Prof. Dr. Hassan Sher (SAARC Gold Medalist)

Prof-Vice Chancellor

Dean: Faculty of Life Sciences

Director: Centre for Plant Sciences and Biodiversity University of Swat, Pakistan.

Mobile No: +923028040198 and +923119997493

E-mail: hassan.botany@gmail.com and hassansher@uswat.edu.pk

Born in District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, I have been associated with teaching and research for the last 26 years. I got M.Sc. (Botany, 1995) and M.Phil. (Botany, specialization in Plant Ecology, 2000) from Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, and Ph.D. (Botany, specialization in Plant Ecology, 2006) from GC University Lahore. I worked on traditional knowledge system, ethnobotany, ecology, in-situ and ex-situ conservation of valuable endangered plant species in collaboration with IUCN, WWF, SDC/IC, FAO and UNDP. I have rich experience of restoration / rehabilitation of degraded habitats and recovery of rare / threatened plant species.

Academic (Teaching and Research) Experiences:

To my credit, I have more than 150 original research articles, published both in national and international journals with Impact Factor Value 245 and citation value of 5600. I have traveled extensively in Pakistan and some countries of Asia. I have actively participated in several national and international scientific conferences / seminars / workshops. I am a member of seven national and international scientific societies and organizations. I have sufficient skills to write technical reports, project proposals, and concept papers. I have supervised and examined/evaluated many postgraduate and M.Phil. Theses and Ph.D. dissertations. I am also the reviewer of internationally reputed scientific journals.

A total five Research Projects have been successfully completed funded by both International and National donors, whereas, One Research Project is Ongoing. Fifteen M.Sc. students research have been supervised. One) M.Phil. Research Scholar Supervised and Eight M.Phil. Research Scholars are currently enrolled. One Ph.D. Research Scholar Supervised and Five Ph.D. Research Scholars are currently enrolled. A total of four Books and One Book Chapter have been published. Two International and five National Conference, Seminars, Workshops have been organized. A total of about fifty International and National Conferences / Seminars / Workshops have been attended as a resource person.

International Award: My services for conservation and innovation in the field of Medicinal Plants Conservation and Management were recognized jointly by the Government of Pakistan and SAARC countries by awarding me the prestigious SAARC Gold Medal and SAARC Award in Dhaka, Bangladesh during the Summit in 2003 on the theme “Invention in the Field of Traditional Medicines”. I have about one year of professional experience (as Agriculture Advisor) with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Pakistan. I have developed different Project Proposals, Concept papers for the rehabilitation of livelihood of local community from forest resources especially from medicinal plants and also from agriculture.

Policy and Reform Experience: Consultant: USAID for development of Agriculture Marketing Policy for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (April- September 2015). Medicinal Plant Market policy was developed for Govt. of Pakistan (2013 and 2014) under the Pakistan Strategic Support Program and International Food Policy Research Institute Washington DC, USA.

Academic Experience in Saudi Arabia: I have worked as Assistant Professor in Department of Botany & Microbiology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I was mostly involved in research activities of the University.

I have experience in the education management and administrative affairs of the University and currently I am working as Professor and Director in the Centre for Plant Sciences and Biodiversity, and also remained as Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Swat, Pakistan from May 21, 2019 to May 21, 2021. I am also establishing links of the university with national and international organization. In addition to my above main responsibility of teaching and research I also worked as Registrar, University of Swat from June 11, 2011 to January 24, 2012 and then from March 17, 2016 to February 28, 2018. Furthermore, I remained Focal person for Himalaya University Consortium of ICIMOD for Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management. I have worked as Focal Person to Higher Education Commission Islamabad for establishment of Women Campus at University of Swat from June 15, 2017 to September 2019. I also remained member of NCRC of HEC for the disciplines of Botany, Environmental Sciences and Plant Protection. I am members of University Statutory Bodies like Syndicate, Senate and ASRB.

I also worked as Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Swat (25-05-2021 to 03-06-2021), and currently working as Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Swat (25-05-2021 to date). I successfully completed one tenure of Deanship for the Faculty of Life Sciences University of Swat (May 21-05-2019 to 20-05-2021). At present I am also working as Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences and also Director, Centre for Plant Sciences and Biodiversity, University of Swat (01-10-2011 to date). I also remained as Vice Chancellor (Look after charge), University of Swat for Six months i.e. June 14, 2017 to December 20, 2017, and Acting Registrar, University of Swat (16-03-2016 to 02-03-2018).