Thank you for joining us. Please introduce yourself and provide a brief overview of your educational background. 

I completed my elementary and junior high school education in Rasht, where I achieved a GPA of 4.0 in my second year of junior high school. I then attended Beheshti High School (also known as Shapoor or Azadegan) in Rasht for my senior high school education. In my second year of senior high school, I decided to focus on Physical and Natural Sciences, as I had a strong interest in Chemistry, Biology, and Medicine. I consistently received top scores in all subjects, particularly in science courses. In my third year of senior high school, I was selected by the Ministry of Education to participate in the first Chemistry Olympiad for students across the country. I was among the top performers in the competition. In 1993, I was admitted to the Chemistry Department at the University of Guilan, where I graduated in 1997 as the top student in my class. That same year, I was accepted into the Chemical Engineering Department at Amirkabir University of Technology to pursue my master's degree. 

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Were you always interested in Chemistry? 
Yes, I have been interested in Chemistry since elementary school. I remember being fascinated by the subject of "Materials around Us" in my third grade science class. That same afternoon, I started collecting lab chemicals and scientific instruments in my house. Over the years, my collection grew in both quality and quantity. My uncle, who worked in a clinical laboratory, would often provide me with rare chemicals and instruments. Initially, for safety reasons, he would give them to me in diluted form. However, when these chemicals did not yield the desired results, I would concentrate them at home. In junior high school, I had the privilege of having a great science teacher, Mr. Mokhtari, who encouraged and supervised me in various scientific projects. I also developed a network of fellow science enthusiasts among my relatives and friends, and we would share our lab experiences on a weekly basis. I was disappointed when one of my best lab partners moved to the United States to pursue his education. In high school, my Chemistry teacher, Mr. Ebrahimpour, played a significant role in further fueling my interest in the subject. However, in my final years of high school, I had to devote less time to lab work and focus on preparing for the national university entrance exams. 

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How did you find the facilities at the University of Guilan? 
The university has a good standard of theoretical courses, particularly in Chemistry. However, there have always been limitations and challenges when it comes to lab and experimental facilities, especially for graduate studies. 

 

What advice do you have for other students? 
I would urge new college students to work hard, keeping in mind that they are the future leaders of our country. If we want to see our country progress, we must make the most of every moment. It is worth noting that research and academic institutions around the world have provided solutions to some of the most challenging questions and issues. Additionally, we should strive to apply our knowledge in practical ways. In my opinion, the 21st century is the era of high-tech technologies and applied sciences, and pure sciences alone may not be sufficient. While theoretical knowledge is essential, it is the practical experience that leads to desirable results. 

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In conclusion, I would like to thank you for your time. If there is anything else you would like to add, please feel free to do so. 
I hope my words are not interpreted as self-praise. It is not easy to talk about oneself, and my intention was to encourage other students and emphasize the importance of hard work in achieving significant progress. Success is a relative term, and it takes time and effort to attain it. Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to all my professors at this university, as well as my school teachers and instructors, for giving me this wonderful opportunity. 

 

Thank you for your time and for allowing me to interview you. 
 

Interview conducted by Farshid Pourghasem, June 1998.