15/06/2026
**Day 2 Highlights | Youth Hackathon on “Building Mathematical Capacity Against Social Discrimination”**
Government College University Lahore, through the Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences, hosted the Day 2 Panel Discussion of the Youth Hackathon on **“Building Mathematical Capacity Against Social Discrimination”** on **14 June**. The event was organized under the **International Mathematics Master initiative** with the support of the **Elsevier Mathematical Sciences Sponsorship Fund**.
The hackathon brought together selected students, mentors, faculty members, international representatives, and distinguished experts to explore social challenges through mathematics, statistics, data analysis, modelling, computer science, physics, and logical reasoning.
Before the panel discussion, young participants presented their group work on educational inequality, gender discrimination in STEM, rural-urban and socioeconomic disparities, social inclusion, youth empowerment, and civic participation. Their work reflected how mathematics can help convert social problems into structured, measurable, and evidence-based solutions.
The panel featured **Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nizamuddin (S.I)**, Pro-Rector of Superior University Lahore and Former Chairman PHEC; **Prof. Dr. Muhammad Shahid Soroya**, Director COMSATS University Islamabad, Sahiwal Campus; and **Dr. Farzana Arshad**, Assistant Professor at Government College University Lahore.
The speakers appreciated the students’ efforts and shared valuable perspectives on inclusive education, policy reform, out-of-school children, education data, employability, youth opportunities, and the need for a more flexible and interest-based education system. The discussion also emphasized the importance of encouraging science education and multidisciplinary research among young learners.
At the conclusion, **Prof. Dr. Khurram Shabbir**, local host of the international event, appreciated the diverse input of all panelists and highlighted that Pakistan often discusses issues such as education gaps, gender disparity, rural-urban differences, and economic barriers qualitatively. He emphasized that the strength of this initiative lies in encouraging young minds to **quantify, model, and analyze** such issues through mathematics.
Representatives from the **International Mathematics Master (IMM) APS, Italy**, including **Ms. Celeste Luciano**, Project and Operations Manager, and **Mr. Giacomo Umer**, were also acknowledged for their presence and support.
The Day 2 session marked an important step toward building an academic culture where young students use mathematics, scientific reasoning, and interdisciplinary knowledge for justice, inclusion, transparent policy thinking, and national development.
