National Science Talent Contest (NSTC)

1. STEM Careers Programme STEM Careers Programme is a joint venture of Higher Education Commission and Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, for grooming in Fields of Science, Technology, Engineering an Mathematics (STEM) National Science Talent Contest (NSTC)

2. STEM Careers Programme STEM Careers Programme has two fold mission: • Inspiring the youth of the nation to opt for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and preparing them for participation in the annual International Science Olympiads in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. • Encouraging engineering students to come up with innovative solutions to problems of national interest. • National Science Talent Contest, or NSTC is meant to address the first of these objectives, and National Engineering Competition, or NEC strive to address the second of these objectives

3. From NPTC to NSTC • NSTC is an extension of the National Physics Talent Contest (NPTC) which was launched by PAEC in 1995 on the directives of the then President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. • To realize the above mentioned extended mission, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) approved a proposal of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) to initiate National Science Talent Contest (NSTC) in 2003 under the umbrella of Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Careers Project.

4. IPhO-2008 Team Before Departure with Chairman HEC August 12, 2008

5. IBO-2008 Team Before Departure with Chairman HEC August 12, 2008

6. Eligibility Criteria A School or College may nominate; a) First year F-Sc/A-levels students, who scored an aggregate of 75% or more in Matriculation (SSC)/O-level and 90% or more marks in at least one of the four relevant subjects OR b) Nomination from a college of its top five students of 1st year F Sc/A-Levels students for each discipline i.e. Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and Physics.

7. Eligibility Criteria cont… Criterion for category (b) Institute nominate the students as per their performance in the class or their score in their SSC/O-level examination c) Institutions are also encouraged to nominate exceptionally bright younger students who have not yet done their Matric/ O level

8. Registration Procedure • Nomination form duly attested by the college with complete information • Students in category (a) should deposit non-refundable Rs.100/- in the on-line bank account given below and submit its original Bank receipt of Processing fee along with these documents. F. Sc. /Matric Students in category (b) should deposit non-refundable Rs.250/- and A level or O level students of category (b) should deposit non-refundable Rs. 500/- as an application processing fee. Please deposit the application processing fee through online bank Account # 01-100-3251-0 of Allied Bank Limited, Cabinet Division Branch, Islamabad (Branch Code: 0793). This fee can be deposited in this online account through any online Allied bank branch anywhere in Pakistan. • The fee can also be submitted in the form of postal orders. However, the postal order amount should not be less then Rs. 50 i.e. to deposit Rs. 100 two postal orders of Rs. 50 or one postal order of Rs. 100 may be attached. Postal order of fewer amounts are not acceptable. Important Note: No other mode of payment like bank drafts, money order, cheques and cash etc is acceptable. • Original Receipt of Application processing fee • 3 passport size Photographs should be attached. • Proof of Age i.e. Matric / O level mark sheet / Birth certificate (Attested copy). • Photocopy of NIC of father /Guardian • Nomination for category (b) students • Fill clearly the complete postal address, phone numbers of your home and college for timely correspondence Please send all nomination form, original bank receipt of processing fee and other requirements mentioned above at the following address: STEM Careers Programme Office HEC Campus, H-9, Islamabad Phone: +92 51 90402615, Fax: +92 51 9259241 Deadline for submission: 11th December, 2009

9. Selection Procedure • Screening Test will be held on 17th of January, 2010. • Training/Selection Camps during summer in each respective home institute • Olympiad teams of 4-6 students are selected through a series of subsequent training camps during winter and spring

10. Home Institutions of NSTC • National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad for Biology • H.E.J Institute of Chemistry, Karachi University for Chemistry • School of Mathematical Sciences (SMS), G.C.U. Lahore for Mathematics • Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad for Physics

11. National Biology Talent Contest (NBTC) Home Institute: NIBGE, Faisalabad. Coordinator: Dr. Zafar M Khalid Pakistan participated in IBO for the first time that was hosted by Argentina during 2006. Muhammad Affawn of Bahria College won a silver Medal in IBO-2008 in Mumbai India. Venue of 21st IBO 2010 is Korea.

12. Achievements:17th IBO, Argentina, 2006 Dr. Sarwar Khan (Coordinator NBTC) with Chairman IBO Jury and Pakistani Team

13. Achievements:18th IBO, Saskatoon, Canada, 2007 (Lest to right) Dr. Sarwar Khan (Coordinator NBTC), Ms Abeera Ali (Bronze Medalist), Mr. Shoaib, Ms fatima Khurram, July, 2007

14. Achievements: 19th IBO, Mumbai, India, 2008 Muhammad Affawn Ashraf, first silver medalist of Pakistan in International Biology Olympiad. He was born in Sialkot and is Hafiz-e-Quran as well. He also wants to pursue his career in Fundamental research in Genetics, Immunology and Hematology and to bring a Nobel Prize for the country. He got admission in SSE LUMS.

15. Achievements: 20th IBO, Tsukuba, Japan, 2009 Pakistani IBO-2009 Team: From Left Standing: Dr Muhammad Saeed, PS NIBGE, Mr. Al Hasanat Rasul, PD SCP, Ms Mahym Mansoor, Bronze Medalist, Ms Tayyaba Maqbool Malik, Bronze Medalist, Dr Zafar M Khalid, Director NIBGE. Sitting,from left, Ms Saima Hanif and Mr Raheel Sufian Siddiqui, 18th July, Tsukuba, Japan

16. National Chemistry Talent Contest(NCTC) Home Institute: HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi. Coordinator: Dr. Khalid M Khan Pakistan participated in IChO for the first time that was hosted by South Korea during 2006. Venue of 42nd IChO 2010 is Tokyo, Japan

17. Achievements: 38th IChO, South Korea, 2006 Participants of First Pakistani IChO Team in South Korea with Dr. Khalid M. Khan, Coordinator- NCTC and Dr Shaiq Ali, July, 2006.

18. Achievements: 39th IChO, Russia, 2007 Participants of Pakistani IChO Team in Moscow, Russia , In the front, Mr. Shehzad Iqbal, Second row from right, Ms Shaina Khan (Bronze Medalist), Mr. Hamza Khan, Ms Anita Pabani (Bronze Medalist). July 2007

19. Achievements: 40th IChO, Hungary, 2008 Members of Pakistani IChO (from Left-front row) Ayesha Ahmed (admitted in AKU, Karachi), Ali Kamran Ahmed (Admitted at AKU, Karachi), Dr M Shaiq Ali, Deputy Team Leader, Peter Szollosi (Pakistani Guide), Dr Khalid M Khan, Coordinator NCTC, Leader Pakistani Team, Gibran Mushtaq Hashmi (university of Minnesota), Maha Malik (Studying at IBA, Karachi) at Budapest, Hungary, July, 2008.

20. Pakistani ICO-2009 Team: From Left Standing: Mr. Bilal Shahid, Ms Nayha Enver (Bronze Medalist) Dr Khalid M Khan, Coordinator NCTC, HEJ, Dr M Raza Shah, Asstt. Prof. HEJ, Ms. Saman Zia (Bronze Medalist) and Mr. Asad Ur Rehman, 26th July, Cambridge, UK Achievements: 41st IChO, Cambridge,UK, 2009

21. National Mathematics Talent Contest (NMTC) Home Institute: SMS, GCU, Lahore. Chief Coordinator: Dr. A. D. Raza Choudary Pakistan participated for the first time in 46th IMO in Mexico in 2005. IMO 47 was hosted by Slovenia during summer 2006 in which Pakistani Team member Mr. Zaeem Hussain won an Honorable Mention. Venue of 51st IMO 2010 is Astana , Kazakhstan

22. Achievements: 46th IMO, Mexico, 2005 Mr. Ahmed Mahmood Qureshi (middle second row), Coordinator, NMTC-1withStudents at Pakistani Team and their Mexican guide , who is holding the banner, at the 46th International Mathematics Olympiad, Mexico, 8-19 July, 2005

23. Achievements: 47th IMO, Slovenia, 2006 Pakistani Team of 47th International Mathematics Olympiad (From left) Syed Sarim Ali, Barbu Berceanu (Coach of Pakistani Team), Prof. Dr. A. D. Raza Choudary(D.G. SMS & Team Leader), József Pelikán (Chairman, IMO Advisory Board), John Webb (Secretary, IMO Advisory Board), Syed Hasan Riaz, Saad Anjum, Zaeem Hussain (HM), Afsah Shafquat in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

24. Achievements: 48th IMO,Hanoi Vietnam,2007 Pakistani Team of 48th International Mathematics Olympiad (From left) Mr. Zaeem Hussain (Bronze Medalist), Muhammad Fahad Waseem, Sohaib Afzal (Honorable Mention), Team guide of Pakistani Team, Mr. Awais Tariq, Mr. Mustaffa Abbas and Mr. Saif Sultan in Hanoi, Vietnam, July, 2007

25. Pakistani IMO-2009 Team: From Left Standing: Mr. Absar-ul-Hassan, Mr. Isfar Tariq, Mr. Ahmad Bilal Aslam, Dr. Ahmad Mahmood Qureshi (Deputy Leader), Mr. Waqar Ali Syed (Bronze Medallist) and Mr. Qasim Mahmood., July-2009, Bremen, Germany Achievements:50th IMO,Breman Germany, 2009

26. National Physics Talent Contest (NPTC) Home Institute: PIEAS, Islamabad Chief Coordinator Dr. Abdullah Sadiq Coordinator: Dr Shahid Qamar, PS, PIEAS Resource Persons: Professor Pervez Hoodbhoyand Dr. Kashif Sabih of Quaid-e-Azam University and Drs. Naseem Irfan, Masroor Ikram, Masood-ul-Hassan, Anila Usman, Mansoor Hameed Inayat, Imran Chughtai. Pakistan has been regularly participating in IPhOsince 2001 and won one Silver Medal in IPhO-2008 and Bronze Medals and Honorable Mentions several times. Venue of 41st IPhO 2010 is Zagreb, Croatia.

27. Achievements: IPhO-32, Turkey , 2001 Yaser Raza Khan (HM*) of Beacon House Margalla Campus, Islamabad, now at the University of Toronto, Canada, receiving his Honorable Mention. He was also awarded the Best Performance Prize for the countries participating for the first time. *Honorable Mention

28. Achievements: IPhO-33, Bali, Indonesia , 2002 From Left; Umair Safwan Malik (HM*) of Aitcheson College and now in MIT , Murad Tariq (HM*) of City School, Islamabad and now in FAST Lahore, Osama Ahmed (HM*) of Burhan College, Dr. Abdullah Sadiq, Dr. Masood-ul-Hasan, Wasil Intisar Mohar Bronze Medalist (BM^) of Atchison and now in Middlebury College, Indonesian Guide Tessy Tri Kurniati and Abid Hasan Naqvi Bronze Medalist (BM^) of Beachonhouse, Islamabad, and now in NUST ^Bronze Medal *Honorable Mention

29. Achievements: IPhO-34, Taipei, Taiwan , 2003 From Left: Umair Sadiq, Bronze Medalist, (BM^) of Cadet College Hasan Abdal and now in GIK-I, Dr. Masroor Ikram, Dr. Abdullah Sadiq, Ahmed Qureshi, Taiwanese Guide Stella Yu Wen Wang, Hamood Zafir Arham of Beachonhouse, Islamabad, now in Michigan State University, Talal Bin Akram of Cadet College Hasan Abdal and now in UET Lahore. Wajahat Faheem Khan (HM*) (not shown in the picture) of Edwards College Peshawar and now in MIT • Special Prize for Umair Sadiq for Best Participation among the countries participating for the last 3 years. ^Bronze Medal *Honorable Mention

30. Achievements: IPhO-35, Pohang, South Korea , 2004 From Left (standing) : Foaad Tahir (HM) of Adamjee Government Science College, Karachi, now in GIK-I, Dr. Masroor Ikram, Amir Ali (HM) of Agha Khan Higher Secondary School, Karachi, now in LUMS, Dr. Abdullah Sadiq, Sabeen Faridi (HM) of Karachi Grammar School, Karachi and now in Caltech from left (Sitting ): Saad Islam of Military College, Jhelum, now in NUST and Saad Zaheer of F.G. Sir Syed College, Rawalpindi and now in MIT. *Honorable Mention

31. Achievements: 36th IPhO, Salamanca, Spain , 2005 From left, Standing, Syed Ali Abbas of Sadiq Public School, Bahawalpur, Asim Naz of St. Michael’s Convent School, Clifton, Karachi , GIK-I, Dr. Kashif Sabeeh, QAU, Dr. Abdullah Sadiq, Chair STEM Careers Project, Nabeel Rehman Shami (HM*) of St. Michael’s Convent School, Clifton, Karachi. Sitting, from left, Sheraz Qayyum of Aitchison College, The Mall, Lahore, Guide from Spain, Dawood Tariq (HM*) of Bahria College , Islamabad, Talal Bin Akram, Observer, UET Lahore ^Bronze Medal *Honorable Mention

32. Achievements: 37th IPhO, Singapore , 2006 From left, Awais Sher Bajwa of Resource Acedimia, Fahad Mahmood (HM*) of City School, Saba Zehra Zaidi of Roots Montessori, Dr. Abdullah Sadiq, Chair STEM Careers Project, Dr. Ibrahim Qazi, Coordinator NPTC, Omer Aftab of Lahore Grammer School, Nusrah Hussain of Bahria College with their Guides *Honorable Mention

33. Achievements: 38th IPhO, Isfahan, Iran , 2007 From left front row, Awais Ms Palwisha Khan (observer), Ms Maham Siddiqui, Dr Ibrahim Qazi (Team leader), Al Hasanat Rasul (Deputy Team leader), Ms Maedeh Khademi (Pakistani Guide), from left second row, Mr. Zeeshan Javed (*HM), Mr. Sami Tahir, Mr. Suleman Mahmood (*HM), Mr. Haroon Masood, Mr. Amin (Pakistani guide), Mr. Shehryar Khan (observer) *Honorable Mention

34. Achievements: IPhO-39, Hanoi, Vietnam, 2008 Mr. Hamza Aftab, first silver medalist of Pakistan in International Physics Olympiad. He was born in Multan and proved his excellence during the O levels exam when he secured 11 A’s with world distinction in Chemistry. He desires to pursue his career in engineering and integrating it with basic sciences. He has secured fully funded scholarship admission in the Princeton University, USA.

35. Achievements: 39th IPhO, Hanoi, Vietnam , 2008 From left, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Asghar, *HM, Mr. Hamza Aftab of Aitcheson College, Silver Medalist,, Dr Shahid Qamar, Coordinator NPTC, Dr Masroor Ikram, DCS, PIEAS, Ms Madiha Hussain of LGS, Bronze Medalist who also secured fully funded scholarship admission in Caltech , Mr. Anneq Zia, and Mr. Waqas Raza Jafri, *HM of LGS, who secured fully funded admission in Princeton University. *Honorable Mention

36. Pakistani IPhO-2009 Team: From Left Standing: Mr. M Zain Ul Abideen Ali Khas (Bronze Medalist), Mr. Musab Jilani (Honorable Mention), Dr Masroor Ikram, DCS, PIEAS, the Pakistani Team Guide, Mr. Aamir Ayub (Honorable Mention), Dr. Shahid Qamar (Team Leader), Sitting from Left: Mr. Harres Bin Tariq (Bronze Medalist) and Ms Anum Jang Sher., 19 July-2009, Merida, Mexico Achievements: 40th IPhO, Merida, Mexico, 2009

37. Alumni Studied/Studying Abroad • Irum Perveen                       NPTC 3/ 4       CalTech Graduate • Yaser Raza Khan                 NPTC 5           University of Toronto    IPhO 2001 • Jibran Imtiaz                   NPTC 5           McGill University          IPhO 2001 • Umair Safwan Malik           NPTC 6           MIT Class of 2006       IPhO 2002 • Wasil Intisar                        NPTC 6           Middlebury College      IPhO 2002 • Wajahat F. Khan                 NPTC 7           MIT Class of 2007       IPhO 2003       • Hamood Zafir Arham         NPTC 7           Michigan State University          IPhO 2003 • Rabeel Hamza Warraich    NPTC 8           MIT Class of 2008       • Saad Zaheer                         NPTC 8           MIT Class of 2009       IPhO 2004 • Sabeen Faridi                       NPTC 8           CalTech Class of 2008 IPhO 2004 • Zain Khalid                          NPTC 8           Harvard University Class of 2008 • Ahmed Anwar                      NPTC 8           Stanford University Class of 2009 • Lamaan Hussain                  NPTC 8           McGill University • Saad Rizvi                            NPTC 8           Yale University • Ali Rafi                                 NPTC 8           National University of Singapore • Amna Malik                         NCTC 1          Harvard University • Raheel  Ahmed                    NMTC 1          Oxford University • Fahad Hussain NPTC 10 Stanford University • Saba Zehra Zaidi NPTC 10 Harvard University • Khadija Khan NBTC 2 Yale University • Omer Aftab NPTC 10 Harvard University

38. Benefits OF NSTC: • Screening test: • Experience of sitting in a top level test • Training Camps • If you get selected, you will be invited in any of the four HI’s in a series of a week long camp • Training/ Teaching in these institutions by world class teachers • Educational visits • Rigorous testing • Groomed in such a way that they are able to get admission in good foreign and local universities/ colleges • International Science Olympiad • 4-6 students participate in International Science Olympiad in each subject • NSTC Alumni Body • Once they leave the camps they will be the part of the part of an Alumni body which is comprised of most talented students • PAEC Fellowships • As mentioned above

39. How to prepare • By encouraging the students to use reference material • Solving/ Interesting assignments • Studying/ participating in science project competitions • Teaching • Syllabus • Matirc • O Level • F. Sc. Part I • A level Part I (A’s level)

40. NSTC Contacts Coordinators: • Dr. A.D. Raza Chaudary (DG, SMS, Lahore and Coordinator NMTC), choudary@sms.edu.pk • Prof. Dr. Khalid Khan (HEJ Karachi and Coordinator NCTC), drkhalidhej@yahoo.com • Dr. Zafar M. Khalid ( Director, NIBGE Faisalabad and Coordinator NBTC), director@nibge.org • Dr Shahid Qamar, (PIEAS, Coordinator NPTC), shahid_qamar@pieas.edu.pk STEM Programme Office: Dr. Abdullah Sadiq (Chair STEM Careers Programme) • asadiqr@gmail.com Mr. Mohammad Jamil (Programme Director ) • mjamil@hec.gov.pk , jamil.stem@gmail.com Ms. Qurat ul Ain, Programme Secretary • quratulain@hec.gov.pk

41. Summary of Achievements

42. NSTC Alumni Coordinators • Al Hasanat Rasul (Chief Coordinator NSTC Alumni) • Usman Bhatty (National Coordinator NSTC Alumni) • Iram Parveen Bilal (Foreign Coordinator) • Yaser Raza Khan (Foreign Coordinator, Canada) • Rizwan Maqsood (National Coordinator NPTC Alumni) • Saad Zaheer (Foreign Coordinator, USA) • Amir Siddiqui (National Coordinator NMTC Alumni) • Mushal Noor (National Coordinator NBTC Alumni) • Talal Bin Akram (Foreign Coordinator Swedan) • Khadija Khan (Foreign Coordinator, USA) • M Sulaiman Mahmood (Sector Coordinator, Lahore) • Faiza Khalid (Sector Coordinator, Multan) • Bareera Hakim (Sector Coordinator, Islamabad) • Mehwish Kiran (Sector Coordinator, Multan) • Faseeh Shahab (Sector Coordinator, Peshawar) • Bushra Mehboob (Sector Coordinator, Peshawar) • Ayesha Ahmed (Sector Coordinator NSTC Karachi) • Saif Ul Islam Sajid (National Coordinator NCTC Alumni)

43. International Science Olympiad (ISO) Alumni • Yaser Raza Khan 32th IPhO • Syed Abid Hasan Naqvi 33rd IPhO • Umair Sadiq 34th IPhO • Talal Bin Akram 34th IPhO • Saad Zaheer 35th IPhO • Saad Islam 35th IPhO • Asim Naz 36th IPhO • Rehma Farhatullah Khairi 46th IMO • Zaeem Hussain 48th IMO • Muhammad Affawn Ashraf, IBO-2008 • Hamza Aftab, IPhO-2008 • Madiha Hussain, IPhO-2008 • Syed Waqas Raza, IPhO-2008

44. For more information • Website http://www.nstc.edu.pk Or STEM Careers ProgrammeHigher Education Commission, Campus,H-9, IslamabadPhone 92-51-90402615 Email mjamil@hec.gov.pk

45. Thanks