The Black Hole

Science – Art – Culture

A Project of

Mashal Books

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The Black Hole

The Black Hole (TBH) is a non-profit, open-to-all, casual educational and intellectual space for science, art, and culture.

Located in the G-11/3 area of Islamabad, it has a 60-capacity auditorium, small library, and a children’s science lab. Live-streamed evening events and lectures, roundtable discussions, and video screenings are scheduled throughout the week. TBH’s goals: explaining concepts of high-science and high-technology in simple Urdu and English; nurturing young people of exceptional talent in every field; and creating greater societal rationality.

Unconnected with any political or religious organization, TBH is purposed towards helping all citizens of Pakistan to participate fully in the scientific, social, economic, and cultural life of their society.

The Black Hole
The session will explore the parallel evolution of Pakistani society and its cherished cricket team. We'll discuss how cricket serves as a mirror of society, reflecting and shaping cultural norms in a reciprocal relationship. Beginning with the inception of cricket in the region and its rise in popularity, we’ll analyze how each era of Pakistan’s cricket team has been influenced by social dynamics, technological advancements, and political changes. From the post-partition resilience to the present-day force, we'll highlight Pakistan's remarkable journey, defying odds despite limited infrastructure and support. We'll trace the transformation of cricket from an urban elite sport to a grassroots phenomenon, shedding light on influential figures like A.H. Kardar and Imran Khan. Exploring the paradoxes and complexities, we'll examine shifts in Pakistan's playing style and attitudes on the field, navigating through challenges such as corruption, religiosity, and terrorism. Finally, we’ll ponder the identity of the current cricket team and its reflection of Pakistani society, drawing insights from anecdotes shared by players and notable figures. About the speakers: ● Safa Baig is the co-founder of HamSukhan, a community learning platform. She is Manager Learning and Development at Atomcamp, and is currently spearheading a library revival project in Islamabad. She previously did her Bachelor’s from LUMS in Politics and Economics. ● Hasan Saeed is the co-founder of Bookay, an online platform for book-lovers.
Understanding Pakistan: Through the Lens of Cricket | Safa Baig and Hasan Saeed
YouTube Video VVU1ODZtcS16bXgwWkNpdEg0UEEzTExnLlBRNlB2LTh5TlRj
Let's discuss the psychological ramifications of societal attitudes towards body weight and learn how to cultivate a more compassionate and inclusive approach towards ourselves and others. Join us as we explore the interplay between body image, self-esteem, and mental well-being in the face of weight stigma. About the speaker: Dr. Faraz Talat is a writer, training psychiatrist, and CBT specialist, working with mental health peer support networks in Pakistan and Scotland. He is the founder of Cafe Sol and iO – The Space, with focus on community-building activities for socially-disadvantaged groups. He is the author of the medical science-fiction book '74'.
How Fat-Shaming Affects Our Mental Health | Dr. Faraz Talat
YouTube Video VVU1ODZtcS16bXgwWkNpdEg0UEEzTExnLmZySDhYX1pyc2VJ
@accelerateprosperity is a global initiative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Central and South Asia which offers creative financial solutions as well as pre and post investment technical assistance to help grow early-stage businesses, startups, and innovative ideas. @Accelerate Prosperity(AP) is one of the largest impact investment funds and enterprise growth accelerator in Central and South Asia. Impact Odyssey 2.0 is one of the first regional campaigns by Accelerate Prosperity, a part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), aimed at highlighting and addressing pressing global challenges through compelling storytelling. Central to this campaign are the new impact odyssey documentaries, created and distributed by @RealityBeyondDreams , new episodes come out every other Friday that are poised to be the primary audiovisual medium driving the campaign's narrative. The documentaries feature businesses from three of the four AP countries, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. 🖇️ 🖇️Watch the Documentary Series Here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTBqcG6Qpb6gT1JcgK8btyksGJ4XeXAEf 🖇️🖇️Impact Odyssey newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7112347644248662019 Five major themes are the backbone of the documentary series. ● Green and sustainable businesses ● Food Security /Productivity ● Equal access to health & education ● Addressing Contemporary Challenges and Technological Innovations ● Empowering local economies and digital transformations About the speaker: Rohma Labeeb is currently leading the Accelerate Prosperity Pakistan team to foster entrepreneurship and innovation across the country. Her work at Accelerate Prosperity has also entailed establishing blended learning systems for cross-border learning, as well as strategizing data-driven programs and innovative financing mechanisms for high growth and impact potential businesses. Through her previous work, Rohma has supported over 300 businesses in their growth journey, designed bespoke entrepreneurfocused programs and created strategies for support organizations in similar emerging markets. She has also had the opportunity to lead sustainability efforts within various grassroot level organizations in the country. Rohma holds a Master’s in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the London School of Economics and a BBA from the University of Toronto.
Can Entrepreneurship Address Critical Global Challenges?
YouTube Video VVU1ODZtcS16bXgwWkNpdEg0UEEzTExnLlFPMWtuRzZrdWJB
Join us as Ahmad Umar Ayaz deconstructs the visceral poetry, psychological depths and raw emotionality that characterize Kane’s provocative theater. Let’s explore the hauntingly raw and introspective world of Sarah Kane’s seminal work, “4.48 Psychosis.” Through critical analysis and insightful discussion, he will discuss the layers of this groundbreaking play, exploring its themes of mental struggle, existential despair and the human condition. About the Speaker: Ahmad Umar Ayaz is a playwright and short story writer based in Islamabad. He is the founder of Qissa Khwani Theatrics, and his original plays have been performed all over the country to much critical acclaim. He is currently serving as a lecturer in literature at Air University Islamabad.
Deconstructing 4.48 Psychosis: The Theatre of Sarah Kane | Ahmad Umar Ayaz (Qissa Khwani Theatrics)
YouTube Video VVU1ODZtcS16bXgwWkNpdEg0UEEzTExnLkJzekJEQ0pPNnlJ
The Story of Maths is a BBC documentary series outlining intriguing aspects of the history of mathematics, written and presented by University of Oxford professor Marcus du Sautoy. The series comprised four programmes titled: ● The Language of the Universe ● The Genius of the East ● The Frontiers of Space and ● To Infinity and Beyond In the last programme in the series, Marcus du Sautoy looks at some of the great unsolved problems that confronts mathematics in the twentieth century and tells the stories of the mathematicians who would try to crack them. The documentary briefly explores the lives (and works) of Hilbert (23 Problems), Cantor (Infinite Set Theory), Poincaré (3 Body Problem), Euler (Seven Bridges Problem), Perelman (Poincare’s Conjecture/Topology), Gödel (Incompleteness Theorems), Cohen (Continuum Hypothesis’ proofs), Noether (Abstract Algebra), Robinson, Matiyasevich (Hilbert’s 10th Problem), Galois (Group Theory), Weil, Grothendieck (Algebraic Geometry) etc. It concludes with the Riemann Hypothesis, a millennium prize problem about the distribution of prime numbers. ● The documentary screening will be followed by a discussion and Q&A session with Dr. Naqeeb ur Rehman, a mathematician with a PhD earned through the prestigious DAAD research program in Germany. His teaching expertise extends to the university level in the areas of algebra, knot theory, cellular automata, and mathematical philosophy. He has conducted math circles, seminars, and talks across various educational institutions. Besides, he runs the “OpenMathCircle” YouTube channel and Facebook page, where he has also shared his short Story of Algebra and a vlog on Cantor’s Math on Plaque in Halle, Germany.
The Story of Maths (To Infinity and Beyond) | Documentary Screening and Discussion
YouTube Video VVU1ODZtcS16bXgwWkNpdEg0UEEzTExnLmUxbDg0YWdvc1Nr
A wider perspective on representation and empowerment by examining the changes between access and existing power relations. As an academic resource, this study highlights the need to demonstrate existing literature through the strict parameters of inquiry, models and frameworks to achieve insight that mirrors a holistic reality of Pakistani women’s political agency. About the speaker: ● Dr. Ameena Zia is a Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Brevard College in Asheville, NC. She has served as a UN Civil Society Representative at ECOSOC since 2015. She is the CEO & Founder of Blue Ridge Consulting, a firm specializing in stakeholder partnership for development, and the national UN Experiential Fellowship Program. Ameena serves on the Advisory Council of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and as the Co-Chair of the Civil Society Working Group for Women, Peace, and Security at the US. Institute of Peace. She is also on the Advocacy Committee of the U.S. Women’s Caucus. About the moderator: ● Wajahat Malik (Travel enthusiast, MD at Eyebex Films)
Representation: A Study of Gender Quotas in the National Assembly of Pakistan | Dr. Ameena Zia
YouTube Video VVU1ODZtcS16bXgwWkNpdEg0UEEzTExnLnl2dHRSRERYQWJr
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