Dr. Usman Bin Shahid, Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering in collaboration with the SSE Labs and Communication Cell, recently hosted a special event at the Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE), welcoming a group of homeschooled students from the Homeschooling Community of Lahore. 

The visit provided these young learners with a unique opportunity to engage in science and engineering in an interactive, hands-on environment.

The day began with a warm welcome and an introduction to LUMS, followed by an important visitor safety training session conducted by our Safety Specialist, Eaitsam Akram. With safety protocols in place, the kids then set off on a captivating journey through the research labs at SSE. 

Their tour included visits to the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering labs, where they explored fascinating experiments, and the Robotics Lab at the Electrical Engineering Department, undoubtedly a favorite stop, where they had the chance to operate drones and interact with robots. The visit concluded at the Central Lab, where they witnessed advanced scientific instruments in action. 

To wrap up the day, students and parents gathered for light refreshments, fostering conversations between families and SSE faculty and Staff. Parents had the chance to learn more about the school’s research and academic opportunities, making it an insightful experience for all. A group photo marked the end of this inspiring visit before the students departed, filled with excitement and new knowledge.

The Story Behind the Visit
Dr. Usman Bin Shahid’s homeschooling journey began in Hong Kong, where he educated his daughter at home. After moving to Pakistan, he navigated the challenges of homeschooling multiple children while enrolling his eldest in school. Through a friend, he discovered Lahore’s homeschooling community, families dedicated to collaborative and experiential learning.
Recognizing their commitment, Dr. Usman engaged a key member of the community to learn about their academic initiatives. Inspired to contribute, he proposed a visit to SSE, providing homeschooled students with hands-on experience with scientific research. With enthusiastic support from Dean Dr. Walther and SSE faculty, the idea took shape, leading to this interactive lab tour.

Bringing Galileo’s Discoveries to Life
As part of his ENG-100 lab, Dr. Usman Bin Shahid conducts an experiment focused on measurements and uncertainty. This year, he adapted the experiment so that students could relive Galileo’s discovery of free-fall motion, solving a problem from an era before modern timekeeping tools. His approach highlighted how engineering is rooted in problem-solving, creativity, and precision.

During the session, students worked through Galileo’s rolling ball experiment, calculated the gravitational constant, and analyzed uncertainties in their measurements. The goal was to demonstrate that engineering is not confined to structured lab settings, it is about applying logical reasoning, critical thinking, and measurement techniques to real-world problems. For these homeschooled students, who are accustomed to hands-on, exploratory learning, the experience was both engaging and enriching.

Beyond the Galileo experiment, the students found inspiration in their lab tours, interacting with cutting-edge research and technology. This visit reinforced SSE’s commitment to fostering curiosity in STEM and making scientific exploration accessible to young learners outside of traditional educational settings.

About the Homeschooling Community of Lahore

The Homeschooling Community of Lahore is a dynamic network of parents, educators, and students dedicated to a flexible and personalized approach to education. The community provides a strong support system, allowing families to collaborate on curriculum planning, share resources, and organize group activities, co-learning sessions, and social events. While the overall community is extensive, this visit was limited to students aged 9 to 15 due to capacity constraints.

Through this event, LUMS and SBASSE took an important step in connecting with the homeschooling community, demonstrating that scientific inquiry and innovation are open to all learners, regardless of how they pursue their education. We look forward to building on this relationship and exploring further opportunities to support and engage with the homeschooling community through meaningful academic experiences.