Speaker's Profile

Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman is one of Pakistan’s most distinguished scientists, known internationally for his contributions to organic chemistry and for transforming the higher education and science landscape of Pakistan. He received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Cambridge in 1968 and has since authored over 1,200 scientific publications, including more than 700 research papers, over 70 books, and several international patents.

He has played key leadership roles in national and international scientific organizations. He served as the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, and later as Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, where he introduced major reforms that significantly improved the quality of higher education and research in the country.

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman also served as the Coordinator General of COMSTECH (OIC’s Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation), working to enhance science collaboration among over 50 Muslim countries. He is currently the President of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and Chairman of the Network of Academies of Sciences in Islamic Countries (NASIC).

He has been honored with the UNESCO Science Prize, China’s International Science & Technology Cooperation Award, and Austria’s Gold Medal for scientific excellence. In 2006, he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society (London), one of the highest honors in the scientific world.

Several academic institutions and research centers in Pakistan and abroad have been named in his honor, recognizing his unmatched contributions to science and education. Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman continues to inspire and guide new generations of scientists through his research, leadership, and dedication to the advancement of knowledge.