Introduction
Basic and applied research in science and technology is essential for the economic development of any nation. A large proportion of this research is customarily conducted in the educational and industrial organizations both in public and private sectors. The pace of research largely depends on the skills of the scientists and technicians and the availability of the well maintained scientific instruments.
In the developing countries, lack of planning, inappropriate equipment inventories and
severe shortage of repairs and maintenance facilities create considerable obstacle in the smooth progress of research programmes. In this context, the teaching and research institutions suffer more from delayed research out-put and the industrial units face production loses. Unfortunately the concerned management in most of the developing
countries, including the Islamic Countries, do not pay enough attention to the upkeep of repairs and maintenance facilities, resulting in the abandonment of a large number of very expensive instruments and equipment. These loses can be averted by spending a fraction of money on the effective and preventive repairs and maintenance schemes as compared to
the costs incurred on time losses and the procurement of the new instruments and by providing relevant training to the operators, concerned engineers and technicians of such instruments, equipment, etc.
There is obviously a need to develop an
indigenous capacity to repair and maintain the scientific equipment, as inviting foreign experts for the purpose is time-consuming and economically unviable, especially for the developing countries. Manpower adept in repairing and maintaining scientific equipments of all sorts used in the teaching and research institutions, and industries, can
ensure uninterrupted research work, and thus an overall socio-economic development of a country.
In view of the above, the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), in
collaboration with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the Senegalese National Commission for UNESCO is jointly organizing a national workshop to address the problems facing the developing Islamic countries in the up-keep of the repairs and maintenance facilities. The national workshop is entitled “Repair and Maintenance of Scientific Equipment in Teaching, Research Institutions and Small Scale Industries” and will take place in Dakar, Senegal from 18 to 21 October 2010. The main components of the workshop will include inter-active discourses and practical training.
It is expected that the workshop will assist the participants to enhance their capacities in handling the repairs, maintenance and trouble shooting of instruments and equipment in their organizations.
Objectives
- To provide hands-on training to the participants for improving their skills for independently maintaining and repairing the scientific instruments;
- To update the trainees' knowledge on changing technologies in scientific equipments;
- To acquaint the participants with the functioning of scientific instruments through need-based training, as well as documentation in the repair and maintenance of scientific equipments.
- To facilitate information-exchange among scientists, researchers, technicians, service engineers, and industrialists for enhancing the existing scientific capacity.
Language
The working language for the workshop will be French.
Participation and Financial Support
The workshop is aimed to bring together professional technicians, scientists, researchers, service engineers, industrialists. Partial or full financial support will be provided
to a limited number of participants on the discretion of the organizers.
For Further Information
Mr. Tajammul Hussain
Director General (International Affairs)
COMSATS Headquarters
4th Floor, Shahrah-e-Jamhuriat, G-5/2
Islamabad - Pakistan.
Tel: (+92-51) 9204892, 9214515-17
Fax: (+ 92-51) 9216539
URL: www.comsats.org
Email: husseint@comsats.net.pk
Ms. El Alami Wafaa
Head of ICPSR
Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO),
Avenue des F.A.R
P.O.Box 2275, PC Code 10104
Hay Ryad-Rabat
Kingdom of Morocco.
Tel : (+212-5) 37566052-53
Fax : (+212-5) 37566012-13
URL: www.isesco.org.ma
E-mail: icpsr@isesco.org.ma
Dr. Moustapha Tambadou
Secretaire General
Commission nationale du Sénégal pour
l'UNESCO
Immeuble Freyssline et Fils (4e etage)
34 Avenue du President Lamine
Gueye prolongee
Dakar - Senegal.
Tel: (+221-338) 225730
Fax: (+221-338) 211770
URL: www.unesco.sn
Email: comnatunesco@orange.sn
Note:
Nominations may be submitted to the addresses mentioned above. For more information on the workshop, view the latest details at the websites: www.comsats.org and www.isesco.org.ma
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