544)Key Officers At Aga Khan University Responsible For The Development And Implementation Of Science-Related Education And Research; Quotes From.....

"Islam is fundamentally in its very nature a natural religion. Throughout the Quran God's signs (Ayats) are referred to as the natural phenomenon, the law and order of the universe, the exactitudes and consequences of the relations between natural phenomenon in cause and effect. Over and over, the stars, sun, moon, earthquakes, fruits of the earth and trees are mentioned as the signs of divine power, divine law and divine order. Even in the Ayeh of Noor, divine is referred to as the natural phenomenon of light and even references are made to the fruit of the earth. During the great period of Islam, Muslims did not forget these principles of their religion. Alas, Islam which is a natural religion in which God's miracles are the very law and order of nature drifted away and is still drifting away, even in Pakistan, from science which is the study of those very laws and orders of nature.……Islam is a natural religion of which the Ayats are the universe in which we live and move and have our being………..The God of the Quran is the one whose Ayats are the universe……"(Aga Khan III, April 4th 1952, Karachi, Pakistan)

http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2008/09/400blogpost-four-hundred-knowledge.html



Dean, Research and Graduate Studies

The Dean of Research and Graduate Studies will develop, lead and oversee the University's thematic research initiatives across campuses in Karachi, Nairobi, Dar-es-Salaam, Kampala and London. He is responsible for advancing research at the University and oversees the solicitation of research funding, develops and implements the University's research policies, whilst promoting the highest standards for scholarship, academic achievement, and professional integrity in research.

Professor Dr El-Nasir MA Lalani joined Aga Khan University, as it's first Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, on July 1, 2008. He has a cross appointment at the University and Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi Department of Pathology and Microbiology as Professor of Molecular and Cellular Pathology.

Professor Lalani, a British national, acquired his BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from the University of Dundee and his medical degree, MBChB from the University of Edinburgh. He has been a recipient of research fellowships from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now Cancer Research, UK) and the Medical Research Council, UK. He attained his PhD from University College, London and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists and the Higher Education Academy, UK. He has extensive research, teaching and administrative experience which he gained from the University of Leeds, Cancer Research, UK, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital London, Imperial College, London and the University of Birmingham, UK. He has published over 100 peer reviewed papers and contributed chapters in several books. He has co-edited and contributed chapters to a primary textbook on prostate cancer, ‘Prostate Cancer: Clinical and Scientific Aspects: Bridging the Gap'. Professor Lalani has served as member of the Department of Health (UK) Human Tissue Authority and various research ethics committees (local, national and international). He is on the editorial board of several international journals. His research interests are in prostate/head and neck cancer, epithelial and stem cell biology and molecular pathology. He co-directed the Imperial College (adult) and MRC (foetal) human biomaterial resource centres (HBRC) and more recently he was the designated individual and head of the Birmingham University HBRC.

Professor Lalani was Chairman of the Aga Khan Education Board for the United Kingdom and Europe from 1990-1996 and member of the Ismaili Council for the European Union from 1997-2003. His last appointment, prior to joining AKU, was Professor and Head, Department of Pathology at the University of Birmingham, UK.


Head, Academic Planning, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, East Africa

The Head of Academic Planning for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in East Africa is responsible to develop the academic vision and framework for the Faculty. The Head leads a team of curriculum designers to develop a detailed curriculum plan and also inform key issues in the design and set-up of the FAS.

Dr Rafique Keshavjee, Head, Academic Planning, AKU-FAS,EA holds a PhD in Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology. Dr Keshavjee has previously worked with several institutions of international repute including the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Geneva, Switzerland; the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, UK as Associate Dean; the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University as Research Fellow; and the School of Architecture and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to joining AKU, Dr Keshavjee held the position of Program Officer at The Christensen Fund, Palo Alto, CA, which gives grants to promote bio-cultural diversity around the world. His personal interests include sailing and computer animation of Islamic geometry.


Associate Dean, Medical Education, East Africa

The Associate Dean, Medical Education, East Africa is in charge of all aspects of medical education at AKU in East Africa including the organisation, planning and budgetary control of teaching programmes as well as taking the lead in recruiting faculty. He/she is involved in defining the educational needs in East Africa and developing suitable programmes. The Associate Dean at present, reports to the Provost.

Dr Mushtaq Ahmed, a general surgeon [FRCS Eng.], is the current Associate Dean, Medical Education, East Africa. He was previously Chair, Department of Surgery at AKU in Karachi.


Foundation Dean, Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa

Reporting to the Provost, the Foundation Dean, Nursing and Midwifery will define nursing educational needs in East Africa and develop programmes that meet those needs. He/she will serve as a member of the senior management team of the University in the region and liaise with governments, donor agencies and AKDN partners on behalf of the University. The Dean will also provide academic and administrative leadership in the management of all the operations of the nursing programme and take the lead in fostering faculty development and ensuring a research culture that responds to the needs of the environment.

Dr Yasmin Amarsi has a RN and RM with Diplomas in Teaching and Administration and gold and silver medals from the College of Nursing, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi. She completed her Post RN BScN from Canada's McMaster University in 1985, Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Arizona, USA and PhD in Nursing from McMaster University in 1998. Dr Amarsi was among the founding faculty of the School of Nursing, first PhD nurse in Pakistan and has led various academic programmes since 1980. In September 1997 she became the first national to be appointed as Director of AKU School of Nursing. In April 2000 Dr Amarsi was appointed as the Associate Dean of AKU School of Nursing and in August 2002 was given the position of Dean of AKU School of Nursing. In January 2009 she was appointed as the Foundation Dean, Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa.


Head, Academic Planning, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Karachi

The Head of Academic Planning for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in Karachi is responsible to develop the academic vision and framework for the Faculty which includes setting out and elaborating the academic programmes and pedagogical approaches to be offered by the FAS and by associated graduate programmes, developing innovative ideas for all areas of academic activity at FAS, to develop a recruitment strategy for faculty and other academic positions and identify training and development requirements where necessary.

Dr Marcia Grant, Head of Academic Planning, FAS, Karachi received her BA in Political Science, Economics and Spanish Literature from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She did postgraduate work at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of the Tufts University, and wrote her PhD thesis on the Nigerian Press and Politics for the London School of Economics. She has taught in areas of comparative and international politics at Oberlin College, and at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and at El Colegio de Mexico.

As a member of the diplomatic service she served as Head of the Fulbright Program in Mexico and was a Cultural Attache in Paris, where she was a member of the jury for an architectural prize. She returned to academe to the Director of the Edward S. Mason Program for Mid-Career Fellows at the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. She has been a non-profit organisation administrator in Barcelona and at the IIE in New York City.

In 1999 she established a university for women, Effat College, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she was Founding Dean. Prior to joining AKU she was based in Paris, where she was Dean of the American Graduate School of International Relations and Diplomacy and a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow.

In recognition of her contributions to the cause of education in some of the most challenging environments and her extraordinary leadership qualities, Dr Marcia Grant was bestowed an honorary degree of ‘Doctor of Laws’ on June 3, 2007 by Swarthmore College, USA, her undergraduate alma mater.


Interim Dean, Medical College, Karachi

Reporting to the Provost, the Interim Dean of the Medical College will provide leadership for its faculty, staff, students and academic activities. The Interim Dean will manage the overall operations of the Medical College which includes strategic planning and establishing policies related to administration and resourcing for the current and future educational, research and outreach programmes of the Medical College.

Dr Farhat Abbas holds an MBBS and FCPS from Pakistan, and an FRCS from the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Glasgow. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr Abbas joined AKU in 1985 as a Resident in the Department of Surgery and is currently a Professor of Urology. He has served in leadership positions in the University in the past including that of Medical Director, Associate Dean Clinical Affairs, Acting Dean of the Medical College and Associate Dean PGME, before taking up his current role as Chief Operating Officer, AKUH, Karachi. In January 2009 he was appointed as the Interim Dean, Medical College.


Interim Dean, School of Nursing, Karachi

Reporting to the Provost, the Dean of the School of Nursing provides academic leadership for the School of Nursing in the fields of research and teaching so as to develop programmes that are relevant to the needs of Pakistan and other developing countries. He/she will carry out strategic planning and formulate policies related to the administration and resourcing for the current and future educational, research, and outreach programmes of the School.

Dr Rozina Karmaliani has an MScN, MPH and PhD from the University of Minnesota, USA. She has been associated with AKU since 1988 and currently holds a dual appointment as Associate Professor in both the School of Nursing and Community Health Sciences. She is also Director of the School of Nursing’s MScN Programme. In January 2009 Dr Karmaliani was appointed as the Interim Dean, AKU School Nursing.

http://www.aku.edu/university/aboutus/key-officers-deanson.shtml


Easy Nash
http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blog/science_and_religion_in_islam_the_link/

The Qur'an itself repeatedly recommends Muslims to become better educated in order better to understand God's creation: Aga Khan IV(2007)
The Quran tells us that signs of Allah's Sovereignty are found in the contemplation of His Creation: Aga Khan IV(2007)
This notion of the capacity of the human intellect to understand and to admire the creation of Allah will bring you happiness in your everyday lives: Aga Khan IV(2007)
Islam, eminently logical, placing the greatest emphasis on knowledge, purports to understand God's creation: Aga Khan IV(2006)
The Holy Qu'ran's encouragement to study nature and the physical world around us gave the original impetus to scientific enquiry among Muslims: Aga Khan IV(1985)
The first and only thing created by God was the Intellect(Aql): Prophet Muhammad(circa 632CE)