COMSATS Co-Organizes Workshop On Grid Technology, October 20-22, 2003

The National Centre for Physics (NCP), Quaid-e-Azam University in collaboration with the European Organization of Nuclear Research (CERN), based in Geneva and the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), organized a three day Workshop on the subject of ‘Grid Technology’ for Global Science, in Islamabad from 20 to 22 October, 2003.

Grid technology is a new concept in computing, which provides ubiquitous access to distributed computing information enabling collaboration on a global scale, and is a logical follow-up of the World Wide Web (www). The objectives of the Workshop were to provide hands on experience to young Pakistani scientists regarding Grid technologies, enhancing their skills in Grid related tools which include Grid Architecture, Grid Standards and GLOBUS Toolkit. It would also gear up the national IT human resource to participate in Grid related projects and/or joint Grid related software developments.

Prof. Dr. Luciano Maiani, Director General, CERN inaugurated the Workshop at Marriott Hotel, Islamabad. The Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Mr. Parvez Butt, H.I.,S.I. graced the occasion with his presence which was attended by a large gathering from all walks of life, particularly the scientist community. Prof. Dr. Maiani, while delivering his inaugural address, said that the Grid technology will be crucial to exploit the physics potential of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which is being constructed at CERN by a wide international collaboration that includes Pakistan as well. He stressed on the intrinsic value of the fundamental research and shed light on the role of science in the information society, underlining the role of Grid computing in ICT development. The ceremony was followed by an introductory presentation session, which included enlightening deliberations from Prof. Dr. Luciano Maiani, Dr. Diether Blechschmidt, Dr. John Ellis, Dr. Heinz Stockinger and Dr. Flavia Donno from CERN, Dr. Hafeez Hoorani and Mrs. Mehnaz Hafeez from NCP and Dr. Arshad Ali from NUST.

The Grid Tutorials of the Workshop were held at COMSATS Headquarters for two consecutive days. There were a total of 43 participants from Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Taxila, Topi and Islamabad from 14 different universities namely, Bahria University (BU), COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIK), National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT), Punjab University and Quaid-i-Azam University. A total of 29 participants came from different scientific, research and development organizations. During the two days of tutorial, 10 presentations of 8 hours duration were given by Dr. Flavia Donno and Dr. Heinz Stockinger. COMSATS not only housed the tutorials and the concluding ceremony but also sponsored the Workshop besides providing the necessary technical assistance.

The concluding ceremony of the Workshop held at COMSATS Headquarters was presided by Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad (N.I.,H.I.,S.I.), Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, he expressed his satisfaction over the proceedings of the event and said that the introduction of the Grid technology will help further the capability of Pakistani scientists in the field of modern Information Technology. Dr. Ishfaq reckoned that technology is ever changing and that we have to pace up with the technological revolution taking place around the globe. He emphasized that knowledge is a common heritage and it should be collectively created, shared and disseminated for the benefit of all. The Workshop concluded on 22nd October, 2003 with a pledge to introduce and harness Grid technologies in Pakistan and continue to provide hands on training to young and budding scientists of the nation in this field of immense importance and significance.