Moot on aerospace science and engineering starts
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Afshan S. Khan
Islamabad: The three-day 3rd International Conference on Aerospace Science and Engineering Islamabad (ICASE) commenced here on Wednesday at Institute of Space Technology. The conference was organised in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC).
Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Pakistan, Chairman Maj Gen Ahmed Bilal HI, HI (M) was the chief guest, while Dr Muddassar Farooq, Dean, Institute of Space Technology, was also present on the occasion.
Secretary ICASE 2013 Dr Tayyab said that the delegates have come from different parts of world (from Malaysia to Canada) and from distant parts of Pakistan (all the way from Peshawar to Karachi, and also from Quetta and Lahore) to share their vision and knowledge in the conference. They will be presenting their latest research and technical findings related to aerospace science and engineering. IST took an initiative in 2009 to organise the first International Conference on Aerospace Science and Engineering.
Four topics were identified for the conference including aerodynamics, CFD, aerospace propulsion, structures, dynamics and control systems, space communication, telemetry, tele-command and monitoring systems, design and development of materials for aerospace applications, remote sensing, GIS and related space technology.
ICASE is a biennial event which provides an international platform to the scientific and engineering community to remain abreast of the recent developments in high performance aerospace materials, space communication techniques, and design and construction of space system and structures. Another aim is to establish dialogues leading to long lasting, healthy and technical cooperation among the scientists and engineers of the developing and developed countries.
He said that this year in ICASE-2013, 268 papers were received. While 117 papers have been arranged in 17 Orals sessions including a plenary session, while 151 papers have been organised in a poster session. Eminent scientists, engineers & technologists from eight different countries are going to present their research work. Due to overwhelming response, continuously parallel sessions for oral presentations will run continuously during the three days of the conference. There will be 37 keynote lectures and 80 contributory in oral sessions to be presented by the authors. The proceedings of the conference will be published after referring the papers by the International Scientific Committee comprising of scholars from ten different countries. In addition to oral talks and poster competition, other features of the conference are tutorials, panel discussions and short-courses. As many as 8 tutorial and 5 panel discussions will be held during the conference. Moreover, 6 short courses will be conducted immediately after the conference. More than a dozen industries and research institutes of repute have displayed their products in the exhibition. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has taken ICASE-2013 under his umbrella. It is a great achievement and recognition of ICASE at an international platform.
The secretary conference also thanked the sponsors Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) and ICT R&D Fund. HEC has sponsored all the three conferences in 2009, 2001 and this year in 2013. He also thanked Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Jeddah, for sponsoring the ICASE for the first time.
While speaking at the Third International Conference on Aerospace Science and Engineering Vice Chancellor, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad, Engr. Imran Rahman, SI (M), PoP welcomed all the delegates who have come from Pakistan and abroad. He was grateful to the chief guest Maj Gen Ahmed Bilal, who graced the conference.
The vice chancellor said that with the grace of God, we initiated our PICO satellite project a couple of years back, which is an ideal project for students to design and test satellite subsystems. The first of the cubesats ‘ICUBE-1’ has passed all the qualification tests and is waiting for integration for expected launch in the last quarter of 2013. While ICUBE-1 is awaiting launch, IST has embarked on planning larger 2U Cubesat ‘ICUBE-2’ with larger payload capacity and advanced attitude control system for more sophisticated applications. It will indeed open up a large vista of experiments and research that could be conducted in space, by all the students, scientists and engineers of our universities and R & D organisations.
IST is also actively participating in the progress of Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (APSCO). We have been selected as a lead university for APSCO Sat-6, which is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Remote Sensing Satellite with Inter Satellite Links capability. The initial feasibility study of the project has been completed and project approval is awaited. IST will invite other Pakistani universities and sister organizations to participate in this prestigious satellite project.
IST will also be working with China on Beihang University’s three satellite constellation in the Low Earth Orbit aimed at accurate Space Environment Measurement and Research. Through this conference we would bring together Academia, R and D organizations, and both Public and Private industries to focus on the current and future developments, scientific breakthroughs and challenges in Aerospace science and Engineering, including Aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, control systems, Space-craft engineering, communication, Remote Sensing and Geographical information science (GIS), and Materials for aerospace applications.
Chief guest Maj Gen Ahmed Bilal HI, HI (M), while speaking on the occasion said that he has glanced through the research papers and he was delighted to see the top quality of research papers being presented. “Science and technology is an evolving subject but it has really picked up in the last few decades. Its evolving is so fast paced that sometimes it’s difficult to keep pace with it. It’s the university where ideas are nurtured and then transformed into reality. It’s a place where ideas and science meets. We need to create an environment around us and we have to evolve ways and means so that science and technology serves mankind. Such conferences pave the way for the ideas transferred into workable products first in labs and then to the industry for the betterment of the country. Space technology has bridged the distances and has enabled the people to see the world from a different environment. Pakistan is a country where we have tremendous potential that is untapped. We only need to exploit our resources and think out of box,” he said.
Later a souvenir was presented to the chief guest by the Vice Chancellor IST.
Vice Chancellor IST stressed that R&D, Space Science and Engineering has spearheaded by NASA and the likes have been a single major contributory factor for the advancement of all technologies and even in the medical science. This would not have been possible without a clear cut visionary plan and ample resources and funds provided by their governments. He stressed that our government needs to understand that, especially if we want our motherland to be counted amongst technologically advanced countries.
Moot on aerospace science and engineering starts - thenews.com.pk
