Daily Times

There is a dearth of avenues in Pakistan’s print and digital media to publish articles and write-ups on science and technology. Spectra Magazine, therefore, stands with diligence to promote public understanding of science and shape the narrative of science journalism in Pakistan. Even with the current growth of print and digital media in Pakistan, science, unfortunately, is not considered a genre in journalism. Since science journalism has not flourished, the masses are unaware of the scientific and technological advancements taking place in the country. This worsens the prospect of people taking interest in science or considering it as a profession.

It is imperative for those endorsing and stimulating scientific knowledge, to popularise this field with such content that is understandable and plausible. To begin with, students and professionals of this field can write and publicize their research studies, findings and observations in the form of interesting print articles, blogs and as research papers for various scientific journals. Moreover, researchers, professionals, and experts in science should use their own channels, contacts, and networks to spread the word of science. A positive relationship between science, scientists, researchers along with students, professors, academia and the scientific industry must be established with the mainstream media to properly channelise relevant scientific news and information for the purpose of its diffusion among the public.

This obliviousness for science is set to be diluted with the emergence of Spectra, a student-powered digital magazine aiming to augment public understanding of science and shaping, promoting and preserving the narrative of science journalism in Pakistan

This obliviousness for science is set to be diluted with the emergence of Spectra, a student-powered digital magazine aiming to augment public understanding of science and shaping, promoting and preserving the narrative of science journalism in Pakistan. Spectra Magazine is the brainchild of Usman Anwar and Muhammad Hamza Waseem, two senior year BS Electrical Engineering students at the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. Working with a team of like-minded student and professionals and being guided by experts in their field, Spectra Magazine aspires to be a successful science publication and also envisions itself to become the foundation from where the breed of future science journalists of Pakistan can emerge.

Spectra Magazine’s Board of Advisors includes Dr Rashid Jalil, associate professor of Physics, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore; Dr Muhammad Sabieh Anwar, associate professor of Physics, LUMS School of Science and Engineering and Ms Lalah Rukh, Founder and Director, Science Fuse. The executive team of Spectra includes Mohsina Asif, Director Publications; Tanzeela Anis, Managing Editor; Aimah Moiz, Director Podcast; Muhammad Awais Sultan, Director Content Creation; Afaf Kayani, Director Design; Mohsin Ali Tanvir, Director Finance; Mahnoor Naqvi, Director Publicity and Marketing; Fatima Khurshid, Director Human Resource and Muhammad Ismaeel Nawaz, Director Information Technology.

Science is perhaps not only a field of study but a lifestyle for it breeds in it the very essence of life. Scientific studies and observations focus on the questions of ‘why’ and ‘how’ from any field of study including but not limited to medicine, biotechnology, engineering, avionics, aviation, automation, robotics, computer science, and others. It is because of science did man ask the principle questions of ‘why’ and ‘how’. Had there be no scientists and researchers, we would have not evolved as humans, the industrial revolution would still be a distant dream, advancements in medicine would be an impossible feat and man would have not evolved at all. Science is not just a genre or a field of study; it is the art of asking questions and solving problems. It is in human’s nature to remain curious and science facilitates man’s quest for the unknown. It is in science that breeds the seeds of man’s future development.

Spectra Magazine, in its broader scope, is endeavoring to eliminate the fear of science from the minds of the people and to encourage them to read, study and understand the many aspects of this field. Spectra, therefore, plans to publish such science-based articles, features, and write-ups that everyone can understand for they will be written in easy-to-understand English, the scientific terminologies will be clearly explained with simple and concise messages. Scientific accuracy coupled with sound storytelling, therefore, will be the formula Spectra will be following. Although those leading this initiative cannot claim that Spectra will fill the void of science journalism in Pakistan, they do hope that Spectra will inspire others to promote science in their own ways. This will eventually create an atmosphere of accepting science as a field of study and profession for future generations of Pakistan.

The writer is an independent researcher and a columnist, writing on diverse topics including current geopolitical affairs

Published in Daily Times, December 31^st 2018.