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Atta-ur-Rahman | |
|---|---|
 Atta-ur-Rahman in 2014 | |
| Born | (1942-09-22)22 September 1942 (age 83) |
| Alma mater | University of Karachi University of Cambridge |
| Known for | Natural product chemistry |
| Awards | _1957-86_Pakistan.svg) Nishan-e-Imtiaz (2002)Hilal-e-Imtiaz (1998)Sitara-e-Imtiaz (1991)Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (1983)UNESCO Prize (1999)  Austria Order of Merit |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Organic chemistry |
| Institutions | Higher Education Commission of Pakistan University of Tübingen University of Karachi University of Cambridge |
| Thesis | Synthetic Studies in the Indole Alkaloid Field (1968) |
| Doctoral advisor | J. Harley Mason |
| Other academic advisors | Ian Fleming |
| Website | atta-ur-rahman |
Atta-ur-Rahman (Urdu: عطاالرحمان; b. 22 September 1942),NI,FRS,FPAS is a Pakistaniorganic chemist and is currently serving asprofessor emeritus at theInternational Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences at theUniversity of Karachi and as Chairman of PM Task Force on Science and Technology.[1] He has twice served as the President of Pakistan Academy of Sciences (2003–2006, and 2011–2014).[2] He was the Federal Minister of Science and Technology (2000–2002), Federal Minister of Education (2002) and Chairman Higher Education Commission with status of Federal Minister (2002–2008)[3] He is also the President of the Network of Academies of Sciences in Countries of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (NASIC).[4] After returning to Pakistan from Cambridge after completing his tenure as Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University, he contributed to the development of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Karachi, and transforming the landscape of higher education, science and technology of Pakistan. He is Fellow of Royal Society (London), Life Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University, UK,[5] Academician Chinese Academy of Sciences[6] and professor emeritus at University of Karachi.[7]
Atta-ur-Rahman was born on 22 September 1942 inOld Delhi into anUrdu-speaking academic family.[8] His grandfather, Sir Abdur Rahman, was avice-chancellor of theUniversity of Delhi (1934–38) who briefly served as ajudge at theMadras High Court.[9]
In 1946, Abdur Rahman was appointed as vice-chancellor of thePunjab University inLahore, eventually relocating his family there, a year before thepartition of India took place.[9] Abdur Rahman eventually became aSenior Justice at theSupreme Court ofPakistan in 1949.[9] His father, Jamil-ur-Rahman, was alawyer who established a cotton ginningtextile industry inOkara,Punjab, Pakistan.[9] After settling inKarachi in 1952, he passed the competitiveO-Level andA-Level from theKarachi Grammar School and joinedKarachi University.[9]
Attending Karachi University in 1960, Rahman graduated with abachelor's degree (withhonors) in chemistry in 1963.[9][10] He obtained aMaster of Science (MSc) inorganic chemistry in 1964 with first class and 1st position, and lectured at Karachi University for a year before receiving aCommonwealth Scholarship for doctoral studies in the United Kingdom.[9] He joinedKing's College at theUniversity of Cambridge and resumed research innatural products under John Harley-Mason.[10] In 1968, Rahman received aDoctor of Philosophy (PhD) inorganic chemistry; the subjects of hisdoctoral thesis were natural products andorganic materials.[11][9] He was elected as a fellow of King's College, University of Cambridge in 1969 and continued his research at Cambridge University until 1973.[12] During that period, he is credited with correcting the earlier work of theNobel Laureate SirRobert Robinson on the chemistry ofharmaline.[13] Later in 2007, he was appointed as an honorary life fellow of King's College Cambridge.[14]
In 1964, Rahman joined theKarachi University as alecturer in undergraduatechemistry.[15] He remained associated with theCambridge University between 1969 and 1973, and is presently honorary Life Fellow at the King's College of the Cambridge University.[15] In 1977, he became the co-director of theHussain Ebrahim Jamal Research Institute of Chemistry atUniversity of Karachi; eventually he was ascended as the Director in 1990.[15] In 1979, Rahman did thepost-doctoral research at the University of Tübingen. Upon returning to Pakistan, he joined Karachi University where he lectures and taught chemistry.[15] He was appointed professor emeritus at University of Karachi for life.[16]
He carried out important studies on the synthesis of anti-cancer alkaloids present in the plant Catharanthus roseus and analytical studies on organic compounds involving circular dichroism and is generally recognized as bringing a huge positive change in the development of science and technology as well as higher education in Pakistan.[17][18]
His book entitled "Stereoselective Synthesis in Organic Chemistry" (Springer-Verlag) was termed a monumental contribution in the field by the Nobel Laureate Sir Derek Barton in the foreword of the book written by him.[19] His book entitled "NMR Spectroscopy-Basic Principles" was published bySpringer-Verlag and translated into Japanese for use in university courses in Japan.[20] The Nobel LaureateHerbert C. Brown applauded the contributions of Rahman in science and technology.[21]
After securing thefellowship of thePakistan Academy of Sciences, Rahman had been affiliated with thePakistan government regardingeducation andscience affairs.[15] From 1996 until 2012, Rahman served in theboard of directors of theCommittee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, representing Pakistan's delegation.[15] In 1997, Rahman served as the Coordinator General of theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC)Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) that comprised 57 Ministers of Science and Technology from 57 OIC member countries.[30] In recognition of his scientific transformation of Pakistan and building a large number of Centers of Excellence in the country as well as promoting scientific research, Rahman was conferred the TWAS Prize in Institution Building, in Durban, South Africa in 2009.[31] Atta-ur-Rahman has served as the co-chairman of UN ESCAP.[32]
In 1999, he joined theMinistry of Science and Technology (MoSci) as itsminister, assisting in drafting the official science policy of the country. In 2002, he was appointed as minister of theMinistry of Education (MoEd) as well as becoming the chairman of theHigher Education Commission (HEC) until resigning in 2008.[33] Atta-ur-Rahman has also served as Chairman of the Prime Ministers National Task Force on Science and Technology, Co Chairman of Prime Ministers National Task Force on Information Technology and Telecommunications,[34] and Vice Chairman of the Prime Ministers Task Force on Technology Driven Knowledge Economy[35] during the years 2019 to 2022. He is the President of the Network of Science of Organisation of Islamic Countries (NASIC).[36]
Atta-ur-Rahman has been selected as one of the 500 most influential personalities of the Islamic World.[37] Institutions have been named after Rahman in China,[38] the Atta-ur-Rahman Institute for Natural Product Discovery (AuRIns) underUniversiti Teknologi MARA in Malaysia[39][40] and the Academician Professor Atta-ur-Rahman One Belt and One Road TCM Research Center were named after Rahman,[41] as well as the Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences at theNational University of Sciences & Technology (Islamabad, Pakistan)[42] and the Atta-ur-Rahman Laboratories, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Karachi (Karachi, Pakistan).[43] The US Publisher ARKAT USA has published a special issue of the journalArkivoc, Vol 2007, in honour of Atta-ur-Rahman FRS which had contributions from top scientists in the field of natural product chemistry.[44] Similarly, theinternational journal Molecules published by the Swiss publisherMDPI published a special issue of the journal in honour of Atta-ur-Rahman.[45]The World Academy of Sciences,Italy has introduced a special Prize in his honour (TWAS-Atta-ur-Rahman Award in Chemistry) for young scientists which is awarded once every two years.[46] In recognition of his eminent contributions, Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman has received honorary doctorate degrees from many universities including the University of Cambridge (UK), Coventry University (UK), Bradford University (UK), Universiti Teknologi Mara (Malaysia), Asian Institute of Teknologi (Thailand), University of Karachi (Pakistan), Gomal University (Pakistan), and several other universities.[47]
In recognition of his eminent contributions in the field oforganic chemistry, he has been conferred with many civil awards, including:
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| Preceded by | Science Advisor to the Prime Minister 31 January 2004 – 28 March 2008 | Succeeded by |
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