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The author is an Islamabad-based environmentalist with a particular interest in water issues. His other interests are the study of large system dynamics and nonlinear mathematics.
Articles by Q Isa Daudpota
Fatima Jinnah Park – Metaphor for Pakistan's Problems and their Solution
Q Isa Daudpota Sep 7, 2007 interacts: 13 Views: 4058Capital Development Authority (CDA) has carved out a large corner (6000 sq yards) of the Fatima Jinnah Park for McDonald's at a ridiculously low rental
Why Doxiadis Cries for Islamabad
Q Isa Daudpota Aug 8, 2007 interacts: 7 Views: 3130A planned capital sinks through the neglect of its basic infrastructure at the cost of new wasteful projects
Complex Problems can have Simple Solutions
Q Isa Daudpota Jul 4, 2007 interacts: 4 Views: 3445Cool roof systems with high reflectance (percentage of solar energy reflected back from the surface to the atmosphere without absorption ) and emittance (percentage of energy that is radiated back to the air after absorption) stay up to 70ºF (39ºC) cooler
Chief Justice’s Chess
Q Isa Daudpota May 22, 2007 interacts: 14 Views: 3152The chess fable illustrates the consequence of exponential growth! It begins slowly and no one notices. But then before you know it you have reached the center of the chess board and things really begin to make an impact.
Ejecting Parasitic Armies – Sea Cucumber’s Lesson
Q Isa Daudpota Dec 30, 2006 interacts: 5 Views: 2502The animal kingdom teaches some ingenious tricks on how to get rid of parasitic armies.
Indian Scholarships for Outstanding Pakistani Students
Q Isa Daudpota Nov 16, 2006 interacts: 474 Views: 46820In the postwar years, the UK, US, USSR and to a lesser extent Germany provided generous opportunities for South Asian students to spend extended periods of study in their countries. They were the best ambassadors of goodwill on their return.
Demolishing the Circles of Dominance
Q Isa Daudpota Jun 26, 2006 interacts: 9 Views: 2562Information glut is sinking us. Can the pundits by telling us the deeper reasons for out problems inspire us to become problem solvers rather than merely frustrated spectators?
The Height of Higher Education
Q Isa Daudpota May 31, 2006 interacts: 49 Views: 6507Pakistan studies should become a part of the study of world history without recourse to jingoism and ‘patriotic excesses’. By doing so, two major sources of confusion and non-critical thinking will be removed from the domain of universities
Dam Mismanagement
Q Isa Daudpota Feb 5, 2006 interacts: 7 Views: 2556So General Musharraf and his dam brigade shouting for large new dams ought to first begin showing that they can manage small dams, particularly those they themselves get water from
New Murree - New Ways to Ruin Water Supplies
Q Isa Daudpota Sep 22, 2005 interacts: 5 Views: 3461But to put so much effort into providing 'safe' expensive bottled water -- that is mostly consumed by the elite -- overlooks the serious neglect of the water sector as a whole in Pakistan.
Fake Degrees for the Big Boys in Pakistan
Q Isa Daudpota Nov 28, 2004 interacts: 18 Views: 13665Fake degrees have been sold in Pakistan for a long time. Now, though, the scope of it has enlarged considerably with many shady outfits offering degrees in return for little or no work.
Dubious Universities
Q Isa Daudpota Nov 4, 2004 interacts: 6 Views: 7414For an unaccredited institution, the 14-year old American World University (AWU) does remarkably well with over 7,000 students globally. No one would guess that the hub of this hugely profitable enterprise is a posh apartment building in the Los Angeles
Mathematics for All University Students
Q Isa Daudpota Sep 16, 2004 interacts: 11 Views: 3509The role of mathematics in science, and society generally, is misunderstood by common folk. Such lack of understanding is also prevalent in educational policy makers
How to get a Civil Award
Q Isa Daudpota Nov 23, 2003 interacts: 1 Views: 2372If Mirza Ghalib (South Asia’s long-deceased great poet) were to have been nominated for an award, quipped a Net-acquaintance, somebody else would get it! The master just wouldn’t have pushed it through the merit-assessing bureaucracy.
General’s Dress Code Confusion
Q Isa Daudpota Aug 15, 2003 interacts: 48 Views: 9909I maybe an inverted snob but am not so thick as not to understand what the General’s clothes are being set up to convey. If I am correct, it strikes me as a rather ill-founded strategy
The Scandal of Fake and Madrassa Degrees
Q Isa Daudpota Jun 15, 2003 interacts: 24 Views: 5110a federal minister whose only real qualification is an O-level certificate
We Cut When Asked -- PTCL’s New Censoring Role
Q Isa Daudpota Jun 12, 2003 interacts: 21 Views: 13961Our telephone company, the monopoly holder for conveying Internet traffic, has lately been working overtime as the morality policeman.
Smoking in PIA
Q Isa Daudpota May 31, 2003 interacts: 25 Views: 5941one wishes that our decision makers were as sensitive as the smoke detectors
Pakistan and India - Lets Compromise
Q Isa Daudpota May 7, 2003 interacts: 198 Views: 19683The program began by applauding Indian PM Vajpayee’s concession to meet Jamali, his Pakistani counter-part
Is IT the Panacea?
Q Isa Daudpota Mar 23, 2001 interacts: 129 Views: 13559most high-end technologists in areas such as computer science will leave for better opportunities in the West
Should Pakistan start a Virtual University?
Q Isa Daudpota Jul 26, 2000 interacts: 72 Views: 11494India, China and Malaysia have made considerable progress in providing university level course through the Net
Water Shortage -- A Way Out
Q Isa Daudpota Jul 3, 2000 interacts: 11 Views: 4323the shortage affects mainly the poor
Bullock Cart to IT Bandwagon: India’s IT experience
Q Isa Daudpota Jun 19, 2000 interacts: 44 Views: 6131Pakistan can learn much from India’s progress in Information Technology
Passive Smoking - Time to say NO!
Q Isa Daudpota Apr 26, 2000 interacts: 21 Views: 7056Attitudes to smoke and smoking have changed worldwide
Thwarting Big Tobacco
Q Isa Daudpota Sep 29, 1999 interacts: 14 Views: 4269Can a third world country defeat tobacco Goliaths? Lessons we can learn from Thai activists.
A Way Beyond Failed S&T Policies
Q Isa Daudpota Oct 29, 1997 interacts: 1 Views: 3010The author reviews how national institutions have failed to present a viable vision for the Pakistan’s S&T sector. More active involvement of expatriot Pakistanis is suggested.
Teaching and Popularizing Science
Q Isa Daudpota Oct 24, 1997 interacts: 2 Views: 3906Striking demonstrations that destroy deeply entrenched ideas are essential -- it is through them that minds open and newer pathways of understanding develop.
Q Isa Daudpota
- Articles on Chowk: 27
- First article: Oct 24, 1997
- Latest article: Sep 7, 2007
- Times read on Chowk: 213505


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