people’s choices can change depending on the wording of the information provided. For example, a medicine with 80% efficacy is considered more favourable than describing it as 20% ineffective, even though both statements are logically equivalent.

Likewise, the default effect plays a key role in many of our decisions. It is our habit to stick with the option that is already chosen for us. For instance, those countries have more donors where people are automatically listed as organ donors. Slight changes in wording, context, and presentation can strongly influence what people choose, showing that our decisions are not only logical but also influenced by how certain facts and figures appear to us.

The people around us have a greater influence on our decisions. In 1951, Psychologist Solomon Asch demonstrated that many people agree with a group even if it is wrong. The need for approval and the desire for belonging, at times, force people to go against their own logical reasoning. The best example is the influence of shares, likes, and viral trends on social media, not only on what people buy, but also on their political and social views.

Being truly rational does not mean to be emotionless or unbiased. Understanding our mental shortcuts helps us pause for a moment, question our reactions, and think more carefully. Kahneman discussed Methods like thinking slowly, which help us in this practice. Taking enough time to decide, respecting various opinions, and using facts and data are part of the successful process. Artificial intelligence and other decision aids have helped reduce human mistakes in many fields. 

Emotions, gut feelings, intuitions, and biases are not weaknesses; they are part of human survival in uncertain situations. Making all rational choices is neither possible nor necessary; the real challenge is to balance instinct with awareness for better judgment.

The world is full of information and influence. A greater understanding of our irrational decisions is actually a rational step. Our minds are not perfection-based. They are meant for speed and useful outputs. Amid all the emotional, mental, and social forces shaping our decisions, making smarter choices brings real power. 

References:

  • Von Winterfeldt, Detlof. “Bridging the gap between science and decision making.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110.supplement_3 (2013): 14055-14061.
  • Asch, Solomon E. “Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgments.” Organisational influence processes. Routledge, 2016. 295-303.
  • Damasio, Antonio R. “Descartes’ error: Emotion, reason, and the human brain.” Grosset/Putnam (1994).
  • Johnson, Eric J., and Daniel Goldstein. “Do defaults save lives?” Science 302.5649 (2003): 1338-1339.
  • Watson, Kenneth. “D. Kahneman.(2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 499 pages.” Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation 26.2 (2011): 111-113.
  • Kahneman, Daniel, and Amos Tversky. “Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk.” Handbook of the fundamentals of financial decision making: Part I. 2013. 99-127.
  • Nickerson, Raymond S. “Confirmation bias: A ubiquitous phenomenon in many guises.” Review of General Psychology, 2 (2), 175-220.
  • Tversky, Amos, and Daniel Kahneman. “Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases: Biases in judgments reveal some heuristics of thinking under uncertainty.” Science 185.4157 (1974): 1124-1131.
  • Tversky, Amos, and Daniel Kahneman. “The framing of decisions and the psychology of choice.” Science 211.4481 (1981): 453-458.

More from the author: Transforming Pain into Power: Succeeding with PTSD Through a Positive Mindset

Humanity in Microgravity: How the ISS Is Transforming Medical Research

Sadaf Sarfraz
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Humanity in Microgravity: How the ISS Is Transforming Medical Research

Space has always been a mirror. When we look it up, we search for it but discover more about ourselves.

Orbiting 400 kilometers above Earth, the International Space Station (ISS) is not only a symbol of exploration. It is a laboratory where human biology is pushed beyond its design. In microgravity, bones begin to dissolve, muscles weaken, immunity becomes uncertain, and microbes adapt faster than we ever anticipated. [1–4]

“Every time we push beyond the familiar, we discover something new about what it means to be human.”

Thousands of kilometers above Earth, the International Space Station (ISS) orbits silently, a laboratory suspended between Earth and the infinite, where science and human experience merge in ways impossible to achieve on Earth. Every heartbeat, every cell, and every physiological response becomes a lesson in adaptation, resilience, and survival.

Astronauts aboard the ISS are not merely explorers; they are living experiments, revealing the hidden vulnerabilities of the human body and the extraordinary ways life adapts. The knowledge gained above is shaping medicine below, offering hope for conditions that have long resisted our understanding.

When Gravity Lets Go!

Gravity shapes life; it guides bone structure, muscle growth, blood circulation, and even cellular signaling. Remove it, and the human body responds in startling ways. Astronauts in orbit experience bone density loss of 1–2% per month, a rate far faster than osteoporosis on Earth [2,5].

Muscles, especially in the legs and back, weaken despite strict exercise regimens. Body fluids shift upward, increasing intracranial pressure and sometimes leading to blurred vision and long-term ocular changes. The immune system is compromised; latent viruses can reactivate, and the body struggles to fight routine infections. [1,4,6]

This acceleration of physiological decline is not just a curiosity; it is a window into disease mechanisms, compressed into months rather than years. It allows researchers to study interventions with unprecedented speed and efficiency.

“This is not a race against space.
 It is a race against disease against time.”

Why Microgravity Matters for Medicine

Microgravity compresses years of human ageing into months. The ISS offers a rare advantage: accelerated insight into some of the most widespread health challenges on Earth. Astronauts experience in one mission what older adults experience in decades. Space lets scientists examine ageing while it accelerates.

microgravity
Comparison of phenomena in space and on Earth. Graph, Author

When Gravity Disappears: Body Systems Under Pressure

Without gravity’s constant pull, bones stop forming, and calcium escapes into circulation [2,5]. Muscles shrink from disuse. [3] Blood redistributes toward the head, forcing the heart to adapt. [11] The consequences resemble some of the most serious public health concerns on Earth, but are revealed at a pace science can measure and respond to.

This has turned the ISS into a powerful model for developing better therapies for osteoporosis and cardiovascular decline.

The Immune System’s Breaking Point

Even short missions lead to altered white blood cell activity, cytokine changes, and shifts in the microbiome [1,4,6]. The ISS has become a unique testing ground to understand how stress accelerates disease, why some cancers evade immunity, and how microbes increase their resistance. Research in orbit is reshaping our understanding of infection and immunity.

Drug Discovery in Orbit

Protein structures are notoriously hard to analyze on Earth. Gravity interferes with crystal formation. In microgravity, crystals grow larger and more perfectly organized, allowing clearer structural maps of disease-driving proteins [9]. That clarity speeds drug development for cancer, neurodegeneration, and rare disorders. Space provides the stillness biology needs to reveal its architecture.

Organs on Chips: Human Physiology, Miniaturized

The ISS is now home to tissue-on-chip experiments: small living models of the human heart, bone, brain, and blood vessels. These systems help scientists watch how tissues age, mutate, and respond to treatment in real time. Medicine is becoming smaller, smarter, and more precise — tested far above the world it will treat.

Health Care Beyond Hospitals

In space, there is no emergency room. Innovation becomes a necessity. Remote ultrasound techniques and portable sequencing tools originally developed for astronauts are now used everywhere from rural clinics to disaster zones [10,13]. Real-time monitoring of physiological changes is improving outcomes both in orbit and on the ground. Space medicine is shaping the future of global health.

The Future Grows Upward

The ISS offers a rare perspective: remove gravity, and human vulnerability is exposed. But knowledge follows. From weakening bones to resilient microbes, from heart tissue to DNA repair, every experiment is designed with a dual mission. To safeguard astronauts as we push more into space and improve patient care across Earth. We often imagine space research as distant from everyday life. Yet some of the most practical answers to aging, cancer, and chronic disease are emerging from a laboratory where sunrise comes every ninety minutes.

Space is not escape, it’s life beyond words.

References:

  1. Crucian BE, et al. J Leukoc Biol. 2018;103(2):267–278.
  2. Smith SM, et al. Bone. 2015;81:712–720.
  3. Hargens AR, Vico L. J Appl Physiol. 2016;120(8):891–903.
  4. Choukèr A, Crucian B. Acta Astronaut. 2020;176:295–301.
  5. Grimm D, et al. npj Microgravity. 2022;8(1):1–13.
  6. da Silveira WA, et al. Cell Rep. 2020;33(11):108445.
  7. McCulloch AD, et al. Stem Cell Rep. 2021;16(10):2344–2356.
  8. Tanigawa N, et al. Crystals. 2021;11(5):530.
  9. Afshinnekoo E, et al. npj Microgravity. 2016;2:16035.
  10. Hughson RL, et al. J Appl Physiol. 2016;120(8):844–851.
  11. Garrett-Bakelman FE, et al. Science. 2019;364(6436):eaau8650.
  12. ISS National Laboratory. Benefits for Humanity. ISSNL; 2023.
  13. NASA. 20 breakthroughs from 20 years of science aboard the ISS. NASA.gov; 2024.

More from the author: In the Shadows of War— How Trauma Writes Its Legacy on the Bodies of Women and Children

 

Herds and Hurdles: New Research Highlights Looming Obstacles for Thar Desert Livestock

Ali Nawaz Rahimoo
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Herds and Hurdles: New Research Highlights Looming Obstacles for Thar Desert Livestock

Tharparkar, a district spanning 19,637 square kilometres, lies in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Tharparkar’s livestock population exceeds 6 million. But the region paints a picture of beauty and adversity, for beneath the alarming mortality figures lie deeper issues that hamper human existence in this geographically, culturally, and religiously diverse region. 

The Thar desert is characterized mainly by marginal and diversified agriculture, reflecting the interaction of soil type, crop diversification, livestock grazing, crop management, and migration during lean periods for livestock feeding and off-farm work. Monsoon rains are the only wet period in the desert.

Kharif cropping is the main option, fully dependent on monsoon rains; low crop productivity results in food production. Crop yields are generally low except when there is heavy and occasional rainfall. Therefore, livestock becomes the major stabilizing factor for sustaining agriculture.  

The livestock is a component of the farming system. However, it becomes tough in the drought season from February to May-June. These are the months when farmers have to cover large distances along with their livestock in search of grazing rangelands. They travel westward and ultimately reach the neighbouring districts of Umerkot and Mirpurkhas, etc., putting a lot of pressure on the fodder resources in those areas.

LIVESTOCK
The concept of stall feeding livestock is not common in Thar. Here, livestock mostly depend on field grazing in the ranges and in the fields adjacent to the goths when there are no crops. Photo, Ali Nawaz

Patterns of Livestock Grazing

The concept of stall feeding livestock is not common in Thar. Here, livestock mostly depend on field grazing in the ranges and in the fields adjacent to the goths when there are no crops. The average distance of grazing fields from the village is about 3 km, and livestock grazing is mostly a male-dominant activity. Nearly 80% reported that one male adult was responsible for the grazing activity, whereas the remaining 20% reported more than one person for the same activity. 

Usually, in this situation, different people for day and night shifts go for grazing. In about 25% of families, children were also involved in the grazing of the livestock. However, overgrazing is becoming a looming challenge in the desert; the situation is rapidly depleting the endangered palatable grass species in the area. An urgent ban should be imposed to carry out grazing at an optimum level for obtaining maximum benefit out of rangeland resources. 

 “Social activist Nalechango shared that the major source of livelihood for the people of Thar is rain-fed agriculture and livestock. Compared to other parts of Pakistan, the meat from Thar’s livestock is delicious and well-liked. He suggested that the government should provide opportunities for livestock keepers to sell their animals in major markets”.

Protecting Herds from Diseases 

The depleting health of animals is another growing concern, as the residents are primarily dependent on them for their livelihood. When diseases break out, mostly veterinary care is not available, and the farmers have to depend on traditional methods, as well as seek the advice of spiritual leaders. Mortality rates in the event of disease were found to be quite high in the case of sheep, goats, and donkeys as compared to other animals. 

Livestock Nutrition and Feeding

Local farmers say that about 62% in the study area feed their livestock with millet and guar crop residues during fodder shortages. (December to June). Nearly 23% of farmers reported that they did not use any crop residues. No effort has been visible by the farmers to cut and store grasses, which are in abundance in the rainy season, and use them for feeding their livestock in the drought months. 

Stall-feeding is common in the Thar Desert. Only the milk animals, when they produce milk, are stall-fed during December to July, i.e., the months of occurrence of rainfall. Common concentrates that they use are guar, millet grindings, wheat and rice bran, and wheat bhusa.

Unhealthy Grazing Patterns

The concept of stall feeding to livestock is not common in Thar, and mostly livestock depend upon field grazing in the ranges as well as in the fields adjacent to the goths when there are no crops. The average grazing distance from the village is about three kilometres. Grazing of livestock is mostly a male-dominant activity. Nearly 80 percent reported that one male adult was looking after the grazing activity, whereas the remaining 20 percent reported more than one person for the same activity. 

Usually, in this situation, different people for day and night shifts go for grazing. In about 25 percent of families, children were also involved in the grazing of the livestock. It is important to point out at this stage that overgrazing is a big problem in the desert, and this situation is rapidly moving towards depletion of the endangered palatable grass species in the area. It is urgently needed that some sort of control should be imposed so that grazing activity can be carried out at an optimum level for obtaining maximum benefit out of rangeland resources. 

 “Social activist Nalechango shared that the major source of livelihood for the people of Thar is rain-fed agriculture and livestock. Compared to other parts of Pakistan, the meat from Thar’s livestock is especially tasty and well-liked. He suggested that the government should provide opportunities for livestock keepers to sell their animals in major markets”.

Animal health was found to be an area where a lot of improvement is needed. It is the only cash surety for the farmers in times of need. In the incidence of disease, mostly veterinary care is not available, and the farmers have to depend on traditional methods, as well as seek the advice of spiritual leaders. Mortality rates in the event of disease were found to be quite high in the case of sheep, goats, and donkeys as compared to other animals. 

“Veterinary Doctor Abdullah shared that government veterinary hospitals are often closed due to the unavailability of staff. These facilities are located far from livestock keepers and are not properly constructed to meet the needs of the local communities. During the rainy season and even in normal times, livestock owners have to spend large amounts of money on animal medicines.”

livestock
The concept of stall feeding livestock is not common in Thar. Here, livestock mostly depend on field grazing in the ranges and in the fields adjacent to the goths when there are no crops. Photo, Ali Nawaz

How Genetics and Nutrition Impact Milk Yield

Cows and sheep, or goats were the main milk-producing animals. When there was a sample of grass available in the range, cows produced almost double the milk that was produced in the deficit period. The pattern was of low to light milk yield with respect to rainfall zones. A similar pattern was found in the milk yield produced by sheep and goats.

“Rani, a livestock owner, shared her views, saying, “We do not sell milk; we only sell ghee. During the rainy season, we distribute milk to needy people.”

The Hidden Challenges Livestock Farmers Face

The major constraints faced by the farmers while raising livestock are drought, minimal marketing facilities, and disease. Due to the non-availability of a livestock market nearby, the livestock is usually sold in the villages, where lower rates are offered by beoparies. High mortality rates were due to the unavailability of veterinary hospitals in the Thar area.

Changing Migration Habits

The dry period normally lasts from December to January unless there is enough precipitation.  The farmers in the Thar start a temporary migration to the areas in the interior of Sindh in search of food for their animals. Usually, their migration involves male family members who take along their herds and look after the dry period in the irrigated areas. Sometimes, this migration involves all the family members moving along with their children and livestock for the same period and travelling long distances, reaching as far as Nagarparkar, almost 200km.

Although their return to Thar depends upon the rainfall, an overwhelming majority, at around 85 percent, reported that they are back by June to August.  While migrating, the farmers have to travel long distances to reach the places where they can find food and feed for their animals. Livestock production is the dominant activity of the desert economy; it plays a crucial role by ensuring subsistence and security against crop failures under drought conditions. 

Besides, it is also a status symbol in the area. The presence of better ranges in the high rainfall zone helps farmers to raise more animal units. Farmers in the high rainfall zone were keeping significantly higher numbers of animal units. The stall feeding of animals generally starts when the grazing forages are not available in rangelands. It starts in December and ends in April every year. 

“Social activist Abdul Qadir shared that every third year, Tharparkar faces a drought, forcing people to migrate to the barrage areas along with their children and livestock. During these droughts, no fodder is available for the animals.”

Animal diseases are a common problem in Thar majority of 85% reported that no veterinary personnel have visited the villages. Livestock are important components of the Thar farming system. There is a need to conduct further research to document the animals’ production differential and their implications for animal breed improvements. 

Animal health is also important for profitable livestock production. It may be improved by an effective breeding and feeding program, along with the provision of on-time veterinary aid to the farmers. Technical training about vaccination may be arranged through a crash program. 

“Atta Muhammad, owner of Azad Livestock Farm in Tardos, shared that farmers need modern techniques for effective livestock management. They also require proper training on disease prevention and control. In Tharparkar, livestock keepers have very limited access to veterinary facilities. He suggested that the government should provide subsidized rates during drought seasons, as drought recurs almost every third year in the Tharparkar region.”

This would be a good step by the government towards promoting the pastoral economy.  Tharparkar district is one of the biggest potential livestock-market zones in Sindh and needs to focus on planning to promote the livestock sector. Most people of the area depend on an agro-pastoral economy for their livelihood. It, fully or partially, contributes to the economy of every household of about 1.6 million people in the district. 

Thar needs urgent priority in livestock development; Authorities should adopt a holistic plan that includes introducing crossbreeds, promoting dairy farming, and expanding animal health facilities. Installing solar water pumps, ensuring affordable fodder, improving pasturelands and rangelands, and developing markets for livestock and related products such as hides and wool are also mandatory. The Sindh government should impose Section 144 to protect public grazing commons, preserve fodder during the monsoon, and prevent land degradation.

Similar Articles: Harvest at Risk: The Alarming Impact of Climate Change on Wheat Production in Sind

Palestine’s Hope in Science: Insights from Neuroscientist Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh

Hifz Ur Rehman
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Palestine’s Hope in Science: Insights from Neuroscientist Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh

At the Lahore Science Mela 2025, the air buzzed with wonder and curiosity. Amid the incredible experiments and one of the most inspiring voices at the festival belonged to Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh, who stood out for his deeply personal mission. Despite Palestinian roots, his journey is a stirring testament to resilience, passion, and the power of science education as a force for good. 

Abdulrahman is rewriting the narrative for young learners, using storytelling, immersive games, and vibrant characters. For him, neuroscience isn’t just a field of study; it is a bridge that links knowledge with empathy, helping children understand not only their biology, but their emotions, memories, and innermost selves.

Science has no borders. Abdulrahman’s appearance at LSM 2025 carried deeper significance; as a Palestinian scientist, he carried the hopes of a community often deprived of access and infrastructure. In a nutshell, he is bringing cutting-edge science into the hearts and hands of future generations.

Here are the snippets of Abdulrahman’s conversation with Scientia Magazine at Lahore Science Mela 2025.

Science
Abdulrehman with Scientia’s team members Muneeb Siddiqui, Hifz Ur Rahman, and Owais. Photo, Scientia Pakistan

Hifz: It’s an honour to host and speak with Abdulrahman Al Dahesh, a Palestinian neuroscientist. He came from Palestine, studied in the USA, and is now at the Lahore Science Mela (LSM). How are you feeling here?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: Thank you so much for having me today. It’s been really great to be part of LSM, and I feel excellent about it, as well as happy and grateful for all the people I’ve met and the students I’ve worked with. So, I’m feeling really thankful and fulfilled.

Hifz: We all love Palestine. We have an intense love with Palestinians and Muslims all around the world. So, what was your family and educational background? It’s a tough situation there in Gaza, Palestine, and the surrounding regions. How did you achieve this career?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: Thank you so much for your question. My family is originally from Palestine, and in 1948, they were expelled from Palestine, and they went to Lebanon, where I was born.

So being born in Lebanon as a Palestinian doesn’t give you, I would say, the full rights you would have as compared to a Lebanese citizen there. But it’s definitely been, like, a good experience. I got a Fulbright scholarship for my Master’s in Neuroscience, and traveled to the United States. I actually just came back recently. 

Thank you for what you said about Pakistan’s love for Palestine. I can see it here. Almost everyone either wears a keffiyeh or the Palestine flag on their shirt. You can see flags all around the Mela.

It’s just that this love between the Pakistani people and the Palestinian people that I cherish and love. That’s why even before coming to Pakistan, I had many friends there, and they are like a second family to me. And yeah, I’m grateful to be here.

Hifz: As you studied in the U.S., and we see that the Western people are a bit off against that region, the eastern areas. So, how was your experience as a neuroscientist based in Palestine studying in the US? Did you ever feel some bias, restrictions, backlash, or hatred due to your nationality?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: I didn’t face any direct issues; the American people I met were very kind and welcoming. Unfortunately, due to changes in the government in the last year, there were definitely issues. For example, I was on a scholarship, but I couldn’t pursue an internship due to administrative issues.

But if I were to look at it from a wider view, there are definitely big issues, especially now, a whole chunk of discrimination against Palestinians. The visas of students and children coming from Gaza who want to get treatment are halted and stopped. This is definitely something that bothers me as a Palestinian, knowing that these children can receive treatment and, of course, all the policies as well. That was my personal experience during the two years.

Hifz: To me, as a common man, neuroscience is a very complex subject to pursue. What motivates you to pursue this career field? And as a recent graduate, where do you see yourself in the next few years?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: I wanted to understand how humans behave and how psychology works. I come from a science background. My bachelor’s is in chemistry. I wanted to join these two fields together. That’s how I came across the field of neuroscience.

I figured out that there’s a lot of power when people start understanding their brain, like getting to learn how they work, how all these memories are made, how feelings are created. There’s a lot of power that comes with it. I call it brain literacy. We become more literate about ourselves. In that way, we understand the world better. So that’s why I wanted to pursue neuroscience and also to communicate it.

Through the Neurochem Lab, which is my platform, I build stories and programs, creating an educational experience for children to learn about their brains in fun ways through storytelling. My connections are expanding, and I am hopeful that I will see this project growing in the next years.

And as a career, I would be very interested in creating such learning experiences. So, as an educator, I have a lot of questions about the brain. So, I think I will go through a research career as well.

Hifz: The cause that brings us here, the LSM, can you share your experience, how it is going, and what your expectations are? Have these expectations been fulfilled or not?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: Yeah, it’s been an amazing experience to be there. And as I said to myself, to all these people and students, that it’s just very interesting to be surrounded by people who want to learn about science and are curious, being able to demonstrate something that would contribute to this curiosity for the students. So definitely this is something that is beyond my expectations.

You can see that the children are curious, they are interested, and they want to learn more. They have questions that they want answers to. A kid just came to me, and he said, like, What is a neuron? I love these kinds of questions. I love just talking to people, to children, especially about the brain. It was definitely a great experience and filled with connection and curiosity.

Hifz: The Khwarizmi Science Society, KSS, is organizing this event. So what ties do you have with KSS?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: My friend, Abeer Asif, is a Fulbright scholar. We met through a Fulbright conference. She connected me with KSS. Once they found out what I do, we had a meeting together. We aligned in really valuable ways. They were very collaborative. It’s a great organization, keeping the curiosity of science in Pakistan for children, and really helping children move in that direction, hopefully to inspire more scientists. 

I am sure that I will have a lifelong connection with the Khwarizmi Science Society through more Melas (LSM), more learning activities. So, I’m really excited to have this relationship with KSS and the people behind it.

Hifz: Let us know about your neuroscience exhibit at the LSM? How does it help to learn about brain activities?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: Absolutely. At my exhibition stall, we first introduce the brain to the audience and how it is common across the animal kingdom. How other species have a brain, and the difference in the brain. We also touch on what’s common between our brains and the brains of other species.

And there’s the brain cell; it’s called the neuron, has a very special shape. We have pipe cleaners and materials that children can use to build their own cell. So, actually, if you go around the Mela, you will see children holding these colorful shapes, which are usually neurons.

We also had a workshop today, where we read a story. It’s an original story that I developed. It’s called the brain blooms. It follows two characters as one is a scientist and the other is his friend. This follows as the scientists build a device based on the brain. The children learn about the brain through that story.

Hifz: You are the founder of an edtech startup, “Neurochem Lab”, which makes neuroscience engaging and relatable for elementary and middle school students. Would you like to tell us about some of its achievements?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: Neurochem Lab is an extension of my efforts to basically, like, how can we make neuroscience accessible to children? We develop stories and programs that make science very accessible, interactive, and fun through storytelling.

Working with schools, especially working with children from Palestine, is an achievement. I think there are usually projects that students work on throughout their learning experience. The fact that they continued doing these educational activities even during the war is, to me, a remarkable achievement. And hopefully, it was maybe a moment of relief for them during this, this horrible suffering and genocide that they were going through.

That’s my achievement so far, and being at the LSM is definitely an accomplishment in itself. For me, it’s a challenge because, as you know, I don’t speak Urdu. But many children still understood me when I spoke in English.

It’s a challenge to actually speak to an audience that doesn’t necessarily speak a language that I do. Even the story we read today was in Urdu, and I chose it intentionally so it would be inclusive, rather than reading it in English. But I had amazing volunteers working with me, who were facilitating the discussion. It was just great that, despite everything going on, the activities still turned out so well. By the grace of God, it was a huge success.

Hifz: Do you have any plans to collaborate in the future with Pakistan regarding the Neurochem Lab?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: Definitely. So as I said, with KSS, I am hoping to have more science communication events, more participation. And with Neurochem Lab, we deliver an online learning experience for students. So, hopefully, I want to collaborate with schools in Pakistan to provide these online learning experiences to these children.

Hopefully, if there is enough interest, we can have a team based in Pakistan, one that already speaks the local languages, to lead Neurochem Lab classes with schools and children here. I think that would be a very exciting collaboration for me, and a meaningful expansion of our work. It would allow us to come here more often and broaden the radius of these experiences.

More from the author: Cracking the Enigma of Crimes by Nanotechnology with Dr. Shahid Nazir Paracha

The Roots of Inequality: Understanding Gender Disparity in Pakistan’s STEM Education

Zoha Tariq
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The Roots of Inequality: Understanding Gender Disparity in Pakistan’s STEM Education

It is widely acknowledged that in the twenty-first-century global information economy, STEM education is a vital component of innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development. Strong STEM skills throughout the populace enable nations to tackle difficult issues like public health emergencies and climate change, while also promoting competitive sectors and high-value job opportunities.[2]

“For women and young girls, they’re expected to be a housewife, to mother a child, to take care of the husband and be in the kitchen,” said Rida Abbas, a second-year business economics and political science student from Pakistan. “People should have access to choose what’s right for them, and that’s not really a choice in Pakistan for many women.”[1]

When it comes to gender inequality in STEM education, Pakistan offers a compelling case study. Despite slight improvements in general educational attainment over the past few decades, Pakistani women and girls still face significant obstacles to involvement in and success in STEM disciplines.

These discrepancies seriously limit Pakistan’s capacity for social and economic advancement, in addition to being a violation of educational equity. Although the type and degree of gender inequality in STEM education differ significantly between nations and regions, it is a worldwide phenomenon. Despite international efforts to highlight the importance of STEM for economic growth, patriarchal systems and underfunded institutions continue to impede Pakistan’s advancement. 

STEM education is a cornerstone of socioeconomic development, enabling nations to address challenges such as climate change, public health crises, and technological innovation. So, what does it predict for the future of our country when the full potential of its intellectual capacity is not being implemented? Pakistan stands to lose an estimated PKR 500 billion annually, while closing this gap could boost the country’s GDP by $30 billion.[3]

Therefore, it’s not only a question of social fairness and fundamental rights since everyone, regardless of gender, should have an equal chance to explore their abilities and follow their academic and professional goals, but also about boosting women’s involvement in STEM subjects to improve Pakistan’s competitiveness in a global economy that is becoming more and more reliant on technology while also addressing the country’s severe talent shortage, presenting more inclusive and creative answers to Pakistan’s development problems.

Current State of Gender Representation in Pakistan’s STEM Education

The World Economic Forum ranks Pakistan, the sixth most populous country on earth, as the least gender equitable in the Asia and Pacific region, reporting significant gaps in enrolment across education levels – Pakistan ranks at 145 positions out of 146 with a gender gap index of 0.057, which has decreased by -3 points from last year. The educational attainment index is 0.836, ranking 139 out of 146 in 2024.[6]

Women comprise less than 10% of professionals in these fields. This disparity stems from entrenched cultural norms, systemic inequities in education, and economic barriers that disproportionately exclude girls and women.[7]

STEM

Statistics from UNESCO indicate that women’s university enrolment in Pakistan in the natural sciences fields rose from 20% to 31% between 2017 and 2020, indicating a good trend. But over the same time span, engagement in agriculture has dropped from 2% to 0% and in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) from 9% to 6%, suggesting regression in vital STEM fields.

The gender gap becomes more pronounced in rural regions, where just 28% of high school pupils are female. While women make up over 46% of students in the humanities at the postsecondary level, they are still underrepresented in STEM professions, especially in engineering by 21% and agricultural sciences by 12%.  The differences are even more pronounced within the workforce, where women only make up 4.9% of engineers and 3% of those working in the power transmission industry. 

Systemic Barriers in Education Systems for Women

The barriers that prevent women from pursuing STEM education in Pakistan are not isolated; rather, they intersect in intricate ways that further disfavour particular groups. A complex network of institutional, societal, and economic elements influences educational possibilities and experiences differently for diverse groups of women.

A Patriarchal Society and Taboos

Pakistani society is rife with patriarchal beliefs and gender norms, with men holding a firm grasp over almost every aspect of life, influencing what women should learn and do for a living. Women are largely discouraged from pursuing an education by their reigning male family heads, the values of mindless docility and submission being forced onto them since birth.

Even if they do, they are guided more towards humanities, education, or healthcare fields, perceived as continuations of traditional caregiving roles, with STEM being perceived as largely ‘unfit’ for women. Even if the family is willing to give support, the fear of disregarding societal expectations takes precedence in the end. 

Moreover, girls and women bear a disproportionate amount of the responsibility for household duties, which results in severe time constraints that impede their ability to pursue their academic goals. Even while they are studying, female students are sometimes expected to contribute significantly to household chores, which limits their time for academic pursuits, particularly the rigorous laboratory work or programming practice that STEM topics frequently call for.

With 54 percent of girls getting married and/or pregnant before turning 18 (regional variations apply), early marriage continues to be a major obstacle to girls’ educational progress. Marriage sometimes results in the cessation of study, especially in STEM disciplines that demand sustained, long-term dedication.

Marriage frequently occurs during significant educational turning points, such as the transfer from high school to college, which disrupts female students’ STEM career paths. And many women are forced to give up their education post-marriage altogether, as their spouses grow increasingly possessive and sceptical of the independence that it may grant them.

For example, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has indicated that 50% of female medical graduates never work following their studies. While 70% of medical students are women, only 23% of registered doctors are women. [5]

In coeducational environments, religious and cultural customs such as gender segregation and prohibitions on gender mixing erect further obstacles. These behaviours may restrict women’s participation in field trips, lab work, classroom debates, and other collaborative learning opportunities that are crucial to STEM education.

STEM
Source: Dawn.com

Safety and Mobility Concerns

Long commutes to school and dangerous or insufficient modes of transit create obstacles that disproportionately affect female pupils. Women’s educational options are essentially limited to local schools that might not provide high-quality STEM programs because families are sometimes unwilling to let them travel great distances alone.

While social criticism restricts women’s mobility in metropolitan areas, discouraging enrolment in STEM programs, girls in rural areas confront physical risks when trying to get to school.

These accessibility problems are exacerbated by safety concerns, since parents commonly limit their daughters’ educational opportunities out of fear of gender-based abuse or harassment, particularly inflamed by extremist groups who perceive female education as a threat to ‘religious’ values.

Families frequently decide to restrict girls’ educational opportunities due to the risk assessment created by the lack of safe campus environments, secure transportation, and sufficient protection measures, especially in STEM fields that may necessitate long hours in labs or computer centres.

Resource Gaps

Infrastructure for education is usually insufficient, and facilities reserved for women are either poor or non-existent, especially in more rural regions. The lab apparatus, technological resources, and specialised instructional materials required for high-quality STEM education are in low supply in many colleges and institutions.

Because they might have fewer options for accessing these materials outside of the classroom due to the various systemic barriers, female students are disproportionately impacted by these inadequacies. Government schools lack STEM resources, such as labs and qualified teachers, especially in remote locations.

With subpar science education and inadequate facilities for menstrual hygiene, girls’ schools bear a disproportionate amount of the burden, which results in high dropout rates. Elite private schools, which are frequently taught in English, on the other hand, have better STEM resources but are still out of reach for low-income families.

Curriculum and Pedagogy

In addition to the fact that STEM programs in Pakistan are frequently Western-centric, ignoring indigenous knowledge and neglecting to contextualise applications for rural communities, the “chilly climate” theory- which describes how classroom settings alienate female students through unconscious biases like teachers giving preference to boys in technical discussions- also applies to education.

Systematic prejudice in educational institutions themselves adds to the obstacles, with teachers and administration holding gender biases, evident in the way they treat female students differently, the low standards they have for their success in STEM courses, and the lack of support they receive to pursue careers in these sectors. These institutional prejudices can have a major effect on women’s self-efficacy, perseverance, and success in STEM fields.

Workplace Discrimination

The idea that STEM subjects are unsuitable for women is maintained by a lack of female educators and role models in these fields. In the absence of prominent female STEM role models, female students are less likely to imagine themselves following in their footsteps.z

Gender inequities are perpetuated over generations by this self-reinforcing cycle of the representation gap. When women pursue jobs in STEM, they face discriminatory conditions such as harassment, limited leadership opportunities, and pay disparities. Systemic exclusion is seen in the fact that women only hold 4.9% of engineering supervisory positions.

Socioeconomic Factors

Poverty intensifies gender gaps. Boys’ education is frequently given priority by low-income families, particularly in rural regions, who see it as a safer investment, based on the presumption that boys will become the primary breadwinners and girls’ principal roles will be focused on being a ‘good wife and mother’. Girls are often pulled out of school to help out around the house. Financial limitations restrict access to advanced STEM resources, such as computers or exam fees, even for those who persevere.

Research indicates that girls from low-income families are 52% less likely to attend school than their affluent counterparts, demonstrating the substantial impact poverty has on educational access and persistence. Since 88% of adolescent girls aged 11-17 live in poverty, many families are forced to make tough choices about their children’s education, frequently giving boys’ education priority when funds are tight.[10]

For many families, the immediate costs of education, such as tuition, supplies, transportation, and technology, create significant financial obstacles, especially in STEM disciplines that require a lot of resources.

With women comprising less than 10 percent of STEM professionals despite representing half the population, Pakistan is operating at a fraction of its intellectual and economic potential. Where so much talent remains unrealised due to an unreasonable gender bias, can we truly claim to value the talents and dreams of all our citizens?

Yet acknowledgment of the flaw alone changes nothing. The question now becomes: what will Pakistan do with this understanding? How will policymakers, educators, families, and communities transform these insights into action? The path forward requires not just awareness but concrete strategies, sustained commitment, and systemic reform.

References:

  1. M. Gill, “Opinion: Gender equality in education is needed for girls in Pakistan to pursue dreams,” January 2024. [Online]. Available: https://dailybruin.com/2024/01/21/opinion-gender-equality-in-education-is-needed-for-girls-in-pakistan-to-pursue-dreams.
  2. UNESCO, “Advocacy Brief: Support girls and women to pursue STEM subjects and careers,” UNESCO, 2024.
  3. A. S. Malik, “Empowering the future of Pakistan: Gender Strategy Pakistan 2024-2027,” UNICEF, 2024.
  4. E. S. Qadri, “The Brilliant Pakistani Women in STEM,” 2019. [Online]. Available: https://scientiamag.org/the-brilliant-pakistani-women-in-stem/.
  5. M. R. C. S. S. HOLLOWS, “Understanding female participation in STEM subjects in Pakistan,” British Council.
  6. World Economic Forum, “Global Gender Gap 2024- Insight Report,” World Economic Forum, 2024.
  7. M. Ahsan, “Less than 10% women in STEM in Pakistan: gender stereotypes or choice?” 2022. [Online]. Available: https://voicepk.net/2022/05/less-than-10-women-in-stem-in-pakistan-gender-stereotypes-or-choice/.
  8. A. Fleck, “Best and Worst Countries for Gender Equality,” 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/chart/20364/best-and-worst-countries-for-gender-equality/.
  9. M. Qaisar, “Gender Inequality in STEM Education in Pakistan: A Case Study of Female Students,” vol. 24, 2024.
  10. The World Bank, “Five major challenges to girls’ education in Pakistan,” 2024. [Online]. Available: https://datatopics.worldbank.org/dataviz/girls-education-pakistan/.

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The Surprising Smarts of Sea Urchins: Nature’s Tiny Brainiacs

Lubna Rasheed
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The Surprising Smarts of Sea Urchins: Nature’s Tiny Brainiacs

Imagine a creature you thought simple and spiky rocks roll in the shallow pool, or a fancy treat on your shushi plate. But new research has turned the idea that these prickly creatures are actually incredibly complex, possessing a brain everywhere. This stunning reality has revealed new research about sea urchins. It has made scientist question their brain and how they work. Sea urchins are more complex than we ever guessed, so do not let their looks fool you.

Purple sea urchins (Paracentrotus lividus) begin life as tiny, swimming larvae. They undergo an incredible metamorphosis after maturity, transforming into the spiny, round creatures that we are more familiar with. Something remarkable happens in their bodies during this transformation from larvae to the adult stage.

A Surprising Transformation of Sea Urchins

Sea urchins get a whole new body as they grow up. They undergo a radical change and become the spiny urchins. This transformation process is called metamorphosis.

 It is like they are rebuilding their entire body during metamorphosis. They start as tiny, wiggling larvae that are bilaterally symmetrical, like us, with left-right symmetry. But when they become adult, they completely transform into a round, spiky creature with radial symmetry like a five-pointed star.

Surprisingly, this transformation is not only about a change in body shape. As a team of scientists, led by Periklis Paganos, discovered something amazing during this transformation. The urchins do not just add a few new nerves as they grow. They completely rebuild their nervous system from scratch and turn their whole body into a giant, spread-out brain.

Urchins
As a team of scientists, led by Periklis Paganos, discovered something amazing during this transformation. Photo, Science Alert

A Body Full Of Brain Cells

Scientists were amazed to find that over half of a young sea urchin’s cell types are nerve cells. Even more surprising, all these nerve cells are not the same; some use dopamine, others serotonin, GABA, glutamate, histamine, and even neuropeptides, the same chemical messengers that human brains rely on for communication.

The sea urchin is not just adding more nerve cells. It is rebuilding its entire nervous system from the ground up by using the same set of genetic instructions. It is an amazing example of nature completely redesigning a living, functioning brain that’s spread throughout a body. 

Unlike many animals, sea urchins do not have a traditional “trunk” region in their bodies. In most creatures, specific genes define distinct front (head) and back (trunk) regions, but in sea urchins, the genes that typically build the trunk are active only in internal organs such as the gut, not in the outer body. Instead, their entire outer body expresses “head”-like gene programs, making their whole form essentially head-like.

It means that rather than a loose nerve network, sea urchins possess a complex, integrated nervous system that researchers call an “all-body brain,” with the neurons spread throughout their entire body working together as a whole.

Sea Urchins: The Science Behind the All-Body Brain

This revolutionary insight was made possible by advanced genetic and cellular analyses. It revealed a surprisingly complex nervous system extended throughout the sea urchin’s body. Unlike animals with a centralized brain, where processing is concentrated in one location, the sea urchin has a decentralized system, a complex and interconnected neural network spread throughout its body.

This network functions collectively as an expansive “all-body brain,” and is capable of processing information across its entire form. In short, Sea urchins possess a sophisticated, body-wide brain, built with a genetic blueprint similar to our own, challenging the long-held belief that complex intelligence requires a central brain.

This discovery challenges long-standing assumptions about the simplicity of echinoderm nervous systems. The findings suggest that the “brain” is not confined to a single structure but is instead distributed throughout the organism, with genetic patterns and cell types remarkably similar to those found in vertebrates. 

References:

More from the author: Sudden Goodbyes: The Alarming Truth About Cardiac Arrest’s Hidden Dangers

Science, Leadership, & Local Empowerment: An In-Depth Conversation with Hassun El-Zafar

Maham Maqsood
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Science, Leadership, & Local Empowerment: An In-Depth Conversation with Hassun El-Zafar

Hassun El-Zafar is the Chief Executive Officer of Edinburgh Science, leading one of the UK’s most influential science engagement organisations and managing its various local and international outreach programs. In 2024, he was recognised by Innovate UK for “his work on democratising access to museums and knowledge.” He carries a unique blend of creative leadership and community-centred vision. He has also developed several storytelling projects, including an installation called HEAR and a virtual reality experience, Mirpur: The Atlantis of Kashmir.

We caught up with him before the Lahore Science Mela (LSM) to chat about his work and the landscape of science communication.

Maham: I’ll jump straight in. Your profile is fascinating, and we’ve seen the incredible work you’re doing in the UK with Edinburgh Science. Could you take us back to the beginning, like how this journey started for you?

Hassun: Well, Jazak Allah for having me. It’s great to talk to you, and I’m grateful to the LSM for inviting me. Alhamdulillah, my career traces back to my lifelong connection to science, whether through school, university, or what eventually became my main profession as a science teacher.

I studied science education at university, and even now, when I go home, people still know me as a science teacher. But I always wanted to explore beyond the classroom, which led me to informal science learning spaces, and ultimately to my role as Director of Edinburgh Science Foundation. Whilst I was doing my master’s, I applied for a job as a science communicator at the Abu Dhabi Science Festival, delivered by Edinburgh Science.

And therefore, that would have been a key moment and reason why I knew of Edinburgh Science to begin with. I was also blessed with wonderful science teachers who didn’t reduce science to facts and formulas but made it a creative endeavour. That shaped how I see science today. And I’ve been fortunate to have supportive friends and colleagues who pushed me to realise my potential. May Allah grant all of us such company that helps us grow and achieve work we feel is worthwhile.

Maham: What is your broader vision for Edinburgh Science? And in a landscape filled with volatility, misinformation, and declining trust, how do you see the science festival helping people connect with scientific knowledge?

Hassun: Yeah, it’s so important to be able to understand what your impact is going to be and what you want it to be, to be able to evaluate and assess it. We’re living in a time when people consume more information than ever, and truthful, transparent science communication is so imperative.

At Edinburgh Science, we approach this in many ways. We organise a science festival, not just in Edinburgh, but across the world. The Edinburgh Science Festival is the oldest, since 1989.

We deliver talks, cultural programmes, and, importantly, early-years interventions with children and families. Research shows that waiting until university is too late; perceptions of science form very young. So we try to get in as early as possible to build a positive perception of how inquiry knowledge should be, and a positive perception of why we should always go for critical thinking and honest information. I don’t know how we’re going to balance the world that’s coming between us, but in many ways, many of the challenges we face are not new; rather, they’re generational challenges.

There’s always been misinformation. There’s always been a place where science has to play a key role in the future to come, in the present day. The question is how we continue that work using today’s technologies. It might feel daunting, but everything seems impossible until it’s done.

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Hassun at the Athens Science Festival. Credit: Hassun El-Zafar

Maham: You also mentioned that the organisation runs programmes outside the UK. Could you tell us more about the kinds of initiatives you’re currently leading internationally, and how they’re engaging audiences beyond the UK and Europe? These areas have a relatively established science communication landscape, but that’s not always the case in local regions.

Hassun: I see three key areas. First, I’m involved in a lot of international engagement, and the Science Mela is one example of how we share our practice and expertise globally. Second, we’ve delivered creative science festivals for organisations worldwide, such as the Abu Dhabi Science Festival. That festival drew not only local schools but also a very diverse expat community.

We also delivered a science festival in Los Angeles with the Getty Foundation at the Libertas. It’s far from this region, but the number of Hispanic and Latino families there, often overlooked, made it an important project. There is still much more to be done.

And absolutely, that is one of the things that we’re doing out here is kind of really getting a sense of how other science festivals are operating across the world. And how we, as one of the leading science festivals worldwide, have a role to play in achieving our charitable purpose by supporting these festivals in whichever means they find most valuable.

Maham: On a more personal note, what has been the most challenging yet rewarding project you’ve worked on, and how did it shape your journey in science communication, and what did it teach you about leadership?

Hassun: Every project has its challenges, but I’ll mention the play I created, “There Is No Planet B.” I had directed a play before, but I didn’t go to drama school. I felt something needed to be said, and I wanted to push myself.

What I learned about leadership was, first, the importance of building a team. You don’t need to be an expert in everything. In theatre, you bring in a sound designer, a producer, and actors; they take your vision and elevate it. Second, trust your team to deliver your vision. And then the third thing, I guess, is creating the best environment they need to do their best work. Your job as a leader is to understand what helps them succeed and make that possible.

So challenge yourself, always be bold and ambitious. We need those kinds of people in the world right now to build high-performing teams; you do that through trust, and also by creating an environment that allows them to flourish.

In the case of No Planet B, it was bringing in the producer, the actors, and giving them the scripts, and then letting them really run with it. With theatre, it’s remarkable because you can see something which was an idea, to them being on stage, to someone giving you feedback and saying it was the most amazing piece of theatre they’ve ever seen.

And there’s a connection here to science communication. At its core, good science communication is storytelling—something humans have always done and must continue to do.

science
Play directed by Hassun El Zafar. Credit: There Is No Planet B: The Play. Photo, Hassun El Zafar

Maham: Events like the LSM offer young people in Pakistan a rare chance to experience science beyond textbooks. What message would you like to share with the youth about nurturing curiosity? 

Hassun: Science is not necessarily something you have to do at a certain time or place, or even something someone has to give you a title for. If you’re curious about the universe and want to understand the world around you, you’re already engaging in science. It isn’t just the collection of facts and figures.

The second thing is that it is a wonderfully diverse area, you have scientists who wear lab coats in labs, scientists who are climbing mountains, going to space, and to the deepest trenches of the ocean. Some that work with insects, others with atoms. Some read all day, others hardly at all—though maybe they should. The point is, there’s a vast world to explore.

I would also say that we are entering an era where the world needs ideas.  We are trying to solve several problems worldwide, including climate change, food security, education gaps, water and sanitation, glacier melt, housing, and economic development.

You will find that research and science already present robust solutions to these problems. We do not only need scientists, but also builders of ideas that transform society. Science meets purpose when you use the talent God has given you to make the world better. For me, having a compass matters. It could be a spiritual compass, such as Islam provides. And why do we do things to make the world a better place? Because it’s something that is innately your responsibility as a Muslim.

Doing science for its own sake is fine, but doing it to create positive change is far more meaningful. And big change doesn’t always happen from big actions. It happens from people just doing the ordinary day-to-day actions. Doing science, informing public opinion, and transforming the ways that we can address very real problems in society is an art to which all of us need to play an active role.

And I would say, because most of your audience is from places like Pakistan, the time when others dictate how you should solve your problems should come to an end. You should feel empowered as you have the opportunity, talent, and autonomy to solve the issues you face. You can’t solve the problems you’re facing—or the world’s—using the same thinking that created them.

And we can’t solve them with people who have never lived experience of what those problems are like day to day. So use that to your advantage. We call it the unfair advantage in the startup world. Use that, relish it, and go out there and be the change that you want to see in the world because the world needs it more than ever.

More from the author: Exploring the Overlapping Realities of Climate Change and Infectious Disease Spread with Dr Quaid Saeed

Marine Animals Die From Much Smaller Plastic Doses Than Previously Believed

Muniba Usman
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Marine Animals Die From Much Smaller Plastic Doses Than Previously Believed

The marine environment is no longer the ideal place for many aquatic animals. Most of the ocean water is a subtle mix of unwanted materials, including plastic. A recent study reveals that a minimal amount of plastic can prove fatal for marine life. For instance, less than three sugar cubes can be fatal to birds like Atlantic puffins. According to researcher Erin Murphy, an ocean plastic researcher at the Ocean Conservancy, this was already below the lowest threshold they expected

The paper published by The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences saw researchers analyze necropsies from over 10,000 animals in a bid to model how different types of plastic can affect ocean life, and at what point the dose of plastic turns fatal.
Scientists are resolute to reduce the amount of plastics by cleaning up, reducing, or recycling.
Scientists, by and large, are compiling the necropsy results from dozens of studies and available database resources from all around the globe. Specifically, the data have confirmed the relation between the fatality of marine animals and plastic consumption.
Most of the animals had either washed up on beaches or were unintentionally caught.
Researchers then analyzed how the amount of plastic consumed, in terms of both the number of pieces and the volume relative to the animal’s digestive tract, has affected the likelihood of death.
The study also included the record of how different types of plastic have affected other types of animals. For instance, many seabirds were particularly affected by rubber and hard plastics.
Surprisingly, just six pea-sized pieces were enough to kill the birds with a 90% chance. Sea turtles face a significant risk from soft plastics such as polythene bags. These plastic items were lethal for marine mammals, as was fishing gear.
“One whale had the equivalent of a three-gallon bucket of plastic inside it,” Murphy said.
Fifty percent of the marine animals studied were from species designated as threatened, vulnerable, or endangered.

Plastic: a serious threat to survival

Researchers and study authors anticipate that their work can positively affect improving or creating monitoring programs to curtail plastic pollution, particularly in oceans
The research “helps us understand materials that might be particularly dangerous that we may want to address through policy,” Murphy said, pointing to balloons or plastic bags.
According to a study, which was particularly centered on deaths that occurred swiftly after injury to the GI tract, it is just one piece of a broader problem. The research did not include chronic effects of plastic chemicals or risks of getting tangled, which is another serious hazard.
An oceanography professor at the Sea Education Association, Kara Lavender-Law, called the study “remarkable” and “a really systematic, careful look at the data that exists” to better understand and predict risk.
According to a 2019 report, approximately six million tonnes of plastic entered major water bodies, including rivers, lakes, and oceans. Recent research has highlighted the widespread presence of microplastics at an alarming rate, from the deepest ocean trenches to inside the human body.
Lavender-Law stated that the study underscores how plastic pollution remains unresolved and a multi-layered issue. She also added that while growing concern over micro- and nanoplastics, especially for human health, is justified, the danger posed by larger plastic debris to marine animals is still very real.
References:

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The Largest and most detailed Radio Image of the Milky Way is just Revealed

Scientia
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The Largest and most detailed Radio Image of the Milky Way is just Revealed

According to research published in the Astronomical Society of Australia, in October 2025, a ribbon of red splotches interspersed with blue dots marks the largest, most detailed image of the Milky Way in radio wavelengths ever assembled.

This new visible side of our fairly flat spiral galaxy, as seen from Earth’s southern hemisphere, will help astronomers find and classify objects within it and better understand ongoing processes, says astronomer Silvia Mantovanini of Curtin University in Perth, Australia.

She briefed that the new image was captured during the search for supernova remnants, leftover bubbles of gas and dust from exploding stars. Most of these objects have been discovered in radio light because they can continue emitting radio waves for tens of thousands of years after an explosion.

Researchers have detected about 300 supernova remnants in the Milky Way, but estimate that roughly 2,000 exist. Studying more stellar remains will shed light on the last evolutionary stages of stars and how they died, Mantovanini says. However, it was daunting to distinguish supernova remnants from other objects with past telescopes and surveys.

Mantovanini and colleagues compiled observations of radio waves captured over more than 140 nights from 2013 to 2020. The data were obtained from the Murchison Widefield Array telescope in Western Australia during two surveys. The surveys were carried out to map the southern hemisphere sky. Each observation captured a photograph of one section of the sky and lasted about two minutes, capturing a specific range of radio wavelengths.

Sorting together almost 2,000 of these observations using supercomputers revealed a dazzling edge-on view toward the center of the Milky Way, spanning roughly 60,000 light-years, or just over half the galaxy’s width.

The team of researchers stacked 20 versions of the image, each a different color to represent a specific range of radio wavelengths, with longer wavelengths depicted in red and shorter wavelengths in blue.

According to researchers, these colors hint at the mechanisms behind the radio emissions, such as heat-related radiation from stellar nurseries. They look like blue bubbles, and emissions from supernova remnants that don’t come from heat, which appear as red bubbles.

Mantovanini says that this multicolored view of the Milky Way makes it easy to distinguish what is going on within the galaxy. Its creation reminded us that we’re just a small part of something incredibly complex.

Reference: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/largest-radio-image-milky-way-galaxy

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