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The
Department of Chemistry came into existence with
the establishment of the University of Islamabad
in 1967. The University was conceived as a quality
institution of international standard in the country
for postgraduate studies. Over the years the department
has developed itself keeping this basic objective
an important element of its academic programmes
leading to the M.Sc., M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees
in various disciplines of the subject. The department
focuses main emphasis on the M.Phil. and the Ph.D.
programmes which are research oriented. But that
does not mean that the M.Sc. studies are overlooked.
There is a constant endeavor to improve and strengthen
teaching and research facilities and to create
an environment conductive for research activity. |
No
academic programme will meet success with a weak faculty.
Since its inception the department has been fortunate
to have the services of an academically strong faculty
to teach courses and conduct original research in such
varied fields as surface chemistry, electrochemistry,
polymer chemistry, coordination chemistry, natural products,
environmental chemistry, organometallics, organic synthesis,
spectroscopy and solution chemistry. At present 47 Ph.D.
scholars and 83 M.Phil. Students are engaged in research
work in the areas already mentioned.
Although the department has developed core facilities
of basic research instrumentation, there is a lot to
be done in this area. The department is concentrating
to improve facilities in the research laboratories under
a phased programme of development.
For the purpose of administration of academic programmes,
the department has been divided into three sections
- Inorganic/Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry
and Physical Chemistry. In the third semester M.Sc.
students have a choice to opt for specialization into
one of the three broad areas on offer.
In its process of development to the present stage the
department has been helped by the UNDP and the Japanese
Government through assistance for the procurement of
equipment and to build and renovate infrastructural
facilities. In its present configuration, the department
is a strong institution in the country for the postgraduate
teaching and research in chemistry.
