ECO Science Foundation and La main a la pate Foundation France agree to Collaborate for Initiation of Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) in ECO Region

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ECO Science Foundation and the La main a la pate (LAMAP) Foundation- France have agreed in principle to initiate the implementation of Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) in the 10 countries of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). This was agreed in a meeting in Paris on 17 November 2014 between the President of ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF), Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro and Chairman of LAMAP Foundation France, Prof. Dr. Pierre Lena. Prof. Lena was also joined by Prof. Dr. Yves Quevre (one of the original three co-founders of LAMAP in 1996) and Ms. Laurence Constantini, the person responsible for international cooperation of the Foundation. Dr. Soomro paid a visit to LAMAP Foundation headquarters in Paris through the courtesy of Embassy of France in Islamabad.

It was also agreed in the meeting that programme will begin with a Workshop for Capacity Building in IBSE for National Focal Points in 10 ECO member countries to be organized in summer 2015, possibly during the last week of June. It will be in collaboration with Science Education Programme (SEP) of Inter-Academy Panel (IAP), ISTIC Malaysia and possibly the host government of either Kazakhstan or Azerbaijan.

It is pertinent to mention that Prof. Soomro has a long association with La main a la pate programme of France and had implemented it in Pakistan as a pilot project in 2010. It was so successful the Government of France bestowed upon Dr. Soomro their national award, "Order of Academic Palms" and designated him "Officer" in 2013 in recognition of his contributions. The award was originally instituted by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1808 A.D. for high performing academicians.