The American Chemical Society (ACS) has been established for undergraduate students at the Dr M.A. Qazi Institute of Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. The chapter was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri (TI).

Director, Institute of Chemistry, Prof. Dr Arfana Begum Mallah; Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Sindh Thatta Campus, Prof. Dr Misbah Bibi Qureshi; Dean, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prof. Dr Naheed Kaka; Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Dr Nanik Ram; Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration, Prof. Dr Javed Ahmed Chandio; heads of various departments, faculty members and a large number of students attended the inauguration ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony held at the Institute’s seminar hall, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri (TI) said the American Chemical Society was one of the world’s renowned and important societies and had been providing students at higher education institutions around the world with opportunities to build their future through various programmes for the past 150 years.

He said the establishment of the society at the Dr M.A. Qazi Institute of Chemistry was an important development, and the Institute’s director, faculty members and students deserved congratulations. He said ACS membership offered numerous benefits in education, research and future planning; therefore, undergraduate students of the Institute should make full use of the opportunity.

The Vice Chancellor further said that this was an era of competition and that competition in the career field had increased. In the job market, those who possessed additional skills along with a degree could establish themselves. Societies of this nature were an important means of enhancing students’ capabilities, while their membership and training certificates also carried great significance.

He advised students to make full use of the programmes offered by the American Chemical Society, including various skill- developments courses, training programmes, internships, scholarships and research funding opportunities. He said a degree in chemistry had great importance at the global level and that the Nobel Prize was also awarded in this field.

He said the four years at the university were extremely important for students. The Institute had highly qualified faculty, modern laboratories and all necessary facilities, including the required chemicals. Therefore, students should work hard and pave the way for a successful future on the basis of their abilities.

Director of the Dr M.A. Qazi Institute of Chemistry, Prof. Dr Arfana Begum Mallah, in her address, highlighted the efforts made for the establishment of the American Chemical Society, its objectives and the benefits available to undergraduate students through its various programmes. She said that although six months of continuous efforts had been required to establish the society, they were all extremely happy at its inauguration.

She thanked the Vice Chancellor for his guidance, cooperation and encouragement and said that a total of 14 chapters of the American Chemical Society (ACS) had been established at different universities across the country, and the University of Sindh had now also become part of them.

She said ACS membership offered numerous benefits to undergraduate students. She said the Institute would try to associate as many students as possible with the society and provide them with opportunities to benefit from its facilities, which was also the basic objective of establishing the society.

She said two major chemical societies were currently operating in the field of chemistry in the world. One was the Royal Chemical Society, established by the United Kingdom, while the other was the American Chemical Society, established by the United States. The objective of both societies was to promote education and research in chemistry and chemical sciences, student activities, interaction and professional development around the world.

She said that, besides improving the academic and research standards of the university, enhancing students’ skills was also part of their efforts. She added that the Institute had recently secured internship opportunities for 300 students, and its students had worked at various industries from Karachi to Sukkur.

She said the establishment of ACS at the Institute had created an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students to enhance their skills and academic activities, and expressed hope that the students would make full use of it.

Earlier, ACS Faculty Adviser, Prof. Dr Nusrat Memon, in her welcome address, welcomed the Vice Chancellor and all participants, thanked them for attending the event and elaborated on the importance, objectives and benefits of the society.

On the occasion, Institute students and ACS members Bisma, Hadiqa Jokhio, Huzaira Sheikh, Muzamil Hussain, Muhammad Huzaifa and Naseer Panhwar gave a poster presentation to the Vice Chancellor on the introduction of the society, membership procedure, various courses, training programmes, scholarship opportunities, educational and research funds, and other related matters.

A tree plantation ceremony was also held at the Institute on the occasion of the inauguration of the American Chemical Society. Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri, the Institute’s director, deans, faculty members and students planted various types of saplings.