Dr Mansoora Shamim standing in front of the CERN laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland
Dr. Mansoora Shamim, is a scientist at CERN (European center for nuclear research) in Geneva Switzerland. Dr Mansoora was one of the thousands of scientists who worked on the multi-billion dollar project for discovery of Higgs boson in July 2012.This interview was conducted via telephone and emails by Zakaria Virk from Canada
1. What is your family background?
My father (Late) Shamim Ahmed Sanori worked for WAPDA after completing his diploma in electrical engineering. He retired as an assistant director in 1999 and passed away in May 2008. May Allah grant eternal peace to his soul. He was president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Lalamusa for approximately fifteen years. He also served as the local ameen for the GreenTown jamaat in Lahore after his retirement. My mother Sadiqa Begum is a house wife. She obtained a degree in primary teaching course after completing her matriculation. But she never taught in a school.
We are four brothers and sisters. The oldest one, Kaleem Ahmad has a degree in ACMA and is living in Sheffield, UK with his family (wife, Dr. Shahzia Khan and a two years old son Kazeem Masroor Ahmed). Next comes the sister Asima Khalid (M.A Urdu), who is married to Mashood Khalid (son of Ex Naib Ameer Germany, Ch. Sharif Khalid). She is living with her 8 years old daughter and husband in Dietzenbach, Germany. I am the third one. The youngest one, Munawar Ahmed (MBA) is living in Manchester U.K, with his wife, Anam Wafa. I was born in Ali Pur, District Muzaffargarh. Grew up in Lalamusa where I went to high school. My family moved to Lahore in 1991.
2. Your educational background
I completed my Master of Science degree from the University of Punjab, Lahore in 1998. I got scholarship to do a one year diploma in Theoretical High energy Physics at the Abdus Salam ICTP, Trieste, Italy (1999-2000). Later I completed my M.Sc. in physics from 2001-2003 from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA. I graduated with a Ph.D. degree from the same university in May 2008.
3. How you got interested in science?
One reason was what I read about Dr Salam. The other was encouragement from my father who always wanted all of his children to study science. I have given more details in my speech for the event in Bensheim, Germany which was held on March 1, 2013. See here… How I became a scientist by Dr Mansoora Shamim
4. What about your academic achievements?
In 2007 I was among the top 10% out of 220 students in PreSUSY summer school, university of Karlsruhe, Germany. I was given a one year academic scholarship to study at ICTP,
Trieste, Italy. In 1998 I stood 2nd in M.Sc physics out of 550 students in University of Punjab, Lahore. In my B.Sc. exam I won the Rolla of honor. In 1993 I was winner of three certificates of honor and prizes , at the Government Model College for Girls, Lahore. From 2000 to 2012 I have participated in 16 conferences and workshops where I have presented highly technical papers. I have given talks and taken part in seminars in various US cities like Fresno (CA), Manhattan (KS), Fermilab (Batavia, IL), East Lansing, MI.
5. What motivated you to become a scientist of such a caliber to work in CERN.
I think once I started physics and went to ICTP, I realized that there was no point in stopping at that stage. I decided to continue working smart and move forward. On my journey I have been blessed with many opportunities and guidance and prayers.
6. Your journey from Pakistan to the US / your journey from Kansas to CERN
The first time, I left Pakistan was in Aug 1999 when I was sent to ICTP for one year diploma course. I completed that in Aug 2000 and went back to Pakistan. Applied for Ph.D and left Pakistan for the U.S in June 2001. On my way to Kansas, I stayed in Trieste for 3 weeks to attend a summer school. The first time I landed in the U.S was on July 10, 2001. Finished my course work in 2003 and moved to Fermilab, in Batavia, IL (40 miles west of Chicago) in May 2003 to start research work. Moved back to Manhattan, Kansas in May 2005. Graduated in May 2008 with a Ph.D. degree. I was hired by the University of Oregon as a postdoc in May 2008 and joined UO in July 2008. I arrived in Geneva on Aug 12, 2008 to work at CERN.
7. Life in CERN – what projects you are working on? ( in layman language)
Life at CERN has been very nice, mashallah. I started working with a group that took care of the decisions to be made about the events to write to the tape for future data analysis. We call this decision making process as “trigger”. I co-convened and then convened a group for two years. For past one year I have been working on data analysis to publish a paper. This is a search for Quantum black holes.
8. Any scientific breakthroughs you have made?
Not a major one but have contributed to many projects on a small scale.
9. Your work in LHC, in particular your contribution in the discovery of Higgs Boson?
In the discovery of Higgs boson, I was mainly responsible for a particular trigger and quality of the data to be analyzed.
10. Who is your role model in science?
I always had Prof. Salam in my mind. When I was doing my masters, my teacher Dr. Mujahid Kamran also inspired, motivated and guided me.
11. Any articles/ interviews written on you and your scientific career.
I don`t think anyone has written specifically on my scientific career. There was a program arranged by Jama’at Ahmadiyya Germany in November 2011. I was interviewed as well as had a long sitting with young Ahmadi girls- Lajna.
12. How many scientists of repute you had a chance to meet?
If you mean meeting in the sense of talking to them, that is not many. But I have heard talks by many, which include: Matrinus J. G. Veltman, Eric Cornell (I actually asked him a question when he gave a talk at K-State), Frank Wilczek (I have a certificate signed by him. The certificates were awarded to top 10% students at the PreSUSY summer school in 2007, Karlsruhe Germany.), Nobel prize winner Carlo Rubia, & Jack Steinberger etc.
13. You are observing hijab in daily life, has it ever been an impediment, how do people interact with you, especially while working in the lab interacting with other scientists or giving presentations.
I never had any difficulty with this.
14. Can you briefly describe daily routine in Fermilab / as well in CERN working 12 to 14 hours daily.
I come to office between 9-10 a.m. Write programs to analyze data, attend meetings and discussions, prepare results for the meetings. Sometimes I am on the editorial boards of other people`s analyses which I need to read and check results before they are made public.
Go to control room if I am on shift. These are 8 hour shifts that every collaborator has to do from time to time. Carry an expert on-call phone from time to time.
Dr Mansoora Shamim replying to the questions of audience in Bensheim Germany, sitting next is Dr. Tom Kibble
Read more about the recent symposium in Bensheim Germany: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/03/countries/germany/higgs-boson-dr-salam-honoured-in-germany#ixzz2PK22e1QL
Categories: Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Physics
Well done Dr. Mansoora Shamim we shall pray for you to get more achivments in your field which is a field of Pakistan’s proud Scintist Dr. Abdus Salam late.
we need more women like dr mansoora shamim to study sciences and make a name for themselves and their countries. I have studied golden age of Islam, there is not a single women who contributed to sciences. But times have changed, we should encourage our daughters, sisters to study sciences. Only science brings prosperity and eradicated poverty which deprives human mind of fresh ideas.
There were women scientists during the Golden Age of Islam. The book 1001 Inventions mentions Chemist Maryam al-Zanatiyeh and also Fatima al-Fihri who founded Al-Qarawiyin university in Fez, Morocco. Women did indeed participate in many areas of scholarship during the Golden Age.
Well done Mansoora keep it up…May God help you at every step & you become famous like Dr Salam!!
we pray that Allah guide & help you in all respect in your efforts to follow the footstep of Dr. Salam.Amin
Thanks to Mr.Zakria Virk for making the readers of TMT know the gifted daughter of the fortunate parents of the female Physicist of Pakistan, Dr. Mansoora Shamim. One is pleased to note that like many hundred and thousands talented science students of the poor countries of Asia, Africa and Latin American, Dr. Mansoora Shmim was also inspired by Pakistani Nobel prized physicist Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam and when she won the 2nd position in her MSc. exam of Punjab University, she got the golden opportunity to further her studies at ICTP, Trieste, the brain-child institution of the Center of Science Excellence in Theoretical Physics. At present she is involved in the search of the Quantum black hole in the data collection by ATLAS in 2012.Dr.M.Shamim is serving as the Convener of the TAU TRIGGER group at CERN, Geneva, Switzerland by the grace of God.I wish this gifted daughter of Pakistan, the female Physicist continues to scale the highest peaks of newer scientific discoveries of this beautiful creation of God called Universe so that she becomes the first female Physicist to get the prestigious Nobel Prize to enhance the glorified status of our dear motherland, Pakistan. Ameen.
Happened to attend the recent meeting in Bensheim Germany. A great lady with all the chances to excell. Needs more passion to answer the questions as well to improve the accent of English languge.
An accent is a sign of a personality. … vivé la difference …
Allahumma Zid Fazid. Dr. Mansoora has proved that Hijab is not a hindrance to to advancement in any field of academic activity. She is a scientist, not a student of phonetics. It is rather rude and unkind to comment on her accent. English is spoken in thousands of accents.
I am unable to understand and a bit surprised to read comments here that how can her work or her efforts can be encouraged or applauded…Her job or work is just a supporting kind…..it is even unthinkable to even compare this with Dr.Slam’ marvelous gems on science throne. She is doing a job there and her work is nonetheless not imperative to run the research.
Huzoor aba has categorically and innumerably times has advised Ahamdi women and girls to chose courses such as Education, History, Journalism, linguistics etc… where they are badly needed and where they can really contribute and excel……….not to go after science or engineering or professional course just because of financial benefits and becoming a so-called career woman.
Being a research engineer I know very what or how women do or perform in professional or research domains. They always gradually deviate form their prime objectives and also their work is monotonous or suggestive…………no innovation…….no creation.
She should have or perhaps should focus in contributing Jama’at efforts for preaching. Can she tell us whether has she preached there ever if so what has been the response from her scientist male colleagues? 🙂
Talent of a person must be upbringed whether female or male.
Had you not watched interviews of our beloved huzoor with press media where he says that our ahmadi woman are scientists..doctors..teachers ..and so on with proud and points out that purdah is meant for the freedom and security of women and not for usurping her rights
Wassalam
nice interview Madam.
One suggestion: For this interview the best picture could be with the sign board at Route Abdus Salam CERN.
Ahmad Qureshi Sahib aap ki soch ka perh Kerr Bohat afsos hua. Kal ko aap kahani gay k Dr. Salam ne arbi Mae PHD ki un nahi ki….?