Third Abdus Salam Science Fair

The Abdus Salam Science Fair is held every year since 2009 in the memory of Dr. Abdus Salam by the National Department of Taʻlim, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaʻat Canada. Professor Abdus Salam, the first Muslim scientist to win a Nobel Prize, shared the 1979 Nobel Prize for physics with two American scientists Sheldon Glashow and Steven Weinberg for their independent development of a theory unifying the electromagnetic and the weak nuclear forces. He was born in Pakistan and remained a proud citizen of Pakistan all his life and after death his remains were also transported and buried in Pakistan on November 25, 1996.

This year the science fair was held on Saturday 12th November 2011 at the newly built Tahir Hall, with prize distribution and closing ceremony being held in the Baitul Islam mosque. The day started at 9:00 a.m. with students setting up their projects for display and judgement. Students (85 in total) were divided into four groups as follows:

1. Al-Khwarizmi Group: Boys grade 5 to 8

2. Ibn al-Haytham Group: Boys grade 9 to 12

3. Abū Alī Sīnā Group: Girls grade 5 to 8

4. Jābir ibn Hayyān Group: Girls grade 9 to 12

There were five male and four female judges who reviewed the work by male and female students separately. Among the distinguished guests were Dr. Reza Moridi, himself a physicist and an MPP from Richmond Hill, Sahebzada A. Khan, the counsel general of Pakistan in Toronto and Professor Stephen Julian, Associate Chair, Department of Physics, University of Toronto.

“Pakistan will always remain proud of Abdus Salam and such events serve as motivators for our youth to follow the example of Abdus Salam. He is an inspiration for many of our youth,” said Sahebzada A. Khan.

“I was impressed with the efforts these young scientists have put into their projects for this fair, congratulations! It is your time and I can see many Abdus Salams of the future sitting in front of me,” were the remarks of Dr. Reza Moridi

“Students have put a real effort into it it is heartwarming to see the trends in scientific thoughts of our youth. Many of the projects on protecting the environment, living green and protecting the health give us hope that our youth is headed in the right direction,” commented Professor Stephen Julian.

Photos By: Bashir Nasir 

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