KARACHI (HRNW) – Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET) organized a Research Symposium on Environmental Informatics and Big Data Analytics as part of its Open Day activities.
The symposium was held to promote SSUET’s recently launched MS programme in Climate Change and Environmental Informatics, which has received an encouraging response and enrolled 20 students in its first cohort.
Supported by the European Union co-funded Erasmus+ initiative ACTIVE Climate Action, the event explored innovative and data-driven approaches to addressing climate-related challenges. It brought together academics, researchers and students to discuss the role of advanced analytics, environmental informatics and emerging technologies in developing sustainable solutions.
The event was attended by Dr. Jafar Nazeer Usmani as the Chief Guest, Dr. Muzammil, Dr. Khaliq Khanzada and a large number of students, faculty members and researchers.
The symposium was chaired by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aamir, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Applied Sciences. Dr. Kashif Shaikh, Chairman of the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, served as Co-Chair.
Other members of the organizing team included Dr. Muhammad Nadeem as General Chair, Prof. Dr. Abdul Hameed Pitafi as General Co-Chair, Dr. Waleej Haider as Technical Chair and Dr. Yousuf Irfan Zia as Session Chair.
The keynote address was delivered by operations and leadership expert Mr. Sajjad Ahmed Khan, who engaged the audience with a presentation on climate patterns, environmental research and responsible data management.
He emphasized the importance of protecting data privacy in environmental research and discussed sustainable data practices, predictive environmental modelling and effective climate-data visualization. He also encouraged students and researchers to develop environmentally responsible projects aligned with national and global climate objectives.
Addressing the participants, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aamir said that the ACTIVE Climate Action initiative is founded on the principle that universities must equip the next generation of innovators with the knowledge, technical expertise and sense of responsibility required to protect the environment and contribute to a sustainable future.
He said the initiative brings together six universities and two organizations from Europe and partner countries, providing a platform for international academic collaboration, curriculum development and institutional capacity building.
Prof. Dr. Aamir added that the MS programme in Climate Change and Environmental Informatics reflects SSUET’s commitment to interdisciplinary education by combining climate science, environmental research, data analytics and emerging technologies. He encouraged students to explore the field and contribute to practical solutions for environmental challenges affecting Karachi, Pakistan and the wider region.
Speaking on student innovation, Dr. Kashif Shaikh observed that many students treat academic projects primarily as course requirements rather than opportunities to develop marketable products or practical solutions.
He stressed the need for students to transform their ideas into prototypes, research outcomes and commercially viable products. He said SSUET aims to prepare graduates who are not only technically competent but also capable of competing in international employment and innovation markets.
The symposium provided students and researchers with an opportunity to present their work, exchange ideas and explore the use of big data analytics, artificial intelligence and environmental informatics in tackling issues such as climate change, water security, pollution, urban heat, flooding and sustainable resource management.
Abdul Hamid Daccani
Deputy Director Information
