Atta ur Rahman

Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rahman is a leading scientist and scholar in the field of organic chemistry from Pakistan, especially renowned for his research in the various areas relating to natural product chemistry. With over 600 publications in the field of his expertise, he is also credited for reviving the higher education and research practices in Pakistan^[1]

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Early career

Education

Atta ur Rahman has had a prominent record in Cambridge Overseas School Certificate in 1958, and 'A' Levels in 1960 from the Karachi Grammar School. In 1963, he received B.Sc (Hons.) in Chemistry, followed by M.Sc in Organic Chemistry from Karachi University. He received Commonwealth Scholarship in 1965 to study for Ph.D in Organic Chemistry under supervision of Dr. J. Harley Mason and received Ph.D at Kings College, Cambridge in 1968. He was subsequently awarded a Doctorate of Science by University of Cambridge in 1987.

Academic career

Atta ur Rahman started his career in 1964 as a Lecturer at University of Karachi. He remained Fellow at Kings College, Cambridge between 1969 to 1973. In 1977, he became Co-Director of Hussain Ebrahim Jamal Research Institute of Chemistry at University of Karachi to become Director in 1990.

Present responsibilities

At present, he is the:

• Director of H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry at Karachi University
• Coordinator General of COMSTECH
• Federal Minister/Chairman, Higher Education Commission, Pakistan
• Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Science and Technology

Prizes and Awards

National awards

In recognition of his eminent contributions in the field of Organic Chemistry, he has been conferred with four civil awards, including:

• Nishan-e-Imtiaz (2002),
• Hilal-e-Imtiaz (1998),
• Sitara-e-Imtiaz (1991), and
• Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (1983)

Additionally, he received:

• Prime Minister’s Gold Medal and Pakistan Academy of Sciences-INFAQ Foundation Prize in Science (1995)
• The “Best Scientist of the Year” Award of the Government of Pakistan (1986)
• The FPCCI Prize for "Technological Innovation" (1985)

International awards

• ISESCO Prize (2001)
• ECO Prize (2000)
• First Muslim scientist to receive the UNESCO Science Prize (1999)
• Federation of Asian Chemical Societies Award, Hiroshima, Japan (1997)
• First Prize at the 6th Kharazmi Festival in Iran (1993),
• The Islamic Organization Prize by Government of Kuwait (1988)
• Honorary Doctorate of Science (Sc.D) from University of Cambridge (1987)

Fellowships

• Fellow of Academy of Sciences for the Developing World
• Fellow of Islamic Academy of Sciences
• Fellow of Pakistan Academy of Sciences

Fellow of Royal Society (London)
Honorary Life Fellow (Kings College,Cambridge University)

Research activities

• Editor-in-Chief/Executive Editor of following international journals:
  • Natural Product Letters (Switzerland)
  • Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry (Netherlands).
  • Current Medicinal Chemistry (U.S.)
  • Current Pharmaceutical Design (U.S.)
  • Current Organic Chemistry (U.S.)
  • Combinatorial Chemistry and High Throughput Screening (U.S.)
• Editor of an encyclopedic series of books on natural product chemistry, Studies in Natural Product Chemistry, being published since 1990.
• Director of H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi

Notes

1. ^ Editorial in Nature, 427, 379 (29 January 2004)

See also

• H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry
• Higher Education Commission
• Salimuzzaman Siddiqui
• Civil decorations of Pakistan