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The session started with a brief introduction of Guest Speaker (GS)  to MCMC participants, joining onsite in NIM-Lahore as well as online from NIM-Peshawar. The Guest Speaker explained the context and relevance of the subject for the participants of training courses at NSPP. He highlighted that inclusiveness, i.e. to provide equal opportunity to all the participants in discussion, and enhancing quality of various discourses were the two major objectives of these discourses. The Guest Speaker also illustrated the qualitative difference between questions by sharing examples falling on a spectrum of highly smart to least smart questions. The former entailed a genuine query, which broadened the theme being discussed while challenging assumptions without any hidden intent, hence creating room for earnest debate and knowledge sharing. In contrast, non-smart questions had judgements embedded in them that affected the quality of response i.e. failed to elicit enlightening conversation.

The presentation was closed by summarizing traits of a smart question – articulate sans confusion, lied on the cusp of one’s curiosity and speaker’s knowledge, had the intent to further knowledge, and was appropriately contextualized.

GS then opened the floor to participants with questions taken alternately from NIM-Lahore

and NIM-Peshawar. The session ended with vote of thanks and standing ovation to the Guest Speaker.