From October 27 to 30, 2025, our team attended the Science Journalism Forum (SJF) — a global hybrid event held at the Dubai Knowledge Park Conference Centre/Auditorium, United Arab Emirates. The forum gathered hundreds of science journalists, communicators, researchers, and media professionals to discuss the evolving landscape of science reporting in a rapidly changing world.
Hosted in a hybrid format, SJF 2025 offered participants across continents the opportunity to join interactive sessions, keynote talks, and workshops both online and in person. This inclusivity not only expanded participation but also reinforced the importance of global collaboration in strengthening science communication.
Throughout the four days, speakers and panelists addressed a wide range of timely topics — from climate and health journalism to AI-driven storytelling, data reporting, and media ethics. Discussions highlighted how science journalists can navigate the challenges of misinformation, enhance storytelling for digital audiences, and ensure that scientific knowledge reaches communities with clarity and credibility.
Photo, Science Journalism Forum
SJF25 is the most diverse event in science journalism. It welcomes a broader audience and provides space for journalists, researchers, policymakers, and the public to connect. The event began on 27 October with a dynamic opening featuring Saad Lotefy and Bothina Osama, the two main organizers. In their addresses, they highlighted the forum’s role in uniting global voices and fostering robust dialogues for impactful science journalism.
With its mission to promote dialogue and diversity in science storytelling, SJF25 aimed to highlight diverse voices and more impactful journalism. This year’s theme was “Science Journalism at a Crossroads – Rethinking Trust, Funding & Innovation”. The forum featured in-person and virtual sessions in six languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, and Mandarin Chinese), making it more accessible and inclusive, as always.
One of the recurring themes was the growing role of innovation in science journalism. Participants explored how emerging AI tools and multimedia platforms can make science reporting more accessible and engaging, particularly for younger audiences.
On Day One, in a very insightful session, Dr. Hakim Hacid, a computer science professor and department chair at Zayed University, spotlighted the urgent need to develop and adapt AI for underrepresented languages and how this can transform access and inclusion in science journalism, as AI does not speak only English.
There was a very engaging session by Sima Hamdah on “virtual lenses, real science and public trust”. The speaker skilfully explored how Extended reality reshapes science storytelling and public trust. She also emphasized the responsibility of journalists to maintain accuracy, trust, and inclusivity in an era where science is more publicly visible than ever before.
A key session at the event focused on how generative AI can empower journalists with disabilities worldwide. Their challenges are rarely addressed in open forums, and they often feel overlooked at global events. SJF25 highlighted these issues and brought together journalists, editors, and AI experts to develop meaningful solutions.
Beyond the sessions, the event provided an invaluable networking opportunity. Photo, Science Journalism Forum
Beyond the sessions, the event provided an invaluable networking opportunity — connecting professionals from diverse backgrounds who share a commitment to bridging the gap between science and society. Whether attending virtually or on-site in Dubai, the spirit of collaboration and shared learning was evident throughout.
Several Scientia Pakistan members attended the sessions and participated in discussions.
Attending the Science Journalism Forum was an inspiring experience that reaffirmed the vital role of science communicators in shaping informed, evidence-based dialogue worldwide.
Our team looks forward to applying the insights gained from this year’s forum to our ongoing efforts in promoting accessible, engaging, and responsible science journalism. We believe that the future of this global event is bright, and it will continue to connect and highlight diverse, multilingual voices from different cultures, nationalities, and ethnicities.
Jane (2017), directed by Brett Morgen and produced by National Geographic, is a thought-provoking documentary that celebrates the life and legacy of Jane Goodall, the English primatologist, ethologist, conservationist, and humanitarian who forever changed our understanding of chimpanzees. Born on April 3rd, 1934, Jane Goodall’s life is a story of determination, curiosity, and a deep love for nature. It is captured by the film in beautiful shots that may evoke nostalgia.
The documentary opens with a stunning montage of the flora and fauna of Gombe, Tanzania, which became Jane’s home for the next sixty years. At just twenty-six years old, Jane’s childhood dream of visiting Africa came true when Dr. Louis Leakey, a renowned palaeontologist, chose her to observe and record chimpanzee families in their natural habitat. The decision to select someone without formal scientific training was unconventional and difficult to understand at first. Still, Leakey saw in her something academia could not teach: relentless passion and empathy for living creatures.
As the film unfolds, the audience is transported into a world that feels straight out of the adventure movies we all grew up watching. The archival footage, lost for decades and rediscovered in 2014, adds to the film’s nostalgic charm. Initially, Jane struggles to gain the Chimps’ trust; every time she approaches, they flee. The documentary portrays her early disappointments and the very realistic fear of loss of funding, which every scientist can relate to.
“At the back of my mind, there was always the fear that if I don’t find out something exciting, the money will run out”.
Five months into her work, a breakthrough came: an older male chimp, recognizable by his white beard, didn’t run away. Instead, he led her to his group, marking the first real connection between human and chimpanzee in her research. This moment of trust opened doors to groundbreaking discoveries.
Jane’s observation of “object modification”, chimpanzees using tools to extract termites, revolutionized science. With this finding, she challenged long-held beliefs that tool use was unique to humans. Her meticulous data collection and visual records, captured through notes, sketches, and photographs, gave credibility to her work. Soon, the scientific community took notice.
With the press came funding and a young wildlife photographer, Hugo van Lawick, who was sent to document her work. Initially, Jane found his presence intrusive, but over time, their shared passion for nature and their work brought them together. Their relationship is beautifully portrayed through tender scenes; the best shot, in my opinion, is where Jane and Hugo mirror the chimps they are observing, highlighting their harmony with the wild.
Photo, Jane Goodall Institute
The film doesn’t just focus on science; it also delves into Jane’s personal journey and her strong bond with her mother, Vanne. Her mother, a doctor, accompanied her to Africa and supported her emotionally during the difficult early months when isolation and illness loomed large. Their mother-daughter relationship adds warmth and humanity to the story, a reminder that behind every great pioneer is someone who believed in them unconditionally.
At a particular point, she realises that she is pregnant, and “Flo”, a mother chimp) gives her the courage to be a mother. Flo had a baby recently as well, whom Jane called “Flint”. Her empathy grew even stronger as she began to notice parallels between maternal care in chimps and humans. This is a smart and insightful realization, showing how living beings learn from each other’s behaviours and instincts; also known as “Biomimicry”.
The documentary reveals an exciting reality about Jane’s personal life as her son was raised in the research centre at Gombe. Since Chimpanzees attacked human infants, he was enclosed in a cage for his protection. It is interesting to note that when parents take their kids to observe enclosed animals in a zoo, Jane was an exceptional mother. Jane enclosed her child for protection to observe the animals teaching the child humanitarian values from a very young age.
Despite the chaos of camp life, the humidity, insects, and constant challenges, Jane’s optimism and humour shine through. She is witty, often satirizing men who doubted her, and steadfastly committed to her mission. The documentary conveys the message that true happiness comes from submitting to a cause you believe in. Through breathtaking cinematography and Philip Glass’s moving score, Jane becomes not just a documentary but also a heart-warming journey, one that celebrates perseverance, love, and the power of purpose.
Jane (2017) is more than a film about science; it is a story about devotion, discovery, and humanity’s connection with nature. It teaches us that passion, not credentials, is what drives real change. It shows us how nothing can be in your way once you decide to accomplish something or fulfil a dream. As Jane says herself
“I couldn’t watch an animal suffering, any more than I could watch a human suffering and not help if I could; I see no difference in helping a human and helping an animal”.
“What we know is a drop, what we don’t know is an ocean.” You could sense the ocean the minute you crossed the gates of Crescent Model Higher Secondary School, Shadman in Lahore. There was an air of excitement at the Lahore Science Mela; children with curiosity in their minds, parents with their cameras, and volunteers running here and there among the colorful stalls were all united by the same factor: “curiosity”.
Khwarizmi Science Society (KSS) transformed this school into a land of exploration on 25-26 October 2025. Out of smoldering chemical combinations to robots on command, from fossils that were older than time to the telescopes staring up at the stars, all this talked of the same thing: curiosity.
The Strength of Learning through Practice
Science is not in a textbook. It’s the thrill of asking “why?” and finding your own answer. It is what Lahore Science Mela has been celebrating.
Children who had only read pictures in books had the opportunity to see a real specimen, observe a real experiment, and ask questions. A small girl, before one of the model volcanoes, said in a low voice, “So that is how volcanoes work!” Her teacher glimpsed the smile. These glimpses reflect that a child has just been opened up in her mind.
To most underprivileged students, the mela was not just a field trip, but a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They eventually got the appearances of photosynthesis, magnetism, and chemical reactions. LSM brought science not only out of classrooms but also into life, demonstrating that all children, regardless of their background, need to learn through wonder.
To most underprivileged students, the mela was not just a field trip, but a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Photo, KSS
Science Everywhere: Life, Space, Technology, Matter, and Energy
The mela was split into several corners, representing a mini-world of science to explore.
There was the buzz of the Life Corner. Students were flocking to biology exhibits, looking through microscopes and fossils. The GCU Stephenson Natural History Museum displayed preserved specimens and evolution artifacts, and narrated their stories. The Pakistan Museum of Natural History presented a geological element with sparkling rocks and ancient fossils. While the Pakistan Meteorological Department demonstrated how weather can be predicted with the help of satellites and sensors, and how something as simple as a rain prediction becomes a tale of science and information.
At the KSS Planetarium, located in the dome of Khalai Kachwa, visitors could lie back and look up at the galaxies, at the ceiling. The planets circled, the stars burst, and the Milky Way stretched into unending space above. It was a spectacular lesson that science can reduce us to insignificance in the universe, and at the same time, provide us with immense power.
The planets circled, the stars burst, and the Milky Way stretched into unending space above. Photo, Author
Movement was present in the Technology Section. The wheels of the robots were rolling on tables, mechanical hands were waving, and blinking lights. UET Science Society astonished visitors with machines created by students. LearnOBots organized exciting hands-on activities with DIY kits and educational robots. Robonex attracted people with interactive demonstrations of the robots that combined learning and entertainment.
The training on how to identify internet-based scams and protect information became interactive when the team of Sadaqat Ali created mini-games to educate people about the subject. In the meantime, the Punjab Safe City Authority has impressed families with the opportunities of AI to make cities safer, both by road monitoring and identifying emergencies.
The buzz in the Matter and Energy Zone was literally electrical. Visitors gasped as superconducting magnets made small objects float mid-air, defying gravity. Green chemistry exhibitions were used to demonstrate how simple choices in materials would save our world. Waste management, renewable energy, and a green car, designated to be fuel-efficient, were also exhibited.
In the “Shooting Stars” exhibit, there was a telescope that was facing up to the sky, with the young astronomers showing people their constellations. A couple of minutes later, the sky of Lahore turned into a schoolroom, and the stars were all educators.
Our National Science Treasures!
No corner was prouder than the one that showed the scientific treasures of Pakistan. The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission displayed its progress in nuclear medicine and nuclear energy generation, where complex scientific research was demonstrated in easy and understandable forms. The National Centre of Physics conducted some interesting live experiments that transformed invisible theories into actual phenomena.
What fascinated visitors more was the natural history and meteorological exhibits, the story of the creation of the Earth through rock formations, and the instruments used in weather prediction that save lives. It reminded us that science is not alien; quite on the contrary, it exists here, on our earth, sky, and in us.
This was a corner that was a reminder that curiosity is powerful. When science is demonstrated joyfully, all of the children become explorers. Photo, Author
Surpriseum
The very core of the mela Surpriseum (Hairat Ghar) was the place where science was almost pure magic. The hall was full of shining eyes, crackling noises, and the rapturous sound of discovery.
This was a corner that was a reminder that curiosity is powerful. When science is demonstrated joyfully, all of the children become explorers.
Indoor Workshops
In indoor workshop sessions, students were assisted alongside scientists, artists, and engineers to discover extraordinary ideas with easy experiments. Organizations like Space Research Centre (SRC), Space Education Research Lab (SERL), and SUPARCO explained space stations. Students created models of small satellites, read about rocket launch, and were briefed about how scientists study the universe.
Hast-o-Neest Institute of Traditional Studies & Arts provided a touch of creativity, where Islamic geometry, calligraphy were shown, and how architecture blends art with science. Numbers were turned into puzzles, not problems that the LUMS Maths Circle made them feel. The Precision Medicine Lab presented the visitors with the magic of genetics and contemporary healthcare.
These were not lectures at all, but adventures. Students felt, constructed, experimented, and studied, learning how to become a scientist in the future.
Scientia’s team members Muneeb Siddiqui, Hifz U Rahman, and Mohammad Owais with Palestinian Scientist Abdulrehman Abou Dahesh at the Scienci Bethak. Photo, Scientia
Scienci Bethak
On one side of the mela, there was a quieter place, where the thinkers were invited to sit together, the Scienci Bethak. Researchers, learners, and teachers gathered to discuss artificial intelligence and robotics, neuroscience, and philosophy, among others.
This bethak was open and friendly as opposed to formal conferences. Anyone could ask questions. An adolescent who simply wants to learn more about space would be able to speak to a professional. An artist might have ideas about creativity and science. It was a spot to which disciplines blended, where ideas were as freely floating as tea cups were being filled.
Here, Scientia’s team member Hifz Ur Rehman had a meaningful conversation with the Palestinian scientist, Abdulrehman Abou Dahesh, who travelled from the US to take part in the mela. The conversation will be published soon on Scientia.
Auditorium Sessions
Science was in the air, in the great auditorium. Sessions on architecture, environmental science, geography, and historical preservation were conducted by experts based all over Pakistan. Each talk showed the extent to which science influences our world, whether it is the air we breathe or the buildings we inhabit.
The best part? The meetings were participatory. Crowds requested clarifications, discussed concepts. To young visitors said that it was inspiring to listen to scientists speak about the things they love doing. It demonstrated that science is not remote, but it is human, imaginative, and close to everyday life.
Equity and Learning
The Lahore Science Mela was not only a festival it was also a movement for equal education. During two days, people could enjoy free access to expensive and rare scientific equipment. Government school students were standing neck to neck with every student of a private school; their curiosity united them.
It was very touching to see children with telescopes, fossils, and mixing chemicals in their hands. It revealed that learning prospers everywhere when there is free sharing of knowledge. The mela made it clear to everybody that science was not a privilege at all, but a right.
The Co-founder and General Secretary of the Khwarizmi Science Society (KSS), Pakistan, invites you all to visit the Mela next year. Photo, KSS
The Reason why you should not miss the Mela Next Year!
If you have not been there, promise yourself now that you will go to the Lahore Science Mela next year. It is no ordinary exhibition; it is the place where children can find their future profession. It is the place where parents understand that learning can be fun. It is where the teachers find the interest back in the eyes of their students.
The mela shows that science is not a subject; it is a party. You do not observe experiments, you experience them. You do not simply hear lectures, you live them.
Then next year, invite your friends, your family, and your questions. Wander through the halls of light, sound, and exploration. Talk to the robots. Look through the telescopes. Make something with your hands. You will not only know more, you will wonder more when you leave Lahore Science Mela. And that, truly, is where every great discovery begins!
It was a hot and humid evening on June 30, 2025, when a 36-year-old teacher named Niaz Ahmed died of a sudden cardiac arrest while giving a lecture during a professional training session at Crescent Model Higher Secondary School in Lahore, Pakistan. A video of the tragic incident, which showed him collapsing unexpectedly, quickly went viral on social media.
Across the border, India was also awakened to equally shocking news in the same month, when actress and model Shefali Jariwala, a prominent figure in Indian pop culture, died at just 42. There were no known heart conditions or prior symptoms; her life was just cut short by the same unseen danger. Later, investigations revealed that she had been taking anti-aging injections over the years, which might be the potential contributors to sudden cardiac arrest.
Worldwide evidence shows that cardiac arrest strikes seemingly healthy young people. A comprehensive review published in JAMA reported that seemingly healthy young adults under 40 are most likely affected by cardiac arrest at a rate of about 4 to 14 cases per 100,000 people worldwide [1]. Despite the global scale of the problem, in developing countries, cardiovascular disease, cardiac arrests are a major cause of mortality.
It is estimated that 60% of the world’s coronary artery disease (CAD) patients are South Asians who have a high prevalence of CAD risk factors at a relatively young age [2]. Sudden heart collapse among young, healthy people is increasing, and the chances of survival without intervention are alarmingly low.
This article explores cardiac arrest, its silent threats, its factors, and what we can do to protect ourselves.
Why are Young Adults at Risk for Cardiac Arrest?
We often think heart attacks happen to older people with known heart problems. But this idea is dangerously wrong. Chronic stress is one of the biggest silent threats in adults as well as youngsters. While struggling with constant stress, the body keeps releasing stress hormones that raise blood pressure and cause inflammation, which in turn slowly damages the heart. Over time, this disturbance in the body’s natural balance can lead to irregular heartbeats and increase the risk of serious events like cardiac arrest.
Another underestimated risk of cardiac arrest is the lack of sleep. Research indicates that individuals who sleep fewer than six hours a night regularly are three to five times more at risk for developing life-threatening heart issues, such as sudden cardiac arrest, as compared to individuals who receive a minimum of seven to eight hours of sleep. Energy drinks do not feel dangerous, apparently, but they secretly interfere with the heartbeat and raise blood pressure.
These beverages have the potential to cause deadly incidents like cardiac arrest when taken in large quantities, at times combined with alcohol or during intense physical activity. Performance-enhancing drugs and hormones also have severe consequences. Drugs like steroids and hormone enhancers disrupt the normal electrical rhythm of the heart. Even in individuals who have had no prior heart conditions, the administration of these medications can initiate abnormal heart rhythms and increase the risk for sudden, catastrophic heart failure.
One should remember that these things are usually not detectable and don’t present in regular checks. A person may feel completely fine from the outside, but internal damage is taking place silently. The danger is that the risk isn’t always linked to age or fitness level; even young and active people can be affected without warning.
Hands-on CPR training. Image: American Heart Association
So what exactly is Cardiac Arrest?
Cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. When an artery is blocked and blood supply to the heart muscle is cut off, then a heart attack happens. In contrast, an electrical malfunction in the heart causes the heart to stop beating suddenly, which results in cardiac arrest.
The difference between these two is critical. During a heart attack, a person typically remains conscious and also experiences warning signs such as chest pain or pressure. There is always a short window of time to act during which blood flow can be restored by immediate medical treatment. However, Cardiac arrest strikes without warning. The victim collapses and becomes unconscious. The victim is not breathing or breathing normally; this may mean they are making gasping noises. Without CPR or an electric shock, death occurs within minutes.
This is why cardiac arrest is so deadly. The survival rates are tragically low, often under 10 percent, outside of the hospitals. The difference can only be made by quick actions. The use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) at a time increases the chances of survival dramatically. But the reality is that cardiac arrest can happen to anyone.
Expert Opinions on Heart Disease
Heart disease and cardiovascular risks are alarmingly increasing among Pakistan’s youth. Experts are sounding a grave warning about this growing health crisis. Dr. Asaad Akbar, Chief of Cardiology at Shifa International Hospital, states that sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, smoking, and stress are the main contributors to the rise in youth cardiac cases. Especially for teens with family histories, early detection can save lives. Dr. Abdul Hakeem of NICVD adds that, “After 30, everyone should get a heart checkup,” pointing out that many patients experience vague symptoms that risk delayed diagnosis (dawn).
How Can We Protect Ourselves?
There are life-saving, simple actions that greatly reduce the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. One of the first steps is awareness. If you ever feel chest pain, unusual fatigue, or shortness of breath, then never ignore these symptoms. They may be your heart’s way of signaling that something is wrong.
Another key factor is good sleep and stress reduction. Sleep six to eight hours at night. Give rest to your heart, which is as important as eating and exercising. Some little things, such as taking a break in the day, walking, or deep breathing, calm your heart and lower stress. Exercise is good for a healthy heart and keeps everything in balance. The heart needs moderate, safe, and regular exercise, not burnout or exhaustion, because pushing your body too hard can harm.
Go for important regular heart check-ups, especially for a person who has a family history of heart disease. A simple blood test or ECG check once a year can reveal risks that may go unnoticed. Lives can be saved by detecting the hidden symptoms early. If these hidden symptoms are detected early, lives can be saved.
The best idea to make ourselves and the victims nearby safe from cardiac arrest is to get trained in CPR.
And to learn how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). These machines are now commonly available in schools, gyms, and workplaces. It only takes a few minutes to learn how to use them. But it will make the difference between life and death in an emergency.
The increasing cases of sudden cardiac arrest in Pakistan and South Asia are wake-up calls for us. Heart problems can strike anyone, regardless of how physically fit they look. You should adopt healthy habits, recognize symptoms early, and equip yourself with life-saving skills. In this way, you can protect your heart and your loved ones from this silent killer.
References:
Tseng, Z. H., & Nakasuka, K. (2025). Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Apparently Healthy, Young Adults. JAMA, 333(11), 981–996. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.27916
Yusuf, A. A., Weinhandl, E. D., & Peter, W. L. S. (2014). Comparative effectiveness of calcium acetate and sevelamer on clinical outcomes in elderly hemodialysis patients enrolled in Medicare Part D. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 64(1), 95-103. https://www.dawn.com/news/1861787/heart-disease-on-the-rise-among-pakistani-youth
Martinez, K. A., Bains, S., Neves, R., Giudicessi, J. R., Bos, J. M., & Ackerman, M. J. (2024). Sudden cardiac arrest occurring in temporal proximity to the consumption of energy drinks. Heart rhythm, 21(7), 1083–1088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2024.02.018
Sivalokanathan, S., Małek, Ł. A., & Malhotra, A. (2021). The Cardiac Effects of Performance-Enhancing Medications: Caffeine vs. Anabolic Androgenic Steroids. Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 11(2), 324. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11020324
Verrier, R. L., & Josephson, M. E. (2009). Impact of sleep on arrhythmogenesis. Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology, 2(4), 450–459. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCEP.109.867028
Imagine sitting at your favorite restaurant, your food served, and taking a bite of a crispy, fried chicken piece. Hot, juicy, and delicious. You don’t question it; you shouldn’t. But suppose that every piece of chicken had something more than spices and protein attached to it. What if it had residues of antibiotics, untouched and unaffected by cooking? What if that meal progressively caused you to become resistant to life-saving drugs? This is the untold story of how antibiotics have changed the way we grow chickens, and how, if we don’t act now, they could transform the future of medicine in ways none of us want.
Why Do Farmers Use Antibiotics?
Chicken is everywhere. It’s on our plates, in our packed lunches, at weddings, and even on the street corner, sizzling away in roadside stalls. And it’s not uncommon for poultry production to have tripled in the last few decades. Farmers around the world are forced to produce more, quicker, and cheaper yields, and one of their most trusted shortcuts is Antibiotics.
Originally introduced to treat disease, antibiotics then found another job: making chickens grow faster. These are known as antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). To satisfy increasing demand, farmers give chickens small amounts of antibiotics in their feed not to help them recover from illness, but to speed up growth and minimize the threats of disease. Such usage gives chickens more weight per pound, shorter life cycles, and eventually more meat to meet consumer preferences.
The Invisible Ingredient in Your Chicken: Antibiotics
Most people think that cooking destroys all that is bad. Heat kills bacteria, right? It’s easy to assume that cooking would take care of any antibiotics in meat, but is that really the case? Not exactly.
Research shows that the amount of antibiotic residues in meat can be minimized by cooking, boiling, roasting, grilling, or microwaving. A recent Egyptian study, conducted by Kamouh et al. (2024), detected residues of OTC, gentamycin, and oxytetracycline in retail chicken. The study reported that boiling for 30 minutes reduced OTC and gentamycin levels by 88-95% while ciprofloxacin levels dropped by 31%.
So, that perfectly grilled chicken leg? It may still carry tiny leftovers of antibiotics. Not enough to make you sick immediately, but enough to slowly mess with your gut health or worse, train bacteria in your body to resist future medications.
It all starts at the farm, where a farmer gives chickens low-dose antibiotics in feed, which might seem harmless or even helpful. Photo, Nature
The Slow and Silent Rise of Antibiotic Resistance
Resistance doesn’t appear overnight; it develops gradually, step by step, through ongoing exposure to small doses of antibiotics in our food. It’s not a single meal or single mistake; it’s a process. Let’s trace the path from chicken feed to antibiotic resistance.
It all starts at the farm, where a farmer gives chickens low-dose antibiotics in feed, which might seem harmless or even helpful. But inside chickens, not all bacteria are killed. Some of them survive, adapt, and become stronger. These bacteria learn to survive the antibiotics and slowly evolve into drug-resistant strains. These resistant bacteria and antibiotic residues stay in the meat.
The meat is processed, cooked, and eaten; these resistant bacteria, on entering the gut, transfer their resistance genes to the natural bacteria. The next time you get sick, the infection might not respond to antibiotics. It is because the bacteria have already been exposed to the antibiotic, and they have developed resistance to it.
How antibiotics in chicken feed end up fueling resistance on our plate. Photo, Science Direct
This is not a hypothetical concern; evidence from multiple studies highlights the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including E. coli and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), in chicken meat, farm environments, and even among individuals with no direct contact with livestock, indicating the food chain as a significant route of transmission.
Global Action on Antibiotic Use: Progress Made, Gaps Remaining
Some developed countries, including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the European Union, have taken bold steps and banned the use of antibiotics as growth promoters, resulting in a noticeable drop in resistant bacteria both on farms and in the food. But in most regions of the world, the application of antibiotics in chicken farming remains uncontrolled. In some areas, including Pakistan, antibiotics essential for human medicine are used freely in animals. Regulatory policies exist on paper but are poorly enforced, and short-term profits are prioritized over long-term public health.
The solution to this problem is not giving up chicken. This chicken–antibiotic–antimicrobial resistance triad crisis can be solved by demanding better and smarter practices. What can actually be done?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aims to involve veterinarians at every stage of antibiotic usage while discouraging reliance. Farm hygiene and animal health must also be improved to limit the use of antibiotics. The World Health Organizationtakes it further, making a bold stance:
In line with this, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says that farmers need to be trained to follow withdrawal periods— the time it takes for antibiotics to fully leave a chicken’s system before it’s processed for food. Organizations such as ICARS urge the investigation of alternatives to antibiotics, like prebiotics, and natural antimicrobial substances, promising a brighter future in which dependency on repeated antibiotic use is not the norm.
You, as a consumer, also have power. Stand behind poultry brands that adhere to safe and sustainable practices. Ask questions. Make informed choices. Because it’s not just a farm problem—it’s a kitchen table problem.
The same medications that healed millions last century are gradually losing their strength, and one of the major contributors is the chicken on our plates. But awareness is the first step to action. The next time you have chicken for dinner, “Pause”. Not to feel guilty but to feel enlightened; beneath the flavors is a tale, a tale of science, farming, resistance, and the opportunity to alter direction before it’s too late.
References:
Muaz, K., Riaz, M., Akhtar, S., Park, S., & Ismail, A. (2018). Antibiotic Residues in Chicken Meat: Global Prevalence, Threats, and Decontamination Strategies: A Review. Journal of Food Protection, 81(4), 619–627. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-17-086
Fey, P. D., Safranek, T. J., Rupp, M. E., Dunne, E. F., Ribot, E., Iwen, P. C., Bradford, P. A., Angulo, F. J., & Hinrichs, S. H. (2000). Ceftriaxone-resistant Salmonella infection acquired by a child from cattle. The New England journal of medicine, 342(17), 1242–1249. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM200004273421703
Levy, S. B., FitzGerald, G. B., & Macone, A. B. (1976). Changes in intestinal flora of farm personnel after introduction of a tetracycline-supplemented feed on a farm. The New England journal of medicine, 295(11), 583–588. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197609092951103
Kamouh, H. M., Abdallah, R., Kirrella, G. A., Mostafa, N. Y., & Shafik, S. (2024). Assessment of antibiotic residues in chicken meat. Open Veterinary Journal, 14(1), 438–448. https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i1.40
(Aarestrup, Frank Moller, et al.; Bager, Flemming, et al.)
Often, when we think of astronauts in space, we picture them floating around gracefully (much like ballet dancers but in slow motion) across the never-ending emptiness of space, marveling at the unworldly views of the orbiting planets and the glamorous galaxies. We imagine weightlessness, bodies gliding with ease and Freedom. However, behind that elegance is a hidden cost, and a quite hefty one; the very absence of gravity or microgravity imposes an extremely harsh toll on the human body.
How do Bones and Muscles Function under Normal Conditions?
Quite like many specialized cells in the body, bones and muscles are in a state of dynamic turnover:bones involve 3 cells mainly, osteoblasts that build bone, osteocytes that are mature bone cells responsible for regulating the balance between bone formation and bone resorption, and osteoclasts that break down damaged bone cells.
In contrast, muscle fibers don’t have different cells but repair and grow in a process called Muscle Protein Synthesis (MPS) while old or damaged muscle fibers are degraded and expelled from the body by a process known as Muscle Protein Breakdown (MPB), keeping the body in homeostasis. On Earth, our muscles stay in shape because they are under constant gravitational effect.
Every time we stand, walk, sit upright, hold out an arm, or lift a leg, our muscles have to contract to support our body weight. These repeated contractions that occur every time we make even a slight movement act as a natural workout against gravity. Similarly, gravity also pulls on our bones and joints, and that pressure is what keeps our musculoskeletal system strong and efficient.
Thus, under normal conditions, the consistent resistance provided by our own body against gravity is what keeps the muscles and bones intact. This exertion of pressure or weight is called mechanical loading; bones and muscles add mass when we put some stress on them, and atrophy or deteriorate when we remove that mechanical stress.
What is Microgravity?
The term microgravity, sometimes also referred to as zero gravity, might be a bit misleading, as it hints at there being “less or no gravity in space”. Contrary to popular belief, space is not completely devoid of gravity. In fact, gravity, a force between any two masses, is present everywhere: between the moon and the Earth, the planets and the Sun, and between the stars in a galaxy.
The weightlessness that astronauts seem to experience is not because there is no gravity in space, but because they are in a state of free fall – the astronauts and their surroundings, i.e., the spacecraft, are all falling together under gravity’s pull. This is microgravity.
The Shrinking Strength of Bones and Muscles in Space
During spaceflight, due to being in constant free fall, the musculoskeletal system does not experience any sort of compression or tension; instead, it retracts to a ‘mechanical rest state’. Muscles don’t need to work as hard to support the body’s weight; thus, as a result of this reduced mechanical loading, they start to ‘rust’ and wither away.
Photo, ESA
In 1994, an experiment using bioartificial muscle cells was cultured to determine whether muscle deterioration was intrinsic to muscle fibers themselves or related to other factors such as growth hormone levels. It was then flown into space, on the Space Shuttle Atlantis, mission STS-66, for a span of 9 to 10 days. Two years later, in May 1996, a follow-up was performed on Space Shuttle Endeavour, mission STS-77.
In technical terms, the findings of this experiment were that the anabolic process of Muscle Protein Synthesis (MPS) is relatively less active in space than the catabolic process of Muscle Protein Breakdown (MPS), hence resulting in a direct net loss of muscle fibers. This shows that microgravity directly affects muscle physiology and induces muscle atrophy, rather than being a secondary effect.
Similarly, bone homeostasis is also severely affected in long durations of spaceflight. According to NASA, there is a 1-2% reduction in bone density per month spent in space. For some context, the most common crewed space expeditions are the ISS missions, which typically last around six months.
Under microgravity, osteocytes, the cells that modulate the processes of bone formation and bone resorption, experience reduced connectivity, which in turn affects bone remodeling, while also going into a state of programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis.
To put it simply, the lack of weight on bones results in a higher rate of bones being broken down by osteoclasts, while the rate of bone formation by osteoblasts is greatly reduced. This results in an overall net loss of bone mass and density, particularly in weight-bearing bones such as the femur and the spine, making them more porous and hence, more susceptible to injuries and fractures.
Clinically, this is termed as ‘osteoporosis’ – a chronic condition in which the balance of bone making and degrading is adversely affected. Space-induced osteoporosis is far more rapid and severe than on Earth: an astronaut who has spent just six months in space will have symptoms similar to those of an osteoporosis-affected elderly woman on Earth.
Other Effects of Microgravity on the Human Body
As bone cells are broken down, calcium previously stored in bones is released into the bloodstream; an excess of calcium can cause kidney stones. Potassium citrate is often prescribed as a suitable preventive measure for this complication.
Moreover, fluid inside the body shifts upward due to the lack of force pulling it down, which may lead to nasal congestion, sinus pressure, and vision problems. In order to counter this, astronauts wear compression cuffs on their thighs, which control fluid shifts in the body.
Current Protective Measures and Potential Future Solutions
Astronauts on ISS missions exercise for about 2 hours daily in order to maintain the strength of their muscles and bones and mitigate the effects of microgravity. Exercising machines like the TVIS treadmill, which has a harness that keeps the person attached to the machine during exercise and mimics gravity by doing so, and the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED), another machine that enables astronauts to do weightlifting in space, are indeed useful inventions in this matter. However, these machines are too heavy to take on a long-term space mission.
A lot of experimentation is currently being conducted to study countermeasures for the complications of bone and muscle atrophy, such as Vertebral Strength, an experiment that studies scans of astronauts’ muscles and bones pre-flight and post-flight, providing researchers with a comparison for further study.
What if fake surgeries or sugar pills could work on our bodies like authentic medicines? Some might think it’s not possible that a fake medicine or treatment could heal us. Rationally, it doesn’t make sense; however, nature does not always make sense to us; it has no obligation on her part. Part of that same reality is the Placebo effect. An effect that is usually publicly dismissed as a mere psychological show, having no basis in the physiology of human beings.
To put it in simple words, Placebo is the effect when improvement, regarding physiological condition and symptoms, is observed medically, by taking a “fake” pill or having a hoax treatment, as opposed to being provided with an actual drug.
When and how does Placebo work?
They are largely dependent upon the recipients and their past experiences and expectations, and the improvement depends upon many cues. Any experience that can make a connection between their mind and body. Placebos can be categorized into two parts: one is psychological, and the other is physiological. One is the effect of taking physical tablets or having hoax treatment, the other is being in a comforting environment or having a calming conversation.
First is the verbal cue. For example, if you are in a hospital and a doctor gives you a placebo pill that you would not know about, and tells you that it is a cure. Then there is a 30% chance that you will feel better. This act of the doctor just telling you can trigger the placebo effect for you.
This, of course, depends upon what type of disease you are being treated for. Two of the conditions where the placebo effectiveness is mostly reported and evident are pain conditions and mental health disorders. As mentioned in the scientific article, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, titled “ Is the Placebo Powerless? — An Analysis of Clinical Trials Comparing it with No Treatment.” [1]
“Placebos have been reported to improve subjective and objective outcomes in up to 30 to 40 percent of patients with a wide range of clinical conditions, such as pain, asthma, high blood pressure, and even myocardial infarction.”This shows that Placebo is an effective treatment clinically.
The second cue for placebo effect is action; when patients actively do something that they believe will help them feel better. For example, taking an injection or applying a cream or an ointment, etc. Any physical action that signals to your brain that “I am doing this to get better, hence I must be getting better”. The ritual of treatment itself creates an expectation of healing, which can trigger real physiological changes. It’s not just the drug or the treatment that you are going through; it’s about what your mind thinks you are doing.
The third cue can be social. The environment patients are in, the tone and body language of doctors can also have a positive effect on their psychological and physiological well-being. If they are being treated in a calm, soothing environment, then its effects will be clearly evident.
Photo, Science Notes
Published in “The BMJ” journal and available at “Harvard Library” website, the article “Components of placebo effect: randomised controlled trial in patients with irritable bowel syndrome” shows that 62% of patients of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) in the study of Ted Kaptchuk and others [2], documented an adequate relief in pain when doctors had a warm, friendly tone.
They listened to patients’ concerns actively and provided empathy through phrases like “ I understand how difficult IBS must be for you”. This creates a deep emotional connection between the patient and the doctor. Hence, proving that even good gestures and a positive environment do help patients and have an actual physiological betterment.
Is Placebo only Good? What are its cons?
Besides advantages, there are equal cons for placebo, especially in South Asian societies where self-medication is prevalent and widely believed.
One of the most abused drugs, or self-medicated drugs, is paracetamol (locally known as “panadol”) in Karachi, a densely populated, multi-cultural city in Pakistan. An article published in “Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences” by M Iqbal Afridi and co-authors shows that about 84.8% of males and females are doing self-medication. Most of the drug is used for headaches. [3]
Due to the ritual and past experiences of taking paracetamol or any similar drug for headache, it might trigger placebo effect, but along with self-medication and overusage of it, can cause many serious health issues like liver damage, kidney injury, and gastrointestinal problems. Unfortunately, many people in South Asian society are used to taking these pills whenever they have a minor headache.
Having these types of drugs as a go-to solution might make one feel better due to placebo effect, but in the long run, the actual side effects of the drug might accumulate and make one sick rather than better. This shows one of many disadvantages of the placebo effect that can creep up if not taken care of.
Placebos are very Counterintuitive
Placebos are evidence that we don’t know much about how our mind works. It really seems very counterintuitive that anything like that could work for medical improvement. It’s really amazing to think about how a ritual of treatment, a fake pill, or a hoax medication can trick our mind into healing the body.
But placebos are not fictional at all; they have real neurobiological effects, from the increase in feel-good neurotransmitters like endorphins and dopamine to higher brain activity in the regions linked to mood, emotional reaction, and self-awareness.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that there is an increase in brain activity when a group of patients with knee osteoarthritis was given placebo treatment, and half of those patients reported significant pain relief. This shows that its response is not just psychological or just in patients’ “head”, but it is a deep neurological effect that, in reality, alters the brain biology and makes physiological improvements. [4]
In the end, this can help in physiological improvements in our bodies. So, we can, on our own, use placebo to make ourselves better and improve our lives, while being cautious of its negatives and disadvantages.
It was a warm and humid evening in August when Rasadullah, an aging fisherman, dragged his weather-beaten net across the muddy shoreline. The sea breeze that once promised abundance now carries only silence and devastation. He has been trying to catch fish since dawn, but his nets were still empty. This has been happening for years; he merely catches a few fish that his family eats at night. There’s no more hope for his profession, and he was nearly giving up…
Rasadullah lives with his family in Mubarak Goth in Kimari Town, Karachi. Mubarak Goth is a fishing village once famous for the abundance of fish and was an appealing tourist spot; is now losing its spark, yes, due to profound climate change.
The Delta of the River Indus was once the sixth largest delta in the world, stretching nearly 400 kilometers from Karachi to the Rann of Kutch and covering an area of approximately 600,000 hectares. It was a region of immense ecological, environmental, and economic significance, supporting a wide range of biodiversity, fisheries, mangrove forests, and a long list of agricultural activities.
However, in recent decades, the Indus Delta has been facing severe degradation due to a continuous decline in river water flow caused by reduced freshwater discharge, construction of barrages and dams, over-extraction of water for irrigation purposes, and climate change impacts. As a result, the mangrove ecosystems are shrinking, soil salinity is increasing gradually, and fisheries, which were once the primary source of livelihood for thousands of local communities, are now under serious threat.
The consequent loss of freshwater inflow has also allowed seawater intrusion deep into the deltaic region, rendering vast stretches of land uncultivable and displacing many local populations. Consequently, the economic activities depending on the healthy functioning of the delta, like fishing, farming, and small-scale cottage industries, are being extensively destroyed, leading to growing unemployment and poverty among the inhabitants.
The experts warned that if immediate and sustainable water management measures are not implemented, the Indus Delta, once a thriving ecological hub, will further increase the risk of irreversible environmental damage and the collapse of its socio-economic fabric. 2
Newly planted mangroves in Keti Bandar town. Photo, Asif Hassan/ AFP
Ali Anjum of the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) noted, while talking to Dawn, that “The consequences of these changes are stark. The Indus delta has shrunk by over 90 per cent in recent decades, millions of acres of fertile land have been lost to seawater intrusion, and groundwater salinity has rendered much of the region’s water undrinkable and unfit for irrigation, leading to a continued human tragedy,” he shared.
Mentioning the land losses in three talukas — Keti Bandar, Khharo Chhan, and Shah Bandar — Anjum said that so far 263,272 hectares had turned barren.
Agriculture losses are around 4.2 million PKR, while fishery and forestry losses stand at 3.5 million and Rs 145 million, respectively. If this trend continues for the next 25 years, we shall bear 4 billion PKR in losses,” he said, adding that a WWF study revealed that 1.5 inches of mangrove land was being eroded daily.
Anjum also raised concern over coastal pollution, stating that 450 million gallons daily (MGD) of untreated wastewater from more than 6,000 industrial units was being dumped into mangrove habitats, leading to growth retention and degradation of the marine ecosystem.
Once, these waters of the Delta teemed with a variety of fish such as Hilsa, shrimp, and mullet, feeding generations and sustaining villages. Today, the fish are vanishing, mangroves are thinning, and the sea is creeping further inland. “The sea has changed its mood, from silence to fierce,” Rasadullah says, pointing to a barren stretch where mangroves once stood tall, shielding his community from storms.
Seawater intrusion into the delta, where the Indus River meets the Arabian Sea in the south of the country, has triggered the collapse of farming and fishing communities.
“The saline water has surrounded us from all four sides,” said Khatti from Abdullah Mirbahar village in the town of Kharo Chan, about 15km (9 miles) from where the river empties into the sea.1
“Our destruction began when dams were built on the Indus, blocking its natural flow. The Indus’ final destination is the sea, and according to both natural and international law, the people living at the end of the river, particularly the people of the delta, have the first right to its waters. The river’s water is crucial for the ecology of the sea and the mangrove forests.”
The waters of the Indus are strong and push the seawater away, leaving behind fertile soil that builds the land. They reduce the acidity of the sea and keep the sea’s temperature normal. Now, due to the absence of the river’s water, coastal erosion has swallowed up almost 4.2 million acres of land.
In Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, the effects of climate change are the most severe on the coastal belt. Due to global climate change, not only has coastal erosion increased, but sea levels have also risen. The sea, which would return to its normal position in mid-August, now brings towering waves and high winds throughout September and October.
We now only have two seasons (summer and winter), with a shorter winter and a longer summer. The fishing season, which previously lasted from August to November, has shrunk, as by the time the sea settles, the season is over. Rains are either scarce or excessive and untimely.5
The change is not just in the tides but in the very lifeline of the delta. Reduced freshwater flows below the Kotri Barrage, rising sea levels, and climate change have disrupted the delta’s balance. Without enough river water and sediment to push back, the sea intrudes, turning once-fertile creeks into salty wastelands. Mangrove forests, the natural guardians of Karachi’s coast, are disappearing, leaving fishing grounds barren and shorelines exposed to erosion.
For Mubarak Goth, a coastal settlement that still draws tourists for its rocky beaches, the crisis is deeply personal. Fishing families here report dwindling catches, harsher seas, and younger generations abandoning the coast for uncertain lives inland. The community has no jetty, no protective infrastructure; only the stubborn resilience of its people.
Scientists warned long ago that the Indus Delta is drying and sinking. The river that once poured life into 17 major creeks now trickles weakly to the sea. Pakistan’s most productive fishing grounds are collapsing, threatening both local livelihoods and national food security.
The ongoing flooding in Sindh, after India released floodwater in the Ravi and several other rivers of Punjab, threatens the Indus Delta by worsening existing vulnerabilities such as coastal erosion, sea intrusion, and land degradation. Increased water levels slow drainage, heighten inundation, damage crops and infrastructure, and displace vulnerable communities. Experts warn these conditions could critically harm the delta’s mangrove forests and local livelihoods.
Nasir Panhwar, an environmentalist and former coordinator for WWF’s Indus for All Programme, said, “The reservoirs on the Indus and its tributaries were constructed to serve the needs of expanding agriculture as well as the subsequent industrial development. He said that today the delta is starved of sediment because economic priorities overruled the ecological consequences that will haunt us for years to come.”
He blamed the severe degradation of the delta on the upstream diversions of the river. “It is one of the worst examples of human interventions in nature.” 6
Still, Rasadullah refuses to leave his place, saying, “This water carries the memory of my ancestors. We have our roots here”, then he started casting his net once more. Each throw is not just an attempt to feed his family; it is an act of protest, a hope and a prayer, a reminder of what is at stake: a culture, a community, and an ecological treasure that once fed the nation.
A 23-hour drive, narrow roads, and mountains on every side. This is what separated Hunza and me at the start of my journey. This journey was neither for amusement nor a vacation, but rather to be part of an effort led by IEI Pakistan, an organization inspiring the youth and people in the North.
Innovate Educate & Inspire Pakistan, or IEI Pakistan, began as a travel-based, voluntary, in-residence teaching program. A pioneer in this field in Pakistan, providing people with an opportunity to teach and support public education in the North. Now, a registered non-profit organization, IEI focuses on improving the accessibility of quality education and learning experiences for children in remote and low-income communities in the Gilgit Baltistan region. The organization is not limited to its travel-based program, but also offers climate education trainings, female-exclusive teaching circles, as well as summer camps.
My glimpse of this beautiful endeavor was achieved when I got the chance to volunteer for their teaching program. The journey to Hunza is grueling as one must travel through mountains, beside flowing rivers. The city is far from any operational airport and sits as if a hermit in his peaceful cave, surrounded by the Karakoram range on all sides.
The Hunza valley itself is a surreal place, plucked out of one’s best dreams; my first look made me forget the struggle I had to go through to reach this place. The time when I was in the middle of the Karakoram Highway, endeavoring to get a single internet signal to inform Saadeqa Khan of my unavailability for a webinar I had to attend, now lies behind my awe for the nature in Hunza. I was completing my two-month science writing internship program, Scientia Pakistan, and alongside discussing my final writing project with Chief Editor Saadeqa Khan.
Another highlight is IEI Libraries, aims to increase the number of libraries for students studying in remote public schools. These libraries are equipped with digital tools to encourage digital literacy as well as colorful spaces. Photo, IEI
Soon, I found myself near the building where IEI has its office. Tucked away in a tourist-free area was a stone-carved staircase that led one into an endearing wooden cottage. Here lies the ever-important machine driving the organization: The team behind IEI. I had to spend a whole week there, so I presented the material I was going to teach the kids there. Each day showcased a new activity and a different part of astronomy.
Kids from ages 7 to 17 sat in an ellipse around me as I introduced myself and start the first lesson on our solar system and its planets. I expected to be the one holding the charge of the lesson; however, all the kids provided their part as well. It was not a classroom but a conference talk, not professional or official one, but equally as entertaining for all.
Every kid had a spark that contributed to the flame of the class, whether it was the ever-so-curious Hanaan or Aaliyah, who had an answer for every question. All these sparks needed was a gush of encouragement and improvement to burn even brighter. The fan providing this gush was IEI.
Gilgit Baltistan has the highest literacy rate in Pakistan, with 95% of the people having completed their education. It is not a place to be underestimated, but a bastion of talent waiting to spread. IEI catalyzes this awareness through its various programs, including Climate Educator Training. These areas were massively effected with recent flooding and glacier melting. Therefore, a virtual teacher training program is designed to encourage middle school and primary students to find the solution of rising issues due to climate change.
ESD School Ispinj, Chipursan program aims to address the lack of educational opportunities for children aging 2-5 in the village of Ispinj. For this program, IEI has collaborated with the Polish aid and opened a school to provide the students with an opportunity to learn and flourish.
Another highlight is IEI Libraries, aims to increase the number of libraries for students studying in remote public schools. These libraries are equipped with digital tools to encourage digital literacy as well as colorful spaces.
It was not a classroom but a conference talk. Not as professional as an official one, but equally as entertaining and important to me. Ahmed with the kids. Photo, Ahmed
The program that inspires me most is “Saheli Leaders Fellowship”, a unique opportunity for young girls to travel to Hunza and make a positive impact on the lives of adolescent girls and women. The program teaches girls leadership skills, while also providing life skills education and a safe space for young girls in remote mountain villages. Tech Sahelis is a branch of this program that mainly focuses on improving digital skills among women.
In Summer camp programs, kids are taught through a series of activities that encourage learning and foster joy. Another highlight of their efforts is IEI Films, which is designed to equip the youth with modern filmmaking techniques. Workshops are held that teach kids about different filming techniques and processes.
My volunteering opportunity was a cog in the wonderful machine that IEI is. For nearly ten years, it has been improving and inspiring the youth. Nevertheless, this venture taught me the importance of local efforts for improving the lives of our people. IEI’s work highlights that even in the series of turmoil and catastrophes that our country finds itself in, there are still guardians who are trying to help and take care of the nation.
Astronomy, for many centuries, has educated us about the wonders of the cosmos. From the first discovery of a supernova in Cassiopeia (a constellation) by Tycho Brahe to today’s powerful telescopes, such as the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) or the James Webb, humanity has made significant technological advancements within the realm of Astronomy. As this discipline has evolved into a global multi-billion-dollar industry, questions have emerged about how to sustain excellent research while considering its environmental impact.
Climate change is the most pressing issue humanity faces today, and it is the responsibility of the residents of this only known living planet to nurture and take care of our homes. To avert the crisis, we all should play our roles, especially scientists, in acting upon what is necessary for the environment and engaging in proper advocacy for environmental sustainability as responsible citizens.
A group of astronomers took matters into their own hands and estimated the carbon footprint of astronomical research on the climate of Earth. Hence, it became the starting point for the formation of an organization called ‘Astronomers for Planet Earth’ (A4E). A group where astronomers, using their unique astronomical perspective, mobilize researchers around the world to address the present climate crisis.
As individual astronomers, the best thing we can do is share the astronomical perspective, particularly the ‘Pale-Blue-Dot’ story. Photo, Dr Leo
Here, we are happy to share our conversation with one of the founding members of A4E, Dr. Leonard Burtscher. He sheds light on the organization’s mission and the importance of understanding astronomy’s carbon footprint.
Aly:Beginning with, could you share about your work and elaborate on your area of research as an astronomer?
Leo: I worked in astronomy for 15 years, during which time I completed my PhD in Infrared Interferometry. Subsequently, I joined the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching near Munich, where I contributed to the development of the new instrument GRAVITY, which played a role in winning the Nobel Prize for my research group leader three years ago.
After that, I became a staff scientist at Leiden University, working on the new ELT instrument, METIS. METIS is a mid-infrared instrument designed to characterize Earth-like planets and study active galaxies, which has been my primary focus. However, this is my past to some degree. Approximately one year ago, I switched the courses completely. I am now an energy and climate policy advisor at a small NGO, a non-governmental organization called the Umweltinstitut – The Munich Environmental Institute.
In the past three or four years, I realized that studying distant galaxies and dusty clouds around supermassive black holes, while fascinating, was no longer aligned with my interests. Therefore, I joined this activist group and am essentially trying to reduce energy consumption in Germany, which is currently one of my main priorities.
Aly: Nice! Can you highlight what ‘Astronomers for Planet Earth’ A4E is all about, its mission, and how it came to be? I assume that it has an interesting story behind its formation.
Leo: A4E is now over four years old and stands as the only, and certainly the largest, grassroots organization in astronomy dedicated to sustainability. It was created simultaneously at two locations. The first group, predominantly centered in San Francisco and Yale University, was made up of individuals such as Adrienne Cool and Debra Fischer, who had long been part of the AAS Sustainability Committee for the American Astronomical Society.
The second group, based in Europe, coalesced a few months later and jointly called ourselves‚ ‘Astronomers for Planet Earth.’ They initiated discussions on the social media platform Twitter during the European Astronomical Society annual meeting in Lyon, France, in 2019 — an event marked by a heatwave. The University of Lyon, where the meeting took place, lacked air conditioning, so it was very hot in all the meeting rooms. Not as hot for Pakistani conditions, probably, but hot for European conditions
Some of us began to argue about whether astronomers were part of this problem with frequent flying and extensive use of supercomputing. That is when we said, Okay, we need to look into that and improve it by recognizing the need to first reduce the carbon footprint of astronomy itself. Our conviction was grounded in the belief that taking personal action was a prerequisite for advocating change to others.
Therefore, from the beginning, A4E outlined a four-year plan with two central pillars. The first involved reducing the carbon footprint of astronomy research, and the second aimed at utilizing astronomy to communicate what they termed the “astronomical perspective.” This perspective was inspired by the iconic image from Voyager 1—the ‘pale blue dot,” where we can see a tiny dot representing Earth from far away out of our solar system, all that we have, as Carl Sagan so beautifully wrote. Hence, we see ourselves as the Climate Voice in Astronomy. But also, the Astronomy Voice in the Climate Movement.” That’s how I would describe what A4E is and does.
Aly: It is all about realizing and making astronomical research sustainable. Quite fascinating indeed. A very strong message is visible from nearly all A4E campaigns: “There is no PLANET B”. Certainly, it’s not just a catchy and attractive phrase but the truth. Can you tell me more about how astronomers came to this realization and why you think it is important to emphasize?
Leo: Certainly, one of the statements we, as scientists, aim to affirm, which is often shown at climate demonstrations, is true, and it’s astronomical science that says this.
Astronomers have discovered planets outside our solar system in recent years. The discovery of ‘51 Pegasi b’, for which the Nobel Prize was given to Michael Mayor and Didier Queloz in 2019. The Kepler mission further accelerated this revolution, revealing over 2600 exoplanets, and today, our knowledge extends to more than 5,500 planets outside our solar system. Some of these distant worlds bear similarities to Earth, with intriguing atmospheres that could potentially support life, including planets with oceans—a captivating prospect.
However, the story behind Planet B is that, even if you find another planet that’s just like Earth, there’s a catch: you have to be able to get there, and for a scientist, it’s always very clear that this is impossible likely for centuries to come. Therefore, as scientists, we emphasize to the public that while exploring exoplanets is fascinating, it should not be viewed as an alternative to safeguarding our planet.
It is crucial to convey this message and use it as a powerful motivator for discussions on sustainability. The increasing fascination that people have with astronomy makes it an ideal catalyst for encouraging contemplation about our place in space and how unique Earth is. That is why the No Planet B story is so good praise for astronomy.
Aly: It is significant to understand the Carbon Footprint of Astronomy. Could you explain how big the carbon footprint of astronomical research is and how it is affecting our climate?
Leo: I will say that there are some caveats with computing accurate carbon footprints because that requires thorough research. While some researchers, including myself, have delved into this realm, it’s crucial to acknowledge that not all sources of emissions are always accounted for. What is relatively easy to compute is the emissions from flying to conferences. Knowing where people come from and which mode of travel they use, one can compute the emissions for a conference.
Together with my colleagues, I conducted such calculations for the 2019 Meeting in Lyon and the 2020 online European Astronomical Society meetings. We found that the difference in emissions between the in-person and online meetings was a factor of 3000. A single round-trip flight within Europe amounts to roughly one ton of emissions, with even higher footprints for those traveling from Asia, Australia, or the US.
However, even in this seemingly straightforward calculation, there are discussions surrounding the impact of airplane emissions, considering the radiative forcing index. C02 emissions released at high altitudes have different effects than C02 emissions on the ground. Additionally, planes have contrails that have effects that are not fully understood.
Expanding the analysis to the institute level involves accounting for heating, electricity, commuting, and possibly even food emissions. Supercomputing also contributes to emissions, depending on the power source of the supercomputer.
In a comprehensive analysis catering to all the institutes in the Netherlands, we found that total emissions per staff researcher ranged from about 3 to 10 tons per year of CO2 equivalent emissions, including the radiative forcing index for flights.
A more recent study by Jürgen Knödlseder evaluated the carbon emissions of astronomical infrastructure, considering all the necessary concrete and steel. This analysis revealed the emissions were 37 tons of CO2 equivalent per year per astronomer (with quite some uncertainty due to the estimation method). Still, this is probably the single largest source of emissions for astronomy research.
We should consider these emissions when discussing new astronomical infrastructure, e.g., do we need three extremely large telescopes, or would two be sufficient if we focus more on collaboration instead of competition, perhaps? We can see from these papers that it’s a bit hard to pin it down to one number.
One of the earliest papers addressing the carbon footprint of research activities initially found a very high carbon footprint for research done in Australia, reflecting the country’s heavy reliance on coal for electricity production. Later, the number was updated when their utility switched to a cleaner form of energy, and the carbon footprint was suddenly a lot smaller, although they used the same machines.
A breakdown of four sources of Australian astronomers’ emissions was analyzed by Stevens et al.
Therefore, it depends on the location and which sources and scopes of emissions you include. One widely accepted carbon accounting standard is the greenhouse gas protocol. “The answer is complicated, but as a rough number, I would say something between 5 and 30 tons currently is probably the carbon footprint per astronomer per year, just for astronomy work!”
Aly: When you first started this initiative and went to the public, how did people react to this idea?
Leo: Among other astronomers, we had mostly positive reactions. When discussing our goals of measuring and reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing public communication, many expressed openness and acknowledged the importance of taking action. They eventually realized that we cannot go on and fly around like crazy and do nothing; we need to take active measures ourselves.
Unfortunately, some institutions, including professional societies, were not as open to embracing this change. They saw the difficulties in changing their meeting format. Sometimes, they see financial challenges in doing hybrid meetings, where they think they need to spend a lot of money to implement these. However, much more economical ways of implementing hybrid meetings are available and have been tested successfully. The European Astronomical Society, for example, shifted back to in-person meetings, expressing a belief that online meetings alone may not align with participants’ preferences. The reactions, therefore, were a bit mixed.
Organizations like the European Southern Observatory (ESO) have taken steps toward sustainability by installing solar panels for telescopes in Chile. Another site, La Silla, has already had a photovoltaic plant for a couple of years. However, they’re having a hard time being smart about flying for observations. While there have been improvements, the pace and extent of change have not met the rigorous standards advocated by A4E.
The amount of climate change by the end of the century. (Source: IPCC Sixth Assessment Report)
Aly: Apart from the engaging videos I have seen, what other initiatives or projects has A4E undertaken to advocate the seriousness of the climate crisis? How can one approach spreading this message effectively?
Leo: Activities under the A4E umbrella, apart from these videos, several publications have been produced, including two special issues in Nature Astronomy. Ongoing work, led by Andrea Gokus, is delving into flight emissions of astronomers in 2019 on a global scale, analyzing correlations between emissions, conferences, and the wealth of the country where the astronomers are from.
We also organize events at society meetings, collaborating with entities such as the American Astronomical Society (AAS) Sustainability Committee and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Special A4E-themed meetings have addressed astronomy and sustainability, featuring discussions with climate scientists, experts in light pollution, and representatives from telescope consortia sharing strategies to minimize emissions.
One of the biggest activities we initiated was an open letter to astronomy institutions and societies calling upon them to become active and to do whatever is in their power to reduce emissions. The letter gathered approximately 3,500 signatures within a few weeks, being quite successful.
More recently, A4E has engaged in localized outreach efforts, such as organizing an astronomical organ concert in Germany. This unique event combined the powerful experience of organ music with compelling videos from A4E, evoking emotional responses from attendees. Such events aim to convey the urgency of environmental stewardship and emphasize a positive narrative.
Our key focus is shaping a climate change narrative that goes beyond scientific facts. Recognizing the need for adaptation, the organization advocates framing this change positively. The aim is to frame this narrative not as a loss of conveniences like flying or fashion but as an opportunity to protect the planet and still ensure a high quality of life for all. By sharing this story, A4E endeavors to inspire positive action and a collective commitment to environmental preservation. This is what we all should try to do.
Aly: As we wrap up our conversation, I would love to hear your advice for members of the astronomy community who are eager to spread this positive message about sustainability. What individual actions would you recommend to help tackle the climate crisis?
Leo: Quoting one of the climate communicators in the US, Katharine Hayhoe, who advocates for a climate positivity movement, emphasizes the importance of talking about the climate crisis. The idea is to ensure that individuals don’t feel isolated with their concerns but connect with others to collectively address the challenges.
As an individual, you can very quickly get the impression that there’s nothing you can do. While one person may feel limited in what they can achieve, the power lies in the collective effort of many individuals coming together. Some positive examples of movements started with something small, but with a group, they changed the world for the better.
This is the kind of hope that I would like to share with people, and I hope that you’re not alone with this, and this is also what A4E is for. We have a platform to foster this connection and maintain a network where people can share information, resources, and insights. One of the most important aspects of A4E is that it helps people feel like they are not alone and tackle these huge problems as a collective team.
As individual astronomers, the best thing we can do is share the astronomical perspective, particularly the ‘Pale-Blue-Dot’ story. A4E encourages various creative ways to communicate this perspective, such as organizing astronomical organ concerts or hosting discussions during mountain hikes.
For better global collaboration, the key is to incorporate elements that connect astronomy to the broader story of our place in the universe and the importance of protecting our planet. The overarching message is to get people thinking about our place in the universe, about our place on Earth, and that it’s probably a good idea to protect this planet for a little while longer.
