Environmental Toxicity of Nanomaterials

Iqrar Ahmad Khan with long career in education and agriculture had earned PhD from the University of California, Riverside. He is currently serving as Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan (since 2008). Dr. Khan has supervised more than 100 graduate students and researchers, established a Center of Agricultural Biotechnology and co-founded a DAAD sponsored 'International Center for Decent Work and Development' (ICDD), USAID funded Center of Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, a French Learning Center and the Chinese Confucius Institute. He has organized numerous international conferences and established academic linkages across the continents. He has released a potato variety (PARS-70), pioneered research on breeding seedless Kinnow and discovered new botanical varieties of wheat. Dr. Khan initiated an internationally acclaimed program to solve a devastating problem called Witches' Broom Disease of Lime in Oman. He is currently leading international projects to combat citrus greening disease and mango sudden death. He has published more than 270 articles, five books and several book chapters. Dr. Khan has a diplomatic skill to attract international partnerships and academic linkages (Afghanistan, Australia, South Korea, China, Germany, France, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Iran, India, Oman, Canada, UK and USA). He has managed collaborative research projects sponsored by national and international agencies. As Vice Chancellor, he has revamped UAF academic, research and outreach programs. He added new academic disciplines to narrow the knowledge gaps in microbiology, biotechnology, environmental sciences, food and nutrition, climate change, engineering, rural development and education. UAF has achieved top ranks within the national system as well as in the QS and NTU rankings. Dr. Khan has a special knack for problem solving research. He has set up an Incubation Center for the commercialization of knowledge. Exhibitions and business plan competitions have been made biannual features. A range of new quality assurance mechanisms have been added and special initiatives are taken to narrow the gender gap. Dr. Khan is a Fellow of Pakistan Academy of Sciences and member of several professional societies and associations. In recognition of his outstanding contributions in the area of Agriculture and Food Security he was decorated with a civil award, Sitara-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan and very recently with Ordre des Palmes Academiques (with the grade of Officer) by the French Government for his exceptional role as an educator.