In brief

PU to start certificate course on bioethics
Panjab University has decided to start a new certificate course on Bioethics from the next academic session. This was decided by the university after holding a series of lectures on ‘Bioethics,Law and Culture Values: Unfolding of the Human Civilisation’ by the Department of Life Long Learning and Extension from 2-18 February. Dr Sehdev Kumar,Professor Emeritus from the University of Toronto in Canada,was the main speaker at the event. Several topics were discussed in the lectures including the power and impact of multinational pharmaceutical companies on defining diseases and influencing scientific research and results.

Orientation workshop for college teachers begins
A four-week orientation programme for college and university teachers conducted by the Academic Staff College,Panjab University,was inaugurated by Professor Abhai Maurya,vice-chancellor,The English and Foreign Languages University,Hyderabad on Friday. He presented a critique of the National Knowledge Commission and Yashpal Committee and concluded that if higher education remains exclusive rather than inclusive it will lead to economic and academic backwardness of the country. Professor B S Dahiya,former vice-chancellor,Kurukshetra University,was also present at the event. Professor Shelley Walia,director of the college,emphasised on the theme of the course,‘Cutting across barriers: inter and multidisciplinary teaching and learning’. Around 43 college and university lecturers from different disciplines are attending the programme.

Former PU professor conferred lifetime achievement award
For his contribution to the field of culture and academics,Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College for Women,Kamalpura,Ludhiana,has conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award upon Dr Surinder Sharma,retired Professor of Chemistry,PU,and an actor in Punjabi films. Dr Sharma has trained over 10,000 school and college students in the field of dance,drama,music,debates and other cultural activities for participation at zonal,inter-zonal,inter-varsity and international events. Dr Sharma has also acted in over 70 Punjabi and Hindi films as a comedian and has a number of plays to his credit.