Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar

physicist and science educator

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar is a professor of Physics and former Dean, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). His PhD work was on building a quantum computer, and his research was on what he calls a liquid quantum computer. He said he ran basic quantum algorithms on a molecule, using its spins.

Early life and background

Anwar was born in Lahore and spent his childhood there, attending school in the city. When he was five, his father went to England to do a PhD, and the family went with him. His father was a physicist. The family returned to Pakistan in 1985. Anwar is the youngest of six siblings, and he says five of them live abroad. [1]

Education

Anwar completed matriculation in 1993. After matriculation, he went to a college in Lahore, where he completed FSC in 1995. He topped the Lahore Board in FSC. [1]

His father, who was himself a physicist, told him to study engineering. He switched to engineering and studied electrical engineering for four years. He graduated in 2000. He kept studying physics on his own while doing engineering. [1]

He said that, having studied engineering, he could not enter a physics department at a university in Pakistan. He applied for a PhD at Oxford University and was admitted to Oxford. At Oxford he worked on quantum computing. His PhD took between three and three and a quarter years. [1]

Career

His PhD work was on building a quantum computer, and his research was on what he calls a liquid quantum computer. He said he ran basic quantum algorithms on a molecule, using its spins. He said quantum computers had not yet been built. [1]

Anwar did postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley. He spent two to three years at Berkeley working on magnetic resonance. He worked on hyperpolarization, a set of methods that boost a signal. He also taught at several universities and institutes. [1]

School of Science and Engineering

Anwar describes himself as the first faculty member of the school. He helped lay the school's foundations, including its curriculum and labs. He said the school now has its own building and about 100 faculty members. He said it has 1,300 to 1,400 students at a time, including PhD students. [1]

He said the school produces about 20 to 25 PhD graduates a year and that its laboratories are unmatched elsewhere in Pakistan. He said the School of Science and Engineering has seven themes. [1]

When he became dean, he created a science communicator position. He also created a science illustrator position to explain science through pictures. He said they build their own syringe pumps and high-voltage supplies. With an institute at LUMS, his group drew up a plan that resulted in improved energy efficiency. [1]

He says Pakistan's first electric vehicle policy was created at the school. He says foundational work on hepatitis C vaccines is happening there. He mentioned regenerative agriculture, which uses less water and less fertiliser. He says work on e-judiciary is under way, and that the school works on data-driven policy making and urban mobility. He also said they have saved the country about one billion dollars in foreign exchange each year. [1]

Khwarizmi Science Society

Anwar's father started the Khwarizmi Science Society in 1996. Anwar says the Society aims to change children's lives through science. He said the Society has touched the lives of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of people. He said they devised the idea of science melas, or science fairs. [1]

Views on education

Anwar said that learning starts with wonder and fascination. He says good education teaches reconfigurability. He says primary science and technology education should be taught in the local language. [1]

He says engineering universities need more freedom. He says students should be able to carry out a team project, a longitudinal project. He says many engineering graduates have no clear idea of what they will do in the real world. He said no other university or science school in Pakistan offers the same freedom. [1]

Views on Pakistan

Anwar says Pakistan has almost no industry. He says Pakistan's car industry mainly assembles imported parts. He said Pakistan should build its own engines so it can build its own cars. He says processes must be loosened when a country builds new industries or substitutes imports. He says mission statements should come from the top leadership. [1]

He says he has no regrets about returning to Pakistan. He said he feels most fulfilled when his work benefits others. He says a strength of living in Pakistan is facing hardship with good humour. [1]

He says the problems are big but not unsolvable. He says he is never hopeless. He says he is not a die-hard optimist, and that hardship will have to be endured. He says he has observed that there are generally no shortcuts. He expects car use to fall, with electric vehicles arriving and public transport growing. [1]

Timeline

1985
The family returned to Pakistan.[1]
1993
Completed matriculation.[1]
1995
Completed FSC.[1]
1996
His father started the Khwarizmi Science Society.[1]
2000
Graduated in engineering.[1]
2007
Began his time back in Pakistan.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2022-12-16 The physicist who came back to build Pakistan's science Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Where did Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar study?

Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar completed FSC at a college in Lahore in 1995 and then studied electrical engineering for four years, graduating in 2000. He was admitted to Oxford, where he worked on quantum computing. He also did postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley.[1]

Where is Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar from?

Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar was born in Lahore and spent his childhood there. His family went to England when he was five and returned to Pakistan in 1985. He has been back in Pakistan since 2007.[1]

What is Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar's research about?

Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar's PhD work was on building a quantum computer, and he describes his research as being on a liquid quantum computer. He said he ran basic quantum algorithms on a molecule, using its spins. He also worked on magnetic resonance and on hyperpolarization.[1]

What is the Khwarizmi Science Society?

The Khwarizmi Science Society was started by the father of Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar in 1996. Anwar says the Society aims to change children's lives through science. He said it has touched the lives of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of people.[1]

What does Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar say about teaching science in the local language?

Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar says primary science and technology education should be taught in the local language. He also said that learning starts with wonder and fascination.[1]

References

  1. The physicist who came back to build Pakistan's science . Thought Behind Things , 2022-12-16.
Show the source passages (71 statements)
  1. He was born in Lahore. Lahore mein paida hua aur jab paanch saal ka tha toh mere waalid decided to do a PhD.
  2. When he was five, his father went to England to do a PhD, and the family went with him. jab paanch saal ka tha toh mere waalid decided to do a PhD. So, woh England chale gaye, hum unke saath chale gaye.
  3. His father was a physicist. halanki woh khud physicist the, woh khud physicist the
  4. The family returned to Pakistan in 1985. Toh 1985 mein phir hum uh wapas aaye Pakistan.
  5. He spent his childhood in Lahore and went to school there. Lahore hi ki, Lahore mein hi saara bachpan guzra, yahin school gaye.
  6. He completed matriculation in 1993. Yahan se 1993 mein matric kiya.
  7. After matriculation, he went to a college in Lahore, where he completed FSC in 1995. Matric ke baad uh main Government College Lahore chala gaya, wahan se maine FSC ki 95 mein.
  8. He topped the Lahore Board in FSC. FSC mein mere marks bahut achhe aa gaye. Achha. Toh maine Lahore Board mein top kiya.
  9. His father, who was himself a physicist, told him to study engineering. mere waalid ne bhi, halanki woh khud physicist the, woh khud physicist the, unhone kaha ke yaar engineering karo.
  10. He switched to engineering and studied electrical engineering for four years. Toh maine engineering mein daakhila le liya, switch kar diya. Chaar saal mein wahan electrical engineering ki.
  11. He graduated in 2000. San 2000 mein hum faarigh hue.
  12. He kept studying physics on his own while doing engineering. lekin main physics khud se padhta raha.
  13. He applied for a PhD at Oxford University. phir maine PhD ke liye apply ek jagah kiya, Oxford University.
  14. He was admitted to Oxford. Toh albatta Oxford mein mujhe kisi tarike se daakhila mil gaya.
  15. He said that, having studied engineering, he could not enter a physics department at a university in Pakistan. agar maine engineering ki, main khud Pakistan mein physics nahi kahin kar saka. Main apni hi university mein physics department mein daakhila nahi le paunga.
  16. At Oxford he worked on quantum computing. Toh wahan phir maine quantum computing pe apna kaam kiya.
  17. His PhD took between three and three and a quarter years. Kitna arsa laga tha aapko yeh PhD mein? Teen, sawa teen saal.
  18. He said quantum computers had not yet been built. Ab yeh bane nahi hain by the way.
  19. His PhD work was on building a quantum computer. PhD mein maine kaam kiya tha ek uh uh quantum computer banaya tha.
  20. His research was on what he calls a liquid quantum computer. lekin liquid quantum computer.
  21. He said he ran basic quantum algorithms on a molecule, using its spins. ek molecule uh waza kiya, usko ek reaction mein se guzara aur uske andar spins ko istemaal karke usse chhote chhote na quantum ke jo bunyadi algorithms hain, woh chalaye.
  22. He did postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley. Phir maine uh ek opportunity mil gayi mujhe post-doctoral research ki. Theek hai. Woh thi University of California, Berkeley mein.
  23. He taught at several universities and institutes. Punjab University mein padhaya, Comsats mein, uh Quaid-e-Azam University mein, National Center for Physics hai, wahan padhaya.
  24. He spent two to three years at Berkeley working on magnetic resonance. Wahan maine do teen saal guzare. Wahan bhi maine magnetic resonance ki aur mukhtalif jehton pe kaam kiya.
  25. He worked on hyperpolarization, a set of methods that boost a signal. kuch tareeke hain jisse aap signal ko badha dete hain. Usko hyperpolarization kehte hain, maine us pe kaam kiya.
  26. He said the choice to return or stay is made when a person leaves the country, not after a PhD. yeh faisla PhD ke baad nahi hota, ya post-doc ke baad nahi hota, yeh faisla jaate waqt hota hai.
  27. He returned to Pakistan directly after Berkeley. Toh aapne, aap phir wapas aaye, seedha wapas aaye? Main wapas aaya.
  28. He came to Pakistan on holiday and was interviewed here, and he received an offer while he was still away. Main chhutiyon pe Pakistan aaya, mera yahan interview hua, phir mujhe wahan se jab main wahan maujood tha, mujhe offer ho gayi.
  29. He has been back in Pakistan since 2007. Toh 2007 se main idhar.
  30. He describes himself as the first faculty member of the school. Toh aap samjhein main pehla faculty member tha yahan.
  31. He helped lay the school's foundations, including its curriculum and labs. iski buniyaad rakhne mein hissa liya, kaunse curriculum hona chahiye, labs kaisi honi chahiye.
  32. He said the school now has its own building and about 100 faculty members. Ab ek iski imarat hai. 100 faculty members hain.
  33. He said the school has 1,300 to 1,400 students at a time, including PhD students. Ek waqt mein 1300, 1400 students hain, PhD students hain.
  34. He said the school produces about 20 to 25 PhD graduates a year. Har saal 20, 25 PhD students nikalte hain.
  35. He said the school's laboratories are unmatched elsewhere in Pakistan. Hamare paas laboratories hain, aisi ba-kamal laboratories hain jo Pakistan mein aur kahin maujood nahi hain.
  36. He said no other university or science school in Pakistan offers the same freedom. Koi aur university ya science ka school hamare mulk mein aisa nahi jo yeh azadi de.
  37. He says he has no regrets about returning to Pakistan. Koi regret nahi hai mujhe. Bilkul mutmain hoon main.
  38. He says good education teaches reconfigurability. Achi taleem aapko reconfigurability sikhati hai.
  39. He said the Khwarizmi Science Society has touched the lives of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of people. Khwarizmi Science Society ke tehat hum hazaron balki lakhon logon ki zindagiyon ko touch karte hain.
  40. He said he feels most fulfilled when his work benefits others. jab aapke kaam se dusron ko fayda ho.
  41. He is the youngest of six siblings, and he says five of them live abroad. mere hum cheh behan bhai hain, paanch bahar hain, main sabse chota hoon
  42. His father started the Khwarizmi Science Society in 1996. Khwarizmi Science Society bhi mere walid sahab ne shuru ki 96 mein.
  43. He said they devised the idea of science melas, or science fairs. science mele humne yeh tarkeeb ijaad ki.
  44. He says the Society aims to change children's lives through science. Toh yeh Khwarizmi Science Society ka maqsad yeh hai, bachon ki zindagiyan badalna.
  45. He said that learning starts with wonder and fascination. That's the first step of learning. You have to be fascinated.
  46. He says primary science and technology education should be taught in the local language. Jo ibtidai taleem hai na science and technology ki, woh aapki muqami zabaan mein honi chahiye.
  47. When he became dean, he created a science communicator position. main jab dean bana toh maine jo pehla kaam kiya log baaz auqaat uska mazaak bhi udate hain, maine na ek science communicator ki ek position create ki.
  48. He also created a science illustrator position to explain science through pictures. phir science illustrator ki maine ek position create ki, ki jo tasveeron ke zariye illustrate kar sake science ko.
  49. With an institute at LUMS, his group drew up a plan that resulted in improved energy efficiency. Lums Energy Institute ke saath mil ke jo hamara ek hissa hai, ek na pura ek plan waza kiya hai aur uske natije mein energy efficiency aayi hai.
  50. He said they have saved the country about one billion dollars in foreign exchange each year. har saal humne hamare mulk ka ek arab dollars ka zare mubadla bachaya hai
  51. He says Pakistan's first electric vehicle policy was created at the school. Toh yeh bada important ek mulk ki pehli jo electric vehicle policy hai woh yahan takhleeq hui.
  52. He mentioned regenerative agriculture, which uses less water and less fertiliser. Ke paani kam istemaal kare, khaad kam istemaal kare, regenerative agriculture jisko kehte hain.
  53. He says foundational work on hepatitis C vaccines is happening at the school. Phir nayi vaccines woh hepatitis C ki vaccines ka bunyadi kaam yahan ho raha hai.
  54. He says work on e-judiciary is under way. E-judiciary pe kaam ho raha hai.
  55. He says the school works on data-driven policy making and urban mobility. yeh data driven policy making pe yahan kaam ho raha hai, urban mobility pe kaam ho raha hai.
  56. He said the School of Science and Engineering has seven themes. School of Science and Engineering mein na saat themes hain.
  57. He says Pakistan has almost no industry. Asal mein na hamare mulk mein industry hai hi nahi.
  58. He says Pakistan's car industry mainly assembles imported parts. hamari gaariyan bhi jo ban rahi hain woh uh uh sab purze wurze sab bahar se aa rahe hain hum bas assembly ki game khelte hain.
  59. He says many engineering graduates have no clear idea of what they will do in the real world. even UET ke uh engineering graduates jo nikalte hain unko koi aisa samajh nahi aati ki humne karna kya hai real world mein ja kar.
  60. He said they build their own syringe pumps and high-voltage supplies. hum apne syringe pumps banate hain, high voltage supplies banate hain.
  61. He says engineering universities need more freedom. Sabse pehli cheez yeh hai ke engineering university ko thoda sa na azaad karne ki zaroorat hai.
  62. He says students should be able to carry out a team project, a longitudinal project. ek team project, ek longitudinal project jise kehte hain woh karne ki salahiyat rakhein.
  63. He says processes must be loosened when a country builds new industries or substitutes imports. Lekin jahan aapne innovation karni hai, jahan aapne kuch cheezein banani hai, imports ko substitute karna hai, toh is process ko na thoda sa hilana padta hai.
  64. He says mission statements should come from the top leadership. Hamari jo top leadership hai na uski taraf se aapki mission statements hone chahiye.
  65. He said Pakistan should build its own engines so it can build its own cars. Aapka mulk jahaz bana sakta hai, gaari kyun nahi bana sakta? Kyunki engine nahi bana sakte na. Engine banao.
  66. He says these problems are big but not unsolvable. yeh bade toh hain, lekin unsolvable nahi hain.
  67. He says a strength of living in Pakistan is facing hardship with good humour. Toh sabse badi khubi Pakistan mein rehne ki yeh hai ki khush dili ke saath mushkilat jhelo.
  68. He says he is never hopeless. Toh main toh kabhi bhi na-umeed nahi hoon.
  69. He says he is not a die-hard optimist, and that hardship will have to be endured. I am not a perennial or a or a die-hard optimist ki bhai everything will be alright, but mushkilat toh jhelni padengi.
  70. He says he has observed that there are generally no shortcuts. maine dekha hai ki aam taur pe shortcuts nahi hote.
  71. He expects car use to fall, with electric vehicles arriving and public transport growing. Gaadiyon ka istemaal la-mahalah kam hoga, electric vehicles aayengi, public transport ne badhna hai.