Prof. Dr. Bina S. Siddiqui is the Director of HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan. She did her PhD from University of Karachi in 1980 in Natural Products Chemistry and DSc in 2001. She has received many awards including Dr. Abdus Salam Prize in Chemistry (1986), Nishan-e-Azmat-e-Ilm Plaque, Karachi University (1989), Nishan-e-Azmat-e-Danish Plaque, Karachi University (1993), Nishane- Danish Plaque, Karachi University (1998), First Prize of the National Book Foundation (1997), Star Woman of the Year Award and Gold Medal by Star Girls and Women’s Foundation (1997), Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Government of Pakistan (2000), Khwarizmi Award by the President of Islamic Republic of Iran (2001), Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the Govt. of Pakistan (2004) and Distinguished National Professor (HEC). She was elected as PAS Fellow in 1997.

“My research journey started several decades before when I did a small research project (thesis) as a Master student. The imperatives of science and technology and the role these can play for the development of any nation were hard to realize at that point of time. Many ups and downs, successes and failures were seen during this period which reformed the thinking and perspective and induced a sense of accepting challenges. Many exciting moments were experienced as well as several lessons learnt over the years. This forum will provide a chance to share these experiences with the young generation”.