A message to University students

On your first day at university, dear students, you showed great passion and determination. I remember seeing you engrossed in a group discussion in the dedicated corner of the library. It is a tremendous honor to be a part of this prestigious institution with its rich educational legacy. However, don’t forget that you had to compete with thousands of other applicants to secure your spot in the institute.

Now, you must face new challenges that will test your mettle. Primarily, the lesson you have to learn is borderless education. The indefinite nature of knowledge dissemination through pedagogy is a testament to its limitless potential. It knows no boundaries set by man. In this regard, you must read letters to a critic by our oriental college intellectual, Nasir Abbas Nayar. Let me extract an instigating thought from the 18th letter of his book. He writes, Ilm sarhadoon se mawra hota h! (Knowledge is independent of boundaries). On parallel treads, you must unlock the curriculum boundaries.

Conceivably, you would be trapped in puzzlement about the term borderless educational pedagogy. True, being a pioneer in the intellectual climate may cause trouble for your understanding horizons. However, I must clarify it before moving forward. Keep in mind that every academic field has a philosophical component. By exploring it, you can gain a deeper understanding of the subject. Significantly, philosophy of science, sociology of knowledge, and humanization of technologies. Explore them in a well-structured manner. To have a philosophical touch along with the technical knowledge of the discipline is, in my opinion, called borderless education.

In the realm of the humanities, the company of Professor Dr. Shahzeb Khan will enlighten your soul. You are highly encouraged to participate in the skills enhancement class of our residence at the PU campus. In this class, Shahzeb Sahib conducts the weekly session on reading, writing, and self-improvement skills. Also, we have built a small library at the residence, a collection of books that will enhance your reading enthusiasm. As a fresh reader, you should start reading Introduction to Philosophy of Science by Samir Okasha, published by the University of Oxford, UK (Series for introductory short books by the Oxford Press)

Why am I stressing the philosophical reading? Practically, there are two fundamental reasons. First, Bertrand Russell defines philosophy as the practice of acquiring wisdom that is necessary to excel in academic and non-official life. Second, the recommendation made by the Zakri Task Force, chaired by a Malaysian Science Advisor Committee, suggests that the pedagogy operating in the universities of the Muslim world is too rigid. So, it is advisable to diversify the educational landscape.

You are correct in your objection. The non-elastic academic schedule does not allow us to pursue the diversification process in education. The system designed anciently discourages the newly broad studies. Be adaptable. Use your willpower to make sound decisions and overcome obstacles. Ironically, my colleagues attend the institute at dawn and spend a long day chasing the technical stuff. Sadly, they are still worried about academic credentials. That is the reason behind my above-forwarded suggestion of pursuing a diverse educational landscape.

Strikingly, you have to differentiate between pleasure and purpose-driven reading. The latter is based on the reader’s organized method of mental mapping. Logically, it is produced when you concoct coherence in the information. However, in contrast, reading only for the sake of amusement is called pleasure reading.

Now, there is a need to elaborate: how can you strive to achieve purpose-driven reading habits?

You have heard from your professors about fostering an intellectual culture at Punjab University. No doubt, it is the first time in the 140 years of history of PU that students are coming out of the classrooms and discussing nationwide matters. The Punjab University Reader Society (PURS) is providing this platform.

As a pioneer in the physics field, you must have acquired a research mindset. First, choosing a research area is made clear in this guide. A few days ago, a physicist at the Center for Particle Physics mentioned that I intended to switch my focus to cosmology due to new opportunities. The fogy mindset at graduation time is indeed the cause of this shift.

I wish you to suggest attending various schools on physics conducted annually at renowned institutes. A fortnight ago, I had the opportunity to visit the 12th school at LHC, National Centre for Physics, Islamabad. A short-term stay at NCP filled my brain with rich experience. I learned the tactics of physics research from a wide range of field methodologies. I had the privilege of joining a fascinating discussion group led by Prof. Waqar. It will require a new paper to enlist the whole experience.

Do you remember, in tea sitting last evening, we discussed the vastness of the scientific field? Science communication is a contemporary, emerging domain. Carl Sagan was a prominent science communicator. In our age, Neil deGrasse Tyson is a glowing name in this realm.

Sadly, in Pakistan, we see a downward trend in the public engagement of science. The exclusion of scientists from different walks of life has resulted in a lack of diversity and is the root cause of this issue. To delve into the reasons, read my column on Why is science pathetic in our society?

In Western universities, we see an appreciable structure. For instance, Bristol University has a dedicated philosophy of science department for which Professor Samir Okasha has written a book for the Oxford University Short Introduction Series. Notably, it is a project of the prestigious institute in which they invite experts in their respective fields and urge them to summarize their ideas in a few pages. You may remember the documentary on Islam and science by Jim Al-Khalili, which I recommended earlier. He is a professor at the University of Surrey for public engagement in science.

Our conversation is expanding beyond the limit of this column. Our next evening tea sitting will provide you, as a young scientist, with a comprehensive understanding of the integral areas that you need to know.