LAHORE: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Higher Educational Commission (HEC) and the Punjab University’s Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) are all set to organise an international conference on freedom of expression and media development staring from tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Punjab University. Another conference on the women’s role in society and media will also be held. Senior subject specialists, researchers and journalists from North America, Norway, Malaysia, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bangladesh will take part in both the conferences. Senior Journalists and communication exerts from all over the country will also feature in the conferences. The conference on ‘World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development – A Pakistani Perspective on UNESCO Report’ will be held tomorrow, while the second international conference on ‘Working Within and Against the Structures: Women, Media and Transnational Perspective’ will be held from February 28 to March 1. Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zakarya Zakir, ambassadors of Norway and Sweden, In-charge Institute of Communication Studies Dr Noshina Saleem, Dr Bushra Hameedur Rahman and senior journalists will also participate in the conferences. During the three days, there will be a total of 19 sessions in which research papers will be presented and debates will be held on several interesting topics. These conferences are unique because there will be more than 100 international scholars, Journalists and media experts will be expressing their views under one roof. Meanwhile, the Punjab University (PU) Sunday awarded five PhD degrees to scholars in different subjects. The PhD degrees were awarded to Saima Siddique in the subject of environmental sciences after approval of her thesis titled ‘Appraisal of Eco Friendly Aspects of Essential Oils of Selected Species of Family Myrtaceae’. Ayesha Arshed was awarded a PhD degree in the subject of home economics after approval of her thesis on ‘Relationship of Creative Abilities with Vividness of Imagery in Apparel Design of Fashion Illustration Students’. Ummara Saher was conferred degree in the subject of education after approval of her thesis titled ‘Comparative Study of Public and Private Sector University Graduates’ Self-perceived Employability, Ambition and Institutional Commitment in Punjab’. Saadia Basheer was awarded degree in the subject of biological sciences. Her thesis was ‘Comparative Studies on Recombinant Laccases of Thermophilic (Geobacillus SBS-4S and Mesophilic (Bacillus Strain R5) Origins’ Shehla Honey was conferred degree in the subject of solid state physics after approval of her thesis titled ‘Ion Beam Irradiation-Induced Effects in Metal Nanowires Used for Transparent Electrodes’. Published in Daily Times, February 26th 2018.