The National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS) Pakistan celebrated 10 years of success on 14 August 2019. The foundation of NAYS was laid in August 2009 by dedicated young scientists of Pakistan, who aimed to provide a platform to utilise their potential and play a role in the promotion of education, health, innovation, science and technology in Pakistan. The academy now has 100 members, who stay on for four-year terms. There is a growing body of currently 500 alumni, who get asked to provide feedback for the Academy’s work.
NAYS Pakistan has the vision to provide guidance, education, awareness, the introduction of new technologies and training to equip the country’s youth to face modern day challenges and solve them.
NAYS Pakistan won several national and international grants, notably from the Emerging Nations Science Foundation (ENSF), the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the International Association for Study of Pain (IASP), the American Association for Advancements of Science (AAAS), USA, CRDF Global, the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), PASTIC, the Cancer Care Hospital and Research Center, the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), etc. Through these grants NAYS Pakistan arranged hundreds of events across the country to promote education, awareness, science, and technology over the years.
Back in 2009, NAYS Pakistan was a timely initiative as one of the first young academies in Asia. Now there are over 40 NYAs in the world and over 10 similar initiatives, see here for a list.
NAYS Pakistan is engaging in various activities, e.g. capacity building and mentoring for Young Scientists, Science Education and Outreach, Science Communication, improving the scholarly and research environment, and engaging with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and they play an active role in the science landscape of Pakistan.
