Key Takeaways
- Pakistan's team won three bronze medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad.
- The students were selected through the National Science Talent Contest (NSTC).
- PIEAS and PAEC play key roles in nurturing young scientific talent.
Pakistan achieved a significant milestone by winning three bronze medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad, held in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The students who secured these medals are Zulfiqar Ali of Government City Boys School, Dera Ghazi Khan; Ali Hamdan Alvi of FG Sir Syed College, Rawalpindi; and Daniyal Shahzad Hamid of The Science School, Islamabad.
The selection process for the team was rigorous, involving the 22nd National Science Talent Contest (NSTC), a joint initiative by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS).
Following their selection, these students underwent intensive residential training camps at PIEAS. The training provided advanced theoretical and experimental knowledge from both national and international experts, preparing them for high-level competition.
The team was led by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Irfan and Dr. Muhammad Waseem of PIEAS. Working under the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), PIEAS organizes the NSTC annually in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics to identify and nurture talented students at secondary and higher secondary levels.
The STEM Careers Programme Office at HEC coordinates these training activities and facilitates Pakistan's participation in international competitions. The Home Institutes for this programme include PIEAS for Physics, NIBGE-C (PIEAS) for Biology, the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry at the University of Karachi for Chemistry, and COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, for Mathematics.
Pakistan has been participating in various International Science Olympiads since 2001. Since the inception of the STEM Careers Programme, more than 365 Pakistani students have represented the country, winning a total of 144 medals. Over 5,000 students have benefited from over 256 advanced training camps conducted under this programme.
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) remains committed to nurturing young scientific talent and promoting excellence in science and technology for the country's socio-economic development.
