Visiting Fellowship at University of Oxford

Dr. Abubakr Muhammad, currently on sabbatical from his role as Executive Director at the Centre for Water Informatics and Technology (WIT), is serving as a STEMS Visiting Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, University of Oxford.

Appointment of Two Full-time Faculty

Dr. Talha Manzoor and Dr. Hassan Jaleel, as Associate Director (Operations) and Associate Director (Research), respectively. They will lead the Centre’s flagship projects and oversee its labs and facilities in Climate Analytics, Agriculture 4.0, Water Governance, and Human-Water Systems.

Affan, MS 2017

Affan began his journey at WIT, LUMS in 2017, pursuing a Master’s in Systems and Control at SBASSE. He then advanced to a PhD programme at the University of Louisville, USA, where his research covered water systems and personalised medicine, earning him prestigious accolades. Having recently completed his PhD, Affan has now taken up a postdoctoral position at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Wasim Hassan

Wasim Hassan completed his thesis titled, ‘A Framework for Socio-hydrological Assessment of Water Allocation Schemes’. His research, which addresses water management strategies for systems facing scarcity challenges, resulted in the publication of three journal papers, with two accepted in Agricultural Water Management journals and one under review in Water Resource Research.

Participation in Lahore Science Mela 2023

WIT participated in the Lahore Science Mela 2023, presenting a range of engaging activities. Highlights included ground robots in action, drone flights, a soil moisture demonstration, and a Math Circle focused on robot motion planning, which simplified complex mathematical concepts.

Summer Mentorship Programme (SMP)

WIT launched its month-long Summer Mentorship Programme (SMP) in June 2023, providing hands-on learning for undergraduate students. The programme allowed students to initiate scientific projects related to the WIT agenda.

Digital Sustainable Agriculture

The NCRA-Agricultural Robotics Lab (NARL) at WIT organised a three-day workshop on digital sustainable agriculture. The workshop attracted participants from diverse backgrounds in robots, digital agriculture, and loT, aiming to explore the latest research and advancements in precision agriculture.

Participation in the Workshop for Global Experts

Dr. Abubakr Muhammad participated in the workshop ‘Communication in Extreme Environments for Science and Sustainable Development’. Organised by The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy, the Workshop served as a platform for global experts to exchange insights and innovations.

Building Resilience for Data-Scarce Water Systems in Pakistan

The Centre organised a workshop titled ‘Building Resilience for Data-Scarce Water Systems in Pakistan’. The workshop aimed to highlight innovative research initiatives undertaken by academic, research, and public organisations to directly address challenges of water scarcity.

Visit by Noriko Sato and Team at Asian Development Bank

Noriko Sato, Senior Natural Resources Specialist/Mission Leader, and her team from the Asian Development Bank visited WIT to explore innovative opportunities for high-tech agriculture and establish a ‘Global High-Tech Knowledge Intensive Agricultural University Network’.

Workshop on Energy, Water and Agriculture Systems

WIT organised a crucial workshop titled ‘Nexus Summit: Harmonizing Energy, Water, and Agriculture Systems for a Low Emissions Future’, set against the backdrop of Pakistan's national climate change discourse. As the country confronts climate-related challenges, this summit sought to establish the foundation for sustainable, low-emission strategies beyond 2030.

Book Launch: Water Policy in Pakistan: Issues and Options

WIT hosted the book launch of Water Policy in Pakistan: Issues and Options. The event began with a networking session, followed by individual talks and a panel discussion. This occasion provided a vital platform to address critical issues in water policy, featuring a rich tapestry of discussions and insights from experts and authors.

• Dr. Talha Manzoor secured the LUMS Faculty Initiative Fund for the project ‘UAV-Borne Bathymetry for Water Quantification in Small Reservoirs’.

• WIT secured funding for the project ‘Improving Canal Irrigation Management through Remote Sensing Based Decision Support Tool’ through the Asian Development Bank and recently completed its final activity.

• Dr. Talha Manzoor received the Teaching and Learning Grant from the LUMS Learning Institute for the project ‘Co-creating Sustainable Futures: An Experiential Learning Approach to Environmental Education at LUMS’.

• NCRA-Agricultural Robotics Lab received the follow-on funding for the Forest Fire Early Detection and Warning System Project under the leadership of Dr. Murtaza Taj (Co-PI) and Dr. Mian Muhammad Awais (Co-PI).

Successful Deployment for Project Funded by Karandaaz

The WIT team successfully delpoyed 25 Soil Moisture Sensors and an Automatic Weather Station at Amanpur Village, Tehsil Jand, District Attock, as part of a National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) Project funded by Karandaaz.

AI Camera Tower Sites Deployed for Early Detection of Forest Fires

The NCRA-Agricultural Robotics Lab team finalised the deployment of 3 AI camera tower sites in district Mansehra as part of the Forest Fire Early Detection and Warning System follow-on funding project.

Deployment of Water Ranging Devices for Flood Early Warning

The team completed the deployment of 5x Water Ranging devices for flood early warning in Sindh in collaboration with Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH). The activity occurred under the ISIF ASIA and APNIC foundation-funded Scalable Flood Early Warning System Project.