LAHORE: Dr Azra Raza, the renowned oncologist, author and professor at Columbia University, urged the students to reconnect with their language and cultural heritage. She asked them to embrace the depth of Urdu literature, calling it a source of wisdom and emotional resilience in a fast-paced world. She also highlighted the need for collective human action, arguing that “Van Gogh could stand by himself and paint the starry nights — art is ‘I,’ but science is ‘we.’ It has to be a community effort.” Ms Raza’s words echoed across the audience at LUMS where she held a series of thought-provoking talks from Nov 20 to 22, according to a statement. Quoting literary greats like Ghalib, Faiz, and Emily Dickinson, she seamlessly wove together science, poetry and resilience of human spirit in her talks. She challenged conventional thinking, urging a shift from reactive care to proactive prevention. Despite billions of dollars spent on cancer research, she noted that treatment today still follows the approach of ‘slash, poison, and burn’. In a joint session with Dr Stavroula Kousteni, professor of biophysics at Columbia University, Dr Raza called for a revolutionary, patient-centric approach that begins with detecting the disease at the first cell, the point where wellness begins to transition into illness. Her acclaimed book, The First Cell: And the Human Costs of Pursuing Cancer to the Last, delves deeply into these themes and has been hailed for its bold critique of conventional treatment. Dr Raza’s philosophy recognises the interconnectedness of empathy, art, and science. Over the course of several talks she explored larger existential crises, including climate change, through the timeless wisdom of poetry, stating “Not only is poetry possible in this age, it is precisely what we need to provide the helium for our sagging spirits”. These sessions were hosted by the Gurmani Centre for Languages and Literature, the Two Cultures Initiative and the Ferozsons Initiative for Research Excellence of LUMS. They were moderated by the faculty, including Dr Basit Bilal Koshul, Ali Usman Qasmi, Shaper Mirza and Fatima Fayyaz. Research Week: Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Ali Shah has said the universities have to play a role to provide solutions to the problems faced by industries in Pakistan. He was addressing the concluding ceremony of ‘Hailey Research Week 2024’ organised by PU Hailey College of Commerce on its premises. Other than teachers, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mian Abuzar Shad, delegates from the US, Dubai, economists, industrialists, educationists from various universities of Pakistan, faculty members and students were present. He said Hailey Research Week continues to offer a platform for bridging academia and industry, fostering dialogue and empowering the next generation of leaders. He said that the discussion revolved around pressing economic challenges facing Pakistan’s business sector and proposed actionable solutions focusing on entrepreneurship, economic sustainability, and innovation.