Science and Technology : Not an issue yet in Bangladesh

Salute to the great leader Dr. Maqsudul Alam with high expectation of national leadership in science

2010-06-24T18:53:00.002+10:00

Dear Leader Dr. Alam,

Heartfelt congratulation for Jute genome sequencing, not for the technical part, but for the leadership. Because doing the technical part of genome sequencing is not new for you , you did it twice before when you were given responsibilities ( I think) in USA and in Malaysia with adequate resources. But in case of Jute genome sequencing you took the initiative and led the project successfully. Carrying out given responsibility and taking responsibility are two different things with very big difference. Leaders take responsibility. Bangladesh need leaders in every sector. Scientific research is no exception. we have good researchers even in Bangladesh but we lack in leadership. We are lucky to get a great leader like you in our scientific arena. Alhamdullilah.

Hence Salute to the great leader Dr. Maqsudul Alam with high expectation of national leadership in science. Your leadership has made young researchers confident, hopeful and optimistic for future of science in Bangladesh.

As young Bangladeshi researchers, we would like to express our two expectations to you.

First one about genome sequencing , second one about Scientific research as a whole, not only about biotechnology or biology.

From your interview with prothom-alo, your next focus is to sequence genome of Tulsi, a medicinal herb. My expectation is that you widen your focus, form a genome sequencing consortium involving All major private(NSU,IUB, BRAC) and public universities (specially old one) and research organizations such as NIB, BCSIR, BJRI, BRRI etc to sequence a number of important crops for Bangladesh. I can name some of them which become issue every year in our country such as sugarcan(sugar), onion, green chilly, lentils, mastared oil . we are highly dependent on other countries for these crops. Importance of these crops can be easily presented to our govt and make big difference in our national life by improving these crops and increasing production. You can easily influence our govt now as you already proved yours capability. I believe money is not big deal, persuasion is the critical factor. You are in a position to persuade the govt. successfully. We can not afford to miss this opportunity.

Second one is that , You expand your focus from Bioscience / biotechnology to sciences as a whole. We expect you persuade so that govt takes measures to improve the performance of our all research organizations. Scientists in our national research organizations can not utilize their full potential due to mismanagement of money, time and human resources. You have experience of USA, Russia, Malaysia. Combing all , you persuade present govt to make overall reform of our research organizations so that those who are in Bangladeshi research organizations can make best use of their potential(ability). We believe no Bangladeshi researchers stay back in abroad for money. They stay back mostly becuase at the end of higher study they feel and understand that they will not be able to utilize their potential going back in Bangladesh. If we can improve the managment of money, time and human resource managemnet in our research organisations it will stop brain drain and brain wastage simultaneously.

We believe iron is hot enough now to shape the Research organizations and scientific research arena of Bangladesh. We can not afford to miss it . You got the great chance to bring the big change. We are sure , you will make best use of it.

Science and Technology : Not an issue yet in Bangladesh: BAS Awards: Charity or Award?

2010-06-17T15:58:00.000+10:00

Science and Technology : Not an issue yet in Bangladesh: BAS Awards: Charity or Award?

BAS Awards: Charity or Award?

2010-06-17T15:57:00.000+10:00

The basic difference between charity and Award is that charity should be given silently and award with best publicity. In charity it is accepted and expected that you will not publicize your charity. This is to make sure that people don’t think that charity is not your main purpose, publicity is objective, though nowadays charity is publicised to gain popularity and political gain. In Islam it is also advised that do your charity in such a way that left hand don’t know when right hand donating. In charity it is expected that person or body accepting charity is worth of charity. It is not necessary and expected to make public why that person is worth of charity.

On the other hand, the purposes of awards are different. The main purposes of giving awards are recognition, motivation, promotion, and stimulation. Firstly, awards are giving to recognize the contribution of the awardee in a specific area, secondly to keep the awardee motivated and committed to make more contribution. Thirdly, promote the subject in which awardee accomplished something to be awarded .Thirdly promote the organisation giving the award. Last but not least, create stimulation and competition so that more and more people become interested in the subject area and make their best effort to be recognized by getting the award.
To gain all of these objectives, it is necessary that Awards, awardee and reason for someone getting award will get best publicity. If enough is done to get the due publicity for these three, then the fourth, the organisation giving award will automatically get promoted.

From the way Bangladesh Academy of Sciences giving its awards, with almost no publicity, it seems that it is doing charity. None will disagree that Awards given by The Academy of sciences is the highest award for scientists in any country. At least it should be well publicised in the scientists community. But sorry to notice the opposite. There is no way to know why some one has got the award, for what specific contribution. Though there is a list of the awardee in the Academy website, nothing more. No Biodata of the awardee, or a single line for what specific contribution some one was awarded.

With such a low publicity, even awardee does not feel that they are awarded such a prestigious award. Tow of my fellow microbiologists got the TWAS young Scientists award. But we didn’t know it until meet them in the first ever young scientist’s congress. I raised the point of publicity of awardee as suggestion in the single session where president and secretary were listening to young scientists. After that one of the Awardee thanks me to raise the issue. The expression I found is like that he has got award but don’t feel like that he has been awarded. I couldn’t ask him for what he has got the award. So later I visited the BAS website and searched in the newspaper to find for what contribution they were awarded. But no clue no where.
If the Awardee themselves don’t feet that they were awarded, then how come the award serves it purpose, “stimulate talents among the active scientists and technologists of the country”?

However, at this time of Private TV channels, large number of print media and BAS having own website, Publicity of Award is not that hard.
The following steps can easily make the Awardee feel that they were awarded and stimulate active scientists:
1. Publish the Biodata of the Awardee, with specific emphasis on the contribution for which he/she got award, in the website of BAS.
2. Make at least one electronic and one print media partner of the award giving ceremony. BAS time to time organise some discussions with some media. We believe BAS easily can make them media partner of the Award giving ceremonies.
3. Sending the Biodata of the awardee to the editor of each and every national daily with request to publish them in the science pages of the dailies.
These simple measures will make the awardee fell like awarded and stimulate talents.

If there were an organisation of Sceitntists

2010-04-30T19:16:00.000+10:00

Budget is coming on 20 Jun for the year 2010-2011. Different organisations arranging discussion on budget and expressing their expectation and making recommendations.

Never found in the past that any organisation was arranging such discussion on behalf of scientists or researchers and making recommendations. In spite of that, last year the govt doubled the allocation for science and research. There should have some review of the allocation from a thirdparty /organisation whether it was double in reality or there was any mispresentation of the figure. If the allocation was really doubled, was it utilized and has made any noticeable improvement? Or doubling money has just doubled the wastage as the efficiency of our research organisations in utilizing the resources is very poor ? Should not we take account of all these issues? Govt should have some mechanism to get feedback on how their invested or allocated money performing in research organisations. Similary professional scientists should also speak out how much more money they need to make the ensure the utilization of the allocated money, what other than money they need to utilize the money , where they need reform for efficient use of the money .

If there were an organisation of Sceitntists that would speak about the expectation of scientists in the budget and give feedback on how the 100% increase in last budget was utilized or abused or wasted or brought improvement , Bangladesh could make progress at a better pace.

How are the mirrors reflecting scientific status of Bangladesh?

2010-04-20T20:08:00.000+10:00

Friends are mirror for each other. If we want to know someone and he is not available for contact and who will not be free and frank in front of us, then having contact with his friends we can have some idea about him. What are the mirrors of the scientific status (status of scientific research and technology development) of a country? Aren't Scientific journals, research organizations and professional organizations of scientists the mirror looking at which we can have idea of the scientific status of a country? The scientific status of a country is well reflected in the regularity, quantity and quality of scientific journals published from that country, performance of research organizations and vision, mission and dynamism of professional scientists’ organizations.

If we look at regularity, quantity and quality of our scientific journals, we can easily find out what’s the status of our country. Very few journals are published regularly due to lack of money and lack of enough articles. Quality of articles are not that much high. Hence we have only 5 indexed journals with small number of articles per year.

Source: http://www.scimagojr.com/journalrank.php?area=0&category=0&country=BD&year=2008&order=sjr&min=1&min_type=cd

If looking at the performance of our research organizations, that also shows the similar poor status. There are hardly any research organizations researchers of which feel proud to say that I am a researcher of this or that organization. If you talk with the top people of the largest research organizations of the country, they will speak about the service they are providing , not about research as they have hardly any research achievement to speak about it .

If we all look at the professional scientists’ organizations, we can not be happy also. These organizations have no mission statement, no vision and performance evaluation. Different people come to the leadership at different times. Do something sporadically. These organizations hardly organize their annual conference regularly. Researchers are hardly enthusiastic to present their paper in these conferences. If these professional organizations had long term goal and vision, they could have done much for the professional groups and the country. In such case, new executive committee would have some pre-assigned and planned work other than organizing annual conference and forming new committee. For example, antibiotic is an over abused drug in Bangladesh.
This over abuse causing huge harm to our economy and national health. There should have policy to minimize abuse of antibiotics. But neither the government nor people are aware of it. Some relevant professional groups should make plan and program to make the govt adopt and implement proper policy and people aware of harm from sporadic use of antibiotics. This is an example for those professional scientists’ associations/societies who know well about the harm of antibiotic abuse. Every professional group can find some such task that needs long term campaign and lobbing for good policy and its implementation. Campaigning for such cause can be regarded social responsibility of professional scientists’ associations/societies. From this they will be benefited as corporate organizations benefited from their corporate social responsibilities.

However, what is the best and most reflective mirror of the scientific status of a country? Isn’t it the Academy of Sciences of that country? Vision, mission and dynamism and influence of The Academy of Sciences of a country are reflected in the science policy and research funding and performance of the research organizations of that country. Looking at scientific status of our country, what perception we get about the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS)? How was it (a mostly unknown organization to the science graduates of the country) doing in the past? Not satisfactorily. Can we be hopeful from the present movement of BAS? May be as it has become an active organization recently. It has organized Young Scientists Congress for the first time in last December and declared to organize it every year. It has also organized science Olympiad and will organize such program regularly at school level. It has been awarding researchers for long though it is not possible for what contribution the researchers are awarded from the website of BAS (www.bad.org.bd).

However, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences have to go long way, needs more movement, strategically and effectively, to make Bangladesh perform satisfactorily in scientific research and technology development. Because no other organizations have such influence on the government that BAS can exert on govt science policy shaping and funding.

Some one, some body needs to be regularly critical of BAS so that it exerts its ability and influence on government for science and technology in Bangladesh.

References
SCImago. (2007). SJR — SCImago Journal & Country Rank.
Retrieved April 12, 2010, from http://www.scimagojr.com

What should be focus of discussion of Bangladeshi scientists' community?

2010-03-18T23:56:00.002+11:00

What sciences(different branches of Science) can do for Bangladesh? Or

Why Bangladesh can’t reap the benefit of science? or

How can we reap benefit of Science for the development of Bangladesh?

or

Why our research organisations' performances are very poor?

Why our Universities are not centre for excellence for for research ? how can we make them so?

Or we should we waste time on discussion on vague and vast topic such as life, genome, emerging diseases and so on so forth ?

Young Scientists' Congress by BAS- a heartening sign

2009-12-19T17:14:00.001+11:00

Even in February, 2009 one had scope to be critical of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences as its website was not updated since 2002-3(http://scitechinbd.blogspot.com/2009/02/bangladesh-academy-of-sciences.html).

Now it is really very heartening to see a dynamic Bangladesh Academy of Sciences is which is evident from the vibrant and interactive website of the organization.

Organizing young scientists’ congress (so far I know) for the fist time is another evidence of its liveliness. But it seems something is missing in the congress. The congress has well defined and articulated objectives. It has rightly focused to infuse dream in the mind of young scientists (The Academy will organize a two day Young Scientists Congress on 29-30 December 2009 in order to encourage the young scientists and to infuse dream among them to develop their future pathway at a pace with other parts of the globe.)
The objectives should come as a theme of the congress. Then it will very easily communicate the message of the congress to the young scientists. The theme can be “Chase your researcher’s dream and develop yourself and Bangladesh in scientific research” or simply “Chase your researcher’s dream”. Organizer can even find best theme as they have full understanding of the objectives of the congress.Bottom line is that the congress should have a theme.

However, as Bangladesh Academy of Sciences is a dynamic and vibrant organization now like its leaders, we are very hopeful that Bangladesh will soon make noticeable progress in research and technology development and transfer

Four interesting questions

2009-12-06T01:59:00.001+11:00

What is the most advanced country scientifically (research and technology development )? USA.

Do they have Science minister and science ministry? NOOOOO

Then how they have done so much development ?

Shouldn't we research on these questions?

What is the best subject for one to be admitted in University ?

2009-11-17T17:37:00.002+11:00

Dear Badal bhai,

Hope you all are well and fine. You will be happy to hear that Amme has got chance for admission in Dhaka Univ(Ka) with Merit Position- 43. Please let me know your suggestion about subject choice.

Dear Parvez,

First congratulate Amme on behalf of me. Regarding subject choice, first help A to identify his interest or choice. He can be admitted to a very good subject such as Biotechnology, Genetics, Pharmacy, Microbiology but if he doesn't like it, then he will not be able to do good result as happened to me and many . Microbiology is good subject but I didn't enjoy it and couldn't do good result in University and also in career though I admitted in it with 14th position in Ka unit of DU.

That is the best subject that Amme likes best, even it is Botany, Zoology or Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics; whatever he enjoys to study. Just make sure that Amme knows his best choice. Some times young candidates become confused from the opinion of friends, parents, neighbours and teachers.

This or that is very good subject, have high prospect in Job market or for higher study. Or studying this or that subject you can do something new (research). Hearing all these,ones get admitted in a subject with good results that they don't enjoy. At the later stage, they suffer in academic life and career.

One of my in-law wanted to study Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in instead of EEE in BUET. Because, his friends told him that he could do something new studying biotechnology. But when I asked what he enjoyed more to study, biology or physics, he answered that he didn’t enjoy biology that much. If one doesn’t enjoy a subject, can he enjoy the four year long uni life and much more long professional life if he is working in his academic line. How will be his life as a major part of life is occupied by job/work (8-10 hours /24 Hours every day? Will not it be boring ? How productive will be someone when he is working in an area that he doesn’t enjoy?

It seems to me that even University teachers some times fail to give good advice in this regard. As happened to me, after over expected result in DU ka unit admission test, I went to the then lecture of biochemistry department who is from my own district and asked his advice regarding admission . What would be good for me, Electrical in BUET or Microbiology in DU as I had already submitted my documents in BUET? He didn’t ask me what was my passion or interest? What I liked to study?

Even if parents go to senior professor for such advice, they hardly ask about the interest of student, what student enjoy to study. Normally advice is that the subject he is teaching is very good,has best prospect for Job or higher study. He can study this one. If not, then this or that is the next best option.

So I can not mention the name of subject but ask you help Amme to find out his passion, liking, and choice and allow him to study that subject.

This is the best suggestion I think I can make in this regard.

Shouldn't Science and Technology be an issue in Bangladesh?

2009-06-12T16:01:00.001+10:00

Science and Technology is not an issue anywhere in Bangladesh, not in national budget discussions, not in newspapers and talk shows of TV channels, not also in the scientific communities, e-mail groups of scientists like bdresearchers, microbiologydu etc..

Neither Bangladesh Academy of Sciences nor other scientific professional organizations try to draw the attention of government for giving due importance to scientific research.

Shouldn't Science and Technology be an issue in Bangladesh? Can we change days without giving science and technolgy due importance? Will we be able to make progress at expected pace if we don't give due importance to scientific research and technology development?

If at least one Bangladeshi Newspaper Had Science Page

2009-03-24T00:33:00.001+11:00

One of my friend, who is an high official of law ministry, was angry seeing my question “Do our newspapers have science page?”. He said that as a Bangladeshi I should know that almost every Bangladeshi newspaper has science page. Yes, I know well that almost every newspaper in Bangladesh has page in the name of science or technology. But tome the page is “extension of literature page” as they mostly publish popular article on science, translated article, popular science news (recent invention and discovery of science in other countries), and news of science fair etc. Now and Then publish interview of successful NRB scientists but not regularly. The page named as science page is extension of literature page because person in charge of the page is mostly graduate of literature and in charge of literature page .Overseeing the science page is his/her additional charge . Or the person is a part time contributor who is still a university student, have some skill in popular article writing and translation.

If any of our dailies had science page, they would focus on the status of Bangladesh in science and technology. (Do the In- charge of science pages of our dailies know that Bangladesh is a scientifically lagging country, not even developing country? what about officials of science ministry and minister himself? ) We could read the exclusive interview of science minister, know about mission, vision and work plan of new science ministers every time. We could remember at least once a week that we have a science ministry, could read news on what is going on in science ministry and what should go on in science ministry but not going on.

If we had science page, then we could read critical review why most of our research organizations are not performing satisfactorily, what should be done to improve their performance. We could read articles how fund for research can be increased and how the available fund can be best utilized.

Shouldn't we, who are crying for scientific development of Bangladesh and have good link with editors of the dailies, try to convert “extension of literature page” into science page in at least one daily? If we can make one, then will not other be converted of their own? Will not it make our fight for science much easier?

Scientifically Advanced Bangladesh by 2050

2009-03-18T18:37:00.007+11:00

We feel the necessity of a online magazine named simply " Bangladesh 2050" or Scientifically advanced Bangladesh, 2050 with the following vision :

Vision Ultimate : Making Bangladesh a scientifically advanced country by 2050.

Vision intermediate : Making Bangladesh a scientifically developing country by 2025

Vision immediate: Making science and technology an issue in election 2013.

Vision right now: To put pressure on and help govt. to make deliberate decision on scientific research for meeting immediate needs of the nation.

The magazine Should have the following sections:

1. School section: focus on science at school level

2. College and university : focus on science at college and university level

3. Research organisation : focus on issues for making our research organisations world class.

4. Professional organisations: focus on activities and performances of professional organisations of scientists.

5. National and International: Focus on What should we do at national and international level for scientific advancement of Bangladesh .

World wide Bangladeshi scientists can share their views , thought and initiatives via this Magazine .

Is it impossible to have such a magazine?

Cabinet minister or “visionary and efficient minister”: What we need in the Science ministry?

2009-03-06T00:20:00.003+11:00

The present fourteen party alliance govt. has come to power raising hope with slogan of change and digital Bangladesh. Though digital Bangladesh indicates that the govt. will emphasize on information technology and it was also clear from the interview of the state minister for MOSICT Yeafes Usman with the daily Jaijaidin, scientists expected that science and technology as a whole will get priority for full fulfillment of the pledges of the govt. But Scientists’ community was shocked and disappointed a state minister for the science ministry. They think that appointing a state minister for science ministry is sign of negligence to science and technology. So they have raised voice for a cabinet minister for the science ministry. Not doubt this is a just demand. But question is , will a cabinet minister satisfy our need or bring change that scientific organizations of Bangladesh need? Did’t we have cabinet minister for science ministry? A very brilliant scientist who never became second in his academic life, who had working experience in research organization like Bell institute was cabinet minister for science ministry of Bangladesh. Question is, were Bangladesh scientist’s community happy with his performance? Did he bring any significant change in the research culture and performance of the country? Answer is a big NO. He could not satisfy the scientists’ community by bringing necessary changes in the science ministry. Why? Because he, firstly he had no vision regarding science and technology. Hence he did’t take the charge of science ministry when he was transferred from information ministry to science ministry. He regarded this transfer as a demotion of him .Later he borrowed some vision regarding Information and communication technology and joined science ministry on the condition that science ministry be named as “ministry of science and Information and communication technology”.

But did he succeed in bring his vision in reality? Big NO. Why? Lack of efficiency. He could not get voice heard, vision shared with his cabinet colleagues. So didn’t get enough funding for ICT. ICT was not given enough importance PRSP (poverty removal). So he thrown the PRSP paper in a conference in presence of World Bank representative as a trash paper as it did not include ICT for poverty elevation tool. Who does show such anger? Any efficient person? No, only inefficient person who can not get his voice heard, vision shared express anger in such a way in such a place.

Before that we had state minister for science ministry. Though he had no vision, as evident from his activity, he had more efficiency being an ex-bureaucrat, than the scientist cabinet minister. So the ministry run well during his tenure. But due to lack of vision , there was no significant change, no significant progress of Bangladesh in science and technology research.

What will happen if the present state minister is promoted to cabinet minister of the same ministry? Will there have significant change? Will it increase his ability or performance or give him any vision? Many people don’t think so. Moreover, due to his position in the party, there is no chance for him to be a cabinet minister. Then to fulfill the demand of cabinet minister in the science ministry some one needs to be transferred in this ministry or some one new to be appointed.

What will happen if the generally regarded as honest and efficient minister s credited for making Bangladesh self sufficient in food is transferred in science ministry? The ministry may run more efficiently and honestly. Corruption may be reduced; day to day activity may be little bit faster. But will it bring significant change that is needed for lifting Bangladesh from a “scientifically lagging” country to “scientifically developing “ country by 2021with the vision of making Bangladesh a scientifically advanced country 2030 or 2050? No, analyzing her attitude, work style and speeches we find nothing such that can make us hopeful for big change even if she is in the science ministry.

What about one adviser who is chemist and was VC of a university? If he is appointed science minister, will he be able make the scientists’ community happy by bringing necessary changes? His track record as VC and other positions don’t make us hopeful.

We can think of another ex- VC who is active in present govt. party politics and pharmaceutical scientist. Can we be hopeful with him as science minister? No, personally I am not. During his tenure as VC of my university, there had significant construction work due to his easy access to the high command of the party. But he could not bring any change in the quality of environment, teaching and research of the university.

The common lacking of the persons discussed above is lack of vision. Some might have efficiency but due to lack of vision, they could not and will not meet our expectation as science minister.

Then whom do we want as science Minister? Can we name any one from the present government party on whom we have confidence that as science minister, he can bring expected changes?

I can not. Can they name who are raising voice for a cabinet minister for science ministry? If can, then they should specify the person on whom they have confidence and clearly demand that we want him as science minister.

If we can not specify any person, then we should not waste time on such demand. Rather we should focus on the changes that are necessary for scientific advancement and engage our time, effort and money to get those changes brought by the present state minister. We should remember that when there is a state minister for a ministry, then prime minister herself is directly in charge of that ministry. So if we can make due pressure, the chance is better to get our demand fulfilled with the state minister than a cabinet minister.

Let's be specific as much as possible on what need to be done for scientific progress of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Academy of Sciences: A mysterious organisation

2009-02-17T12:51:00.002+11:00

For scientific and technological advancement of any country, the role of her Academy of Sciences is very crucial.

It seems that Bangladesh Academy of Sciences(BAS) is a mysterious organisation. It seems so as two of the most dynamic and capable Bangladeshi scientists are leading it but its website (www.basbd.org ) does not reflect their dynamism and capability.

Secondly, its officials ,particularly president , hardly identify themselves as executive of this most prestigious organisation for scientists.Honourable president is well known as prominent scientist but few scientists,particularly young scientists,know what is BAS and who are leading it as revealed in a small survey in the largest e-group of Bangladeshi scientists(bdresearchers@yahoogroups.com)

Can we expect that Bangladesh will make progress in scientific research and technology development until and unless BAS becomes a dynamic organisation?

If you want to do PhD in Australia, today is the time to start

2009-01-20T22:58:00.003+11:00

If you want to start PhD in the second half of 2009 or at the beginning of 2010 in Australia, today is the time to start.

What you need to do first is to find a suitable supervisor. If you get a suitable supervisor, then he /se will show the path.

Along with your search for supervisor, you have to prepare for IELTS as IELTS is required for getting scholarship and Australian visa. Minimum 6.5. Some universities need 7 or 7.5. The more is score, the better than chance of scholarship. The more is sugar, the sweeter it is.

Don’t be in hurry to sit for IELTS. Take time to ensure good score.

To get a supervisor in your field of interest you have to search the profiles of lecturers’ to professors’ in the filed /subject/faculty/school in which you want to do PhD in the university websites.

Here is the link for all the universities of Australia:

http://www.braintrack.com/linknav.htm?pprevid=28&level=2

Read the recent published papers of the teacher’s .Write a letter to the teacher if you find his work interesting. Don’t forget to mention that you have read his this or that paper and want to do PhD in that filed. Read the conclusion or future direction very carefully. You may find a clue for writing project proposal from this part.

Don’t send the same letter to all. You must give some hints that you have researched on his profile and studied his publications.

Don’t neglect lecturers as lecturers do supervise PhD students in Australia.

You can apply any time for PhD candidature. And applications are considered twice for scholarship. For July –August session, one need to apply by May and for February session, one need to apply by 30 September or 31 October depending on university. Deadline varies with universities. You will be considered for International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS). You may be considered for other scholarships available in the university you have applied.

If you get offer letter for PhD, with it you can also apply for ALA and Endeavour scholarship. Advertisement for application for these scholarships will come in the Bangladeshi newspapers at the end of February or in the beginning of March or even earlier
.
Details information for these scholarships are available in the link below :

http://www.australianscholarships.gov.au/

For theses scholarship too, you need IETS score.

Don’t think that you need to complete master degree to do PhD in Australia. If you have completed or going to complete a 4 year bachelor degree with very good result (CGPA>3.5 or around 75% marks), you can apply for PhD and expect scholarship.

Even you don’t get full scholarship, just tuition fee waiver, you can consider to do it for two reasons. Firstly, if you are a good manager of time, you can earn your living expense here from part time jobs. Secondly, you can again apply and may get scholarship in the next semester.

At then end when you are coming to Australia, be sure that you have good skill in driving car whatever you are male or female. It will help you to live little bit far from city centre and save in house rent. Even you will have opportunity to earn some living expenses in your free time.

TO get e-mail alert on scholarship in australian universities , you can subscribe to http://www.jason.edu.au

Gold medal award by Bangladesh Academy of Sciences

2009-01-07T20:30:00.004+11:00

Recently (August,2006), the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences(BAS), the most prestigious and influential organisation of scientific professionals, has awarded gold medal to eight scientists for their contribution in scientific research in the country. All the newspapers published report on it. But we could not be satisfied as the report was not very informative. There was no information on the identity of scientists, contribution of the scientists for which they were rewarded. I think there is still scope to give due importance to the matter. And your science page is the place to give it due treatment.
I think the science page can and should publish eight reports on the eight persons highlighting the academic background, scientific contribution, organisation involved etc. An interview of each scientist focusing on their suggestion on what the science ministry should do for better performance of scientific organisations can also be included in the report.

Profiles of these distinguished scientists should also be available in the website of BAS www.bas.org.bd

Poor Performance Of Bangladeshi Research Organizations: Where Are The Problems?

2008-12-13T21:41:00.004+11:00

Frequently we read news that Non Resident Bangladeshi scientists have done this or that excellent research in this or that field or have won prize for his invention or discovery. Though no statistics can be provided but those who are active in different internet based groups of Bangladeshi will agree that there is hardly any world class laboratory where Bangladeshi scientists are not working. Not only that every year increasing number of Bangladeshi science graduates going to the scientifically advanced and proficient countries including USA,UK, Japan, Singapore , Canada, Norway, Korea for PhD or postdoctoral research. At least from this increasing number, we can guess that performance of Bangladeshi science graduates in international standard is satisfactory. This increasing trend indicates high ability of research of Bangladeshi science graduates.

If this is the case, then why the performance of our national research organizations is not at the satisfactory level? Where are the problems?

We need to analyse and find out the reasons for poor performance and take measures accordingly.

Before that we need to know what is performance or what are the factors determining performance. Otherwise we will not be able to find real cause of such poor performance.

The equation for performance is , Performance = ability X motivation.

From the equation we see that the two factors are equality important for performance. Decrease or fall in anyone affects performance and the other factor. If ability is poor or ability can not be utilized, motivation decreases. If motivation is not enough, ability can not be utilized properly. In both the cases, performance decreases. So recruiting able researcher is not enough, keeping them motivated is equally important.

Now come to the point. Where are the problems in Bangladeshi research organisations, in the ability or motivation of the researchers ? Is it that science graduates working in the Bangladeshi laboratories are not able? Or can not utilize their ability? Or not motivated enough to utilize their ability? Answers of these three questions are critical for improvement of performance of Bangladeshi research organizations.

To get answer of the first question, we need to keep in mind that to join in national research organizations one must have at least three first class results in their four degrees/certificates. A large number of very brilliant graduates also join in these organizations. On the other hand, graduates with very good results, good results and below average (with two second class) results go abroad for higher study and then join in research jobs. So we can not say that the average ability of the researchers in national research organizations is poor than the average ability of NRB scientists. So dearth in ability of scientists in Bangladesh is not the cause of poor performance of our national research organizations.

Then is inability to utilize their ability the cause of poor performance? Or lack of motivation to utilize ability or improve ability?

Yes, these are the cause of poor performance of our national research organizations. Then comes the question, why they are not able to utilize their ability or not motivated enough to utilize and improve ability?

What are the specific reasons for which they can not utilize their ability? Lengthy and faulty procurement process for which they don’t know whether they will get the instruments and equipments they are ordering or if yes, and then do not know when. Lengthy and faulty procurement process for which they can not buy whenever and whatever chemicals and reagents they need? Faulty procurement for which any one can get tender for supplying instruments and equipments in these organizations though they don’t have service engineer for installation, giving training on operation and post sale service? One example can be given from the experience of the author. A multifunctional microscope came to one laboratory of the largest research organization of the country at the end of 2006. But those who were working in the lab since august 2003, didn’t know who ordered it and for what purpose. The person who came to handover the microscope didn’t know how to operate it and could not train the users. Similarly, at the beginning of financial year, each laboratory has to give requisition of equipment, instruments and reagents and chemicals as per the allocated fund. People usually give requisition so that all of the allocated fund will be used whether they require all these things or not. They do because if a laboratory can not spend all the money, next time budget of the laboratory will be reduced. If such is the procurement process, how come researchers use their full ability?

Is there any measure to keep the researchers motivated? Neither sticks nor carrot. If some one do excel in his work, no reward. If some one becomes too lethargic, no sticks to wake him up. Such lethargic person gets sympathy during promotion due to seniority. No quality checking of research. Paper for Publication can be sent without sending it through proper channel though using the name of the organization.

Are these all for poor performance of our research organizations? Certainly not.

Disrupted power supply is another reason of poor performance of these organizations. During summer, electricity supply is so disrupted that it is difficult to carry out any experiment for two hours continuously. This problem should be brought to the notice of minister or high official of the ministry. But interesting thing is done during the visit of the ministers or high officials. It is done not to bring the problem to the notice, rather to hide the problem. The Administration of the organization request the local distributor of electricity to keep supply of power at least for the time of the visit of the VIP. They never contact with them other time for constant power supply in the organization. This is the authors experience in his research organization.

Are All reasons for poor performance discussed? No, one major cause is yet to be mentioned. What’s that ? Every body knows it. So even without mentioning it , question can be asked . How much of our research fund is utilized and how much is wasted? Can we utilize 25% of our resources? If the fund is doubled but the management is as inefficient as it is now, what will be consequence of increasing fund? Wastage of money or improvement in research? If fund increases from 100tk to 200tk but its utilization efficiency is still 25%( author’s assumption is that the fund utilization efficiency of Bangladeshi research organization is 25%, in no way it is more than 35%), 50 TK will be utilized and wastage will be 150tk. But even if funding is 100TK, but efficiency is increased to above 50 %, more than 50 TK will be utilized. If efficiency is 75%, then?
So before increasing fund, making the management process efficient to get maximum output of input (Input) more important.
What should be done to create wave in the stagnant pond of Bangladeshi research organizations will be discussed later.

Comments by: Monir Uddin Ahmed on NIB on 9/30/2006

2008-11-24T23:22:00.003+11:00

Comments by: Monir Uddin Ahmed , Scientific officer (Microbiologist, ) on 9/30/2006
Name: Monir Uddin Ahmed , Scientific officer (Microbiologist, )
Affiliation : Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission

Would you like National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB) to be like existing research Institutes? NO

If 'No', would you like partnership between NIB and BRAC/NGO capable of providing high salary for hiring highly to qualified expatriate scientists?: No

How do you like the idea of "brain Circulation" and "Brain Gain"? Add your own if there is any.

Brain circulation and brain Gain may be unique and innovative idea but impractical and unconvincing. It will be very difficult to convince the bureaucrats and policy makers (politicians) for high salary scale and NGO management for NIB. Rather “ Brain Retention “, that is, retaining those who join NIB, is more practical and implementable. This can be achieved with the present salary scale with modern recruitment system, motivational promotion policy, and work worthy procurement procedure.

How do you like the idea of creating postdoctoral positions in NIB and universities? Elaborate.

Very good ideas but what’s about doctoral student?

How about Creation of "Centers of Excellence" for conducting internationally competitive molecular biosciences research to benfit the region? Elaborate.

Who can say against it?

Do you think Development of new drugs is a health priority? Explain if your answer is yes.
Indigenous drug development will help reduce price of drugs. For this the example of Brazil, Cuba, India, Egypt, and china can be followed.More can be learned from “ Conclusion: promoting biotechnological innovation in developing countries” By Halla Thoresteindotti, Uyen Quach, Abdullah S. Daar And Per A Singer from www.nature.com/naturebiotechnology

What is your opinion about Intellectual Property Development & Protection? Add your own if there is any.

Very necessary to protect our resources and innovation and to keep researchers motivated by ensuring financial gain for person and organization.

What is your opinion about for creating biosafety and toxicological studies?
Go ahead if you have scope and facilities

What about supporting the idea for Bangldesh to apply for establishing a "Millennium Institute" under the umbrella of Third World Academy of Sciences" to do molecular biology research?

Who can give any point against it?

Add any other relevant Comments in this column.

To make NIB different from the existing research institute, “Management of manpower, time and money of NIB ” must be different, improved and efficient. To do so, we must find out a visionary full time head of NIB for, at least, the first five years who will be a leader, not BOSS. He must have capabilities to obtain resources from local, regional, national and international granting bodies in addition to the backbone financing from the government. Recruitment must be done by the hand of a human resource specialist. Procurement policy must be cost effective and time saving. Promotion policy must be motivating, not make the scientists lethargic which is occurring in other organizations.

NIB must develop three core complementary activities:

1. Strategic basic research
2. Active technology transfer policy
3. latest scientific information generation for general public and policy makers to make them feel that NIB is doing something for the nation and it deserves funding.

From the proposal of high salary by NGO, it seems that some people have misperception(probably as they have not worked in these organizations) that other research organizations in Bangladesh could not meet our expectation due to low salary. Low salary may have its part in it but not the major cause. The real culprit is the promotion policy and procurement procedure and recruitment system. we should find out very meticulously why other organisations failed to meet the expectation with help of those who worked in these organisations and then set policy for NIB

GNOBB and YoungBB can make it happen‏

2008-11-04T12:50:00.001+11:00

GNOBB and YoungBB can make it happen‏
From: monir uddin ahmed (muahmed1977@hotmail.com)
Sent: Sun 10/05/08 9:56 PM
To: aislam24@yahoo.com
Cc: abidur@iwate-u.ac.jp; rabidur@yahoo.com; clingb@gmail.com

Dear Sir,

I think you will not disagree with me that unless and until science and technology is a national issue, issue in national election, there is little or no chance for the development of scientific research in Bangladesh.

And I think GNOBB and YoungBB can make science and technology an important issue in the upcoming national election.

For this, four things need to be done. Firstly, GNOOB gives a statement signed by all 328 or majority members and if possible including others. Statement from a large number of scientists like 328 will be a rare event in the history of Bangladesh and will draw attention of all. This statement needs to be published in all national dailies. The statement should have two messages. One for the voters and another for the political parties. The voter will be asked to take into consideration what the party or alliance has said in their manifesto about science and technology while voting. Message for the political parties should be such that scientists will campaign for the party or alliance which will give the most importance and doable reform proposal in their electional manifesto.

If such a statement is published in all national dailies before the political parties publish their manifesto, then they must think to give science and technology due importance in the manifesto.

However, such statement will not be enough. Three more things need to be done to make the statement most effective.

One online petition towards voters, to vote for science friendly parties or alliance. poster which will also ask to vote for science friendly parties or alliance. YoungBB can do such postering in the universities. I think YoungBB has member in all universities and they will do such non partisan postering enthusiastically. If you decide to so, I will be happy to provide financial support with five thousand taka.

Another thing that YoungBB can do is to arrange a question answer session of all the science secretary of the political parties. The question answer session can be like that of BBC sanglab. The science editor of the national dailies must be invited in the session along with eminent scientists. If electronic media can be convinced to air such program, then it will be great.

I think if these things can be done, it will bring noticeable change, if not , then a begining of change , in the sector of science in Bangladesh. And it seems to me that GNOBB and YoungBB jointly can make all these happen under your leadership. Hence I am sharing my thought with you.

May Allah help us to bring such changes in the science and technology research in Bangladesh.

With best regards and wishes

Monir Uddin Ahmed

MS Student ( Biotechnology ),

Student Representative (International) ,

Academic Board ,Swinburne University of Technology

Melbourne, Australia.

Scientific Officer

Institute of Food and Radiation Biology

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission

Mobile: +61 431091781, phone:+61-3-94846135

http://scitechinbd.blogspot.com/

My Understanding of Science:
Science is the endless pursuit of firstly exploration of the processes, procedures and mechanisms of Allah's creation and then to copy or replicate them as much as possible for the betterment of the Mankind.

Push Science and technology in the mind of the influential people, policy makers of our country

2008-10-13T19:25:00.003+11:00

On Saturday, 11 October, 2008 Mr. Motiur Rahman, Editor of the Prothoma-alo has written a commentary.

At the end of the commentary, he has expected that this time the manifestos of our political parties will not be as usual. " আমরা আশা করব, রাজৈনিতক দলগুলোর এবারের নির্বাচনী ইশেতহার গতানুগতিক হবে না৷ রাজৈনিতক ও অর্থনৈতিক, শিক্ষা, স্বাস্হ্য, কর্মসংস্থানসহ জরুরী জাতীয় সমস্যা সমাধানের আশু ও সুদূর প্রসারী লক্ষ্যের পরিকল্পনা থাকতে হবে ।"
http://www.prothom-alo.com/index.news.details.php?nid=MTkyODM=

The next day, the same daily made the leading news of Khaleda zia’s briefing to the Krisok dal leaders about election preparation of BNP. In her briefing She said: " আমরা নির্বাচন মূখী দল ।আমরা নির্বাচনে অংশগ্রহণ করতে চাই ।এজন্য নির্বাচন নিয়ে বিএনপির ভবিষ্যৎ পরিকল্পনা প্রণয়নের দায়িত্ব ভাগ করে দেয়া হয়েছে । যে কাজ গুলো করা দরকার, সে গুলো করার জন্য ইতিমধ্যেই আমরা বিভিন্ন ব্যক্তিকে দায়িত্ব দিয়েছি।ইতিমধ্যে আমরা টাস্কফোর্সের মত কতগুলো কমিটি গঠন করে দিয়েছি।তারা শিক্ষা,কৃষি,শিল্পসহ বিভিন্ন খাতের উন্নয়নে সুপারিশ প্রণয়ন করবে । " http://www.prothom-alo.com/archive/news_details_home.php?dt=2008-10-12&issue_id=1069&nid=MTkzMDU=

None of the above influential persons of our country has mentioned about scientific research and technology development. But who does not know that for progress of any country at a satisfactory pace, scientific research and technology development is of crucial importance .

Should not we, scientists, push Science and technology in the mind of the influential people, policy makers of our country?

Can not we send an email, make a phone call to these people or directly talk to them if they are within our reach for the sake of science and technology, for the sake of the country?

Decreasing Enrollment In Science Group at SSC And HSC Level: Should We Worry?

2008-06-30T22:30:00.001+10:00

Would you disbelieve me if I don’t give any reference and statistics but say that in our colleges there are not enough seats to accommodate all the SSC students who pass from science group? Would you disbelieve me if………….. there are not enough seats in our universities to accommodate all the HSC students who pass from science group? Would you………………there are not enough jobs in our research organizations and industries to give jobs to a large share of science graduates who finish their studies in universities , let alone to all? . Would you …………….these jobs are not attractive enough to attract meritorious science graduates?

I am confident, none will disbelieve me. As my statements are generally accepted, does not need any statistics or reference, then should we really worry seeing the deceasing enrollment in science group at SSC and HSC level?
No. because if the enrollment in science decease at the present rate there will be no shortage of science graduates in the next 20 years to fill in the positions in our research organizations and industries.

But should we be relaxed? If not, than what should we worry about? If we are really worried or really want to worry, then we should worry about poor performance of our research organizations, there poor attraction to our meritorious science graduates. We should worry why science and technology is not a national issue? We should worry that Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS) is not a well known organization to our science graduates. We should worry about why Dr. Shamsher Ali is well known to the nation but not the president of BAS to the science graduates. We should …………..why the website of BAS (www.basbd.org ) is not updated. We should worry why Dr. Zafar Iqbal frequently write political column, but hardly or never write science column or criticize the governments’, irrespective of party in power, policy and neglect to science and technology . We should worry why our scientific professional organizations are not critical of governments neglect to science and technology. We should worry why our newspapers have “extension of literature page” in the name of science page and not a single newspaper has prominent scientist as editor of the science page.
Yes, we should really worry as there is no talk of reform, let alone reform, in the science and technology even during the reformist caretaker government?

If we are really worried for what we should be worried, and Want to be relaxed we should make our research organization improve their performance so that jobs in these organizations become attractive and prestigious.Then it will pull students in science group at SSC and HSC level.We should not push students in science group at SSC and HSC level.

KAUST deserves attention of Bangladeshi Researchers and Research Institutes

2008-04-13T01:09:00.000+10:00

Bangladesh belongs to the list of scientifically lagging countries. One of the major obstacles in scientific research in Bangladesh is lack of fund. Establishing collaborative relation with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) can be source of fund for some Bangladeshi researcher and research institutes. Because it is funding researchers and research institutes through its global research partnership program.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom that will also benefit the region and the world. . The University is set to open in September 2009
KAUST will be:
• supported by a multi-billion dollar endowment
• governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees
• merit-based and open to men and women from around the world

As a graduate-research University, KAUST's fundamental organizing unit will be, not schools or departments, but interdisciplinary Research Institutes.
1. Resources, Energy and Environment;
2. Biosciences and Bioengineering;
3. Materials Science and Engineering;
4. Applied Mathematics and Computational Science.
Within each Research Institute there will be multi-investigator, problem-oriented, often industry-collaborative Research Centers.

KAUST Will be a fully a research University. Unlike many primarily undergraduate universities, KAUST will not have a two-tier faculty. All faculty will be of the highest caliber and able to formulate value-added research projects; or will have unique background experience – as teachers or in private industry – that supports KAUST's mission as a 21st century University.

The driving factor of KAUST's research agenda is to accelerate scientific discovery and technological innovation. The corresponding strategy in terms of organizational development involves flexible funding and outreach to potential partner institutions, and targeted investments in physical and intellectual infrastructure to stimulate collaboration with other research universities and the private sector.

Global Research Partnership will provide three major streams of funding:
• Centers and Centers-in-Development — KAUST will provide five-year grant support to university-based, multi-investigator centers, with industry participation possible. In addition, three-year awards for KAUST Centers-in-Development will be available for smaller groups seeking to assemble the resources for a KAUST Center.
• KAUST Investigators — In March 2008, KAUST awarded the first round of GRP Investigator grants to twelve highly accomplished scientists and engineers. KAUST is providing five-year individual grants to this group to investigate a wide range of research topics, including water desalination, renewable and sustainable next-generation energy sources, genomics of salt-tolerant plants, durable and environmentally friendly construction materials, hydrocarbon utility, low-cost solar cell efficiency, and disease immunization.
• KAUST Research Fellows — KAUST will provide three-year support to exceptional post-doctoral researchers.

The financial support will be as follows:
• Centers and Centers-in-Development – Multi-investigator; may involve more than one university; often with private-sector participation. Center awards will provide up to $5 million per year for five years; and the Center-in-Development program will provide up to $1.5 million per year for three years.
• Investigators – Individual scientists or engineers leading a laboratory. Investigator awards will provide up to $2 million per year for five years.
• Research Fellows – Post-doctoral researchers. Research Fellow awards will provide $100,000 in salary, benefits and research support per year for three years.

According to the website, The Global Research Partnership will grow in size and scope as the University opens its doors, allowing KAUST to leverage the relationships in its externally funded network and to grow its own high-quality research activity on the campus. So there is scope for Bangladeshi Research researcher and Institutes to establish partnership with it.

Under the Partnership Scientists' will work at their home institutions .Grant will be given based on Quality of the proposed research project, it’s relevance to KAUST's research objectives and Contribution of the research activity to the development of KAUST and the global research and education enterprise.

Initial Research Focus Areas include
• Carbon capture and hydrogen-rich fuels
• Advanced concepts in desalination and water supply
• Biotechnology for food, nutrition, public health, biodiversity and industrial processes
• Catalysis and polymer chemistry
• Applied mathematics and computational science
• Scientific and engineering computing (e.g. computational chemistry)

So Bangladeshi research institute such as Centre fro Excellence, Energy centre of Dhaka University, BUET and National Institute of Biotechnology should focus on establishing collaborative relation with KAUST.

It deserves mentioning here that KAUST will support male and female researchers equally. Interested person can get more Information at www.kaust.edu.sa .

When will Bangladesh consider microbial biodiversity as a potential resource?

2007-07-11T21:02:00.001+10:00

Broadly there are three groups of living beings; plant, animal and microorganisms.To general people, microorganisms mean pathogen, harmful creature. In reality, around 97% microorganisms are beneficial for mankind, directly or indirectly. Like plant and animal diversity of a country, microbial biodiversity is also a resource for a country. Like any other resources, we should make maximum use of this resource.

General people may be aware of utilization of gas, coal, oil etc, but not supposed to be aware of the potential of this tiny community. These are the microbiologists in person and organisation who are to make people aware of the resource, convince policy maker to take policy for maximize utilization of microbial source of the country.

The African country Kenya has taken initiative in this regard. From the report published in www.scidev.net on July 5, 2007, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has entered a five-year biotechnology research partnership with a Danish company to use enzymes with potential industrial applications, especially in biofuels and medicine

KWS signed a memorandum of understanding with Novozymes on June 28, giving the firm rights to exploit, for commercial use, the rich microbial biodiversity within KWS controlled areas.

Under the agreement, KWS will receive royalties from the sales of any products developed from its microorganisms. KWS will also collaborate with Novozymes in enzyme research and development and patenting.

Novozymes will also assist Kenya through technology transfer, institutional capacity building and training of Kenyan students in bioprospecting — the process of developing genetic resources from plants, animals and microorganisms into marketable goods. The company has also agreed to build a special laboratory at the KWS headquarters in Nairobi, and provide materials for enzyme screening as well as cover researchers' travel costs.

Steen Riisgaard, Novozymes' chief executive, said that the company was targeting Kenya because of its wealth of biodiversity, and that it was happy to be giving something to Kenya in return.

KWS director Julius Kipng'etich told SciDev.Net that Kenya's microbial diversity is largely unexploited, and could greatly benefit the country.

Like Kenya, Bangladesh is also wealthy in biodiversity and the microbial biodiversity of Bangladesh, the largest delta in the world, is also unutilized.
The hard reality is that we are not even aware to the level of Kenya that microbial population of our country is a potential source and it should be exploited like any other resources.

It may be a matter of debate, discussion and decision whether we will allow foreign company to explore our microbial biodiversity or not. But there should be no doubt that we should consider our microbial population a potential resource and we should take proper measures for its maximum utilization.

Who will bell the cat? Who will make the nation understand and realize that microbial community is also a resource of our country? Who will convince our government and industrialists that we should invest for exploitation of microbial community for our food, fuel, medicine and safe environment?

No doubt, responsibilities go to the shoulder of every microbiologist. However as the oldest and recognized organization of microbiologists, Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM) is most responsible to take initiative in this regard. Share of Graduate Microbiologists Association is not less in this respect.
Later is better than never. The sooner we start to carry out our overdue responsibilities, the better it is for us and for Bangladesh.

Kenya has already started gaining from the initiative. Novozymes has already developed an enzyme called 'Pulpzyme' from bacteria in two lakes in Kenya's Rift Valley province, for which KWS has received about US$9,000 in royalties and will continue to receive annual payments. Pulpzyme reduces the amount of chlorine ― an environmental pollutant ― needed to bleach wood pulp, thus improving the environmental sustainability of pulp and paper manufacturing.

So to meet the fuel demand of the country, safe environment and affordable medicine and health facilities, we need to count microbial biodiversity as a potential resource and make policy for its best utilization.

Science and Technology - parentless in Bangladesh

2007-06-22T17:07:00.000+10:00

The caretaker government has declared the budget for 2007-2008 fiscal year. There is criticism and discussion about allotment on different sectors. There was reports in newspapers about increase of allotment for ICT. But there is no report on how much importance is given to science and technology as a whole. It seems that science and technology means only ICT.

Seeing no reaction on how much importance or negligence was shown in the budget by the Reformist CTG, it seems that there is no organisation of scientific professionals in Bangladesh or Science and technology is orphan in Bangladesh.

The government should give science and technology due importance and not consider ICT to be the epitome of science and technology.

Organisations of Scientific professionals should make their voice heard to the government by statements, newspaper articles and talk show in electronic media.
Science and technology should be made an issue in Bangladeshi politics.

,

2007-06-22T17:05:00.000+10:00

To Be and To Make NIB A Centre of Excellence

2007-04-24T00:36:00.000+10:00

Bangladesh is one of the most crowded countries in the world, seventh largest country in terms of population. Due to her huge population we have insufficiency in every sector of food, feed, fuel and environmental pollution becoming dangerous day by day.

To keep Bangladesh suitable for living for her large population with at least minimum supply of fundamental needs, science and technology should and must play leading role.

But science and technology is an issue nowhere in Bangladesh, not in national budget discussion , not in newspapers and talk shows of TV channels, not also in the scientific communities, e-mail groups of scientists like bdresearchers, microbiologydu etc.. Neither Bangladesh Academy of Sciences nor other scientific professional organizations try to draw the attention of government for giving due importance to scientific research.

But to meet the fundamental needs of food, fuel and medicine of her huge population in a suitable environment, effective use of Science and technology particularly biotechnology is a must for Bangladesh. Biotechnologists must take lead to provide food, fuel and medicine and keep the environment fit for living for her vast population in this very small land. So Bangladesh needs Biotechnology research centre and industry in the field of agriculture, medical, environmental biotechnology and industrial biotechnology.

In Bangladesh we have some very good research institution in the field of agriculture biotechnology, namely BARI, BINA, Bangladesh Agricultural University and they have done excellent job by developing high yielding varieties of different crops and transferring them to farmers. These are not enough. we need more research centre for other sectors of biotechnology e.g. industrial biotechnology, medical biotechnology and environmental biotechnology etc.

All these imperatives are realized by Professor Ahmed S Islam, retired professor of Botany from Dhaka University, 75 year old young man (I kneel down to salute him).And his realization has lead him to form a global network of Bangladeshi biotechnologists along with Dr. Abidur Rahman that has formed a bridge between biotechnologists in Bangladesh and anywhere in the world. He has been trying to promote Biotechnology in Bangladesh for the last two years and moderating the website www.gnobb.org. One big step of his effort is the recently held international conference on “Promotion of Biotechnology in Bangladesh: National and International perspectives", on April 6, 7 and 8, 07(www.promotebiotechbd.net)

The conference had some well defined objectives. One specific objective is to find out strategies for up-grading National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB) into a “Centre of Excellence”, a research institute where excellent biotechnology research will be done.

As the legends of biological sciences in Bangladesh and from abroad took part in this conference, we are very hopeful on finding out effective strategies to make NIB a centre of excellence .However, I would like to share my observations and suggestions from my experience of working in Bangladeshi research institutes (Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and ICDDR) and visiting (by internet) centre of excellence in different countries for higher study.

First of all, What NIB should develop to be centre of excellence?

NIB must develop three core activities to be centre of Excellence.

Firstly. Strategic basic research.

Research groups in NIB must define research area addressing foods, fuel, health and environment related problems of Bangladesh. And develop a long-term strategic plan that defines their mission, long-term focus and the basic (biological) questions they address. To ensure high quality and relevance to Bangladesh socio economic demand, these research plan and projects must be submitted for peer review, regularly be submitted to critical review by specialised international science advisory boards. This advisory board must include expatriate Bangladeshi biotechnologists along with local and foreign specialists. Any research, if not approved, by this review committee should not be done in NIB. Another thing that is must is strong back bone financing. For doing excellent research strong financing is a must. But relying only on government, NIB can not be centre of excellence. NIB must receive substantial backbone financing from the government but local, regional, national and international granting bodies and collaboration with industry must be included in the list of priority for financing from the very beginning.

Secondly, an active technology transfer policy to transfer the inventions to consumers.Doing excellent research have no justification if not transferred or commercialized. Bangladeshi research organisations such BAEC have many, may be small, transferable inventions with high demand in the Bangladeshi market. But these are not seeing the light of market as these organisations have no assigned person and policy to reach them into the market.
So from the very beginning NIB must have a mission of technology transfer to facilitate the commercialization of research results for the public good and to be a catalyst in the economic growth of the life sciences activities in the country.
To attain the mission there must have a technology transfer team, initially it may comprise of only one or two MBA graduate (major in marketing) with bioscience background to do the following jobs:
(1) Pro-active tracing of inventions with commercial potential

(2) Securing the necessary property rights

3) Marketing the technology through negotiating and executing agreements with companies from home and abroad.

And for this there must have a tech transfer Budget specially earmarked to facilitate the rapid transformations of transferable inventions into solid technology platforms.

Thirdly, Scientific information generation for the policy makers, press, general public, and students.

This is critically important for demanding increasing fund from government because policy maker must feel that NIB deserves more funding for its excellent research. Whole nation should also feel that NIB is doing excellent research for them and the way to reach the policy maker and public is the press. So the Press must also be a target for scientific information generation. Same message needs to reach to different group of populations’ e.g politicians, press, youngsters, students, teachers and layman. Only skilled specialist can transfer the same message to different target groups making it understandable to them. So a communication team with specialists must exist in the list of required wings for NIB to be a Centre of Excellence. This is very important otherwise researchers from NIB will face the embarrassing questions like “What NIB is doing for the country? And one of the responsibilities of the communication team will be to get its’ staffs ready to answer such questions.

To make these three core activities excellent, NIB must have excellent manpower, procurement process and time management.

Devoted manpower: First of all, NIB needs a passionate leader who dreams to make it a world class research centre. Part timer will not be able to serve the purpose. To get devoted manpower NIB must recruit Science graduate and senior scientists who have passion and potential for research. So recruitment process/procedure must be up to the mark, there must have Human resource specialists in the recruiting authority, at least an MBA graduate (major in human resources) with biological Science background. Present’s one MCQ written test and then one viva is not a well stand procedure for getting devoted researcher. Submission of research proposal and presentation of it before a board should be included in the recruitment process to get potential researcher. Psychological part can be added in the MCQ test to get devoted researchers.

Recruiting devoted and potential researchers is not enough. Holding them and keep them motivated is the biggest challenge.

Promotion policy must play major role in this regard. Promotion must not be dependent on availability of posts. Rather promotion taking might be made compulsory by doing enough research by the assigned time. For example, a scientific officer becomes eligible for promotion after four years. And four years is the standard time period for a PhD degree. In some countries it is 3 years and in others it is 5 years. So it is expected that a young scientific officer does at least such amount of research work required for getting a PhD degree. So if one young scientific officer can prove that he has done enough work by three years to get PhD degree, he should be promoted with one additional increment. If one takes four years, he will just get promotion. And those who will take more than four years may lose one increment but get promotion. Such a competitive promotion policy dependent on time and work done, not on availability of post might prove superb to keep the scientists devoted and motivated. This is quite possible because in research negative results are also results and there is no problem if all scientists working in a laboraty become chief scientific officers. The number of total scientists in a laboratory may be fixed but he number for a specific position (such as SO, SSO.PSO and CSO) need not be fixed. Giving such incentive increment is more effective alternative of giving high salary. Human resource managers are never in favor of giving high salary in general, rather they are in favor of competitive incentive, increments.
For better management of Manpower two other points deserve attention. One is cycling of Divisional and Institutional heads. The change that must be brought is cycling of the head of different laboratories or division and institutions, just like the chairman of different departments in public universities.

The points in favor of the changes are: 1) Head of division or institution is not scientific post, rather administrative post. If the most senior person is busy with administrative work, then it is wastage of his research experience as he hardly get or give time for research work. If the most seniors are free from administrative responsibility, they can contribute more in research. 2) If the person is inefficient in administrative work, then it causes great damage to the division and juniors cannot rectify him. If a junior does mistake as head of the division, then the seniors can rectify him. 3) If he is efficient, most of the time due to long existence in the same position, he become autocratic and favors some and deprives others. Some juniors get extra and illegal facilities and others become de -motivated being deprived. All staff becomes accountable only to one person and they don’t want to care the mid level officers.4)In the present system, accountability is one way, junior Senior. But cycling will make the accountability two ways, Senior Junior. The two-way accountability will certainly improve the situation. 5)The reasons for which a government official is not supposed to stay in a station for more than three years for the same reason one should not hold one position for a long time in the laboratories.5)5. 99% junior officers want such system. But they are not able to get the bell in the neck of cat. 6) Only seniority cannot be criterion for getting such central and vital position. If so, we should give job based on seniority.

Designation should also be changed .Present designation of scientific officer, Senior Scientific Officer, Principle scientific officer and Chief Scientific officer should be changed. Because these designations have a conflicting effect on the psychology of the scientists. They try to balance between the two designations from which scientific officer are derived: scientist and officer. But ultimately most become neither scientist nor officer. The more logical and updated designations may be Assistant scientist, Associate Scientists, Scientist and Senior Scientist.

But recruiting devoted and potential scientists will not bring desired results if they are not provided with chemicals, reagents and instruments timely. Here comes the question of efficient procurement system, supply chain management.
The present procurement process of government research organizations is unscientific, time consuming and wasteful. In present system, we get separated allocation of money for buying chemicals, instrument and others, also for local and foreign purchase. We cannot use money allotted for one purpose for another. For example, we do not need to by chemicals for this year but we need an instrument. But the allocation is not enough for buying an instrument (sometimes we get as little as 15000.00 TK for buying instrument) and cannot buy the needed instrument. Sometimes we get large amount money for buying instrument but at that moment we do not need any such costly instrument. But we buy it to use it in future. By the time we want to use it, it becomes useless.
In the present system, instruments and chemicals are bought by tender. Those who promise to supply at the cheapest rate get the tender. And we work with cheapest chemicals and instruments and hence our research is also cheapest and the state of quality is three (Saster tin obosta).
We give requisition at the beginning of the year and we don’t know when and what we will get from which budget, local or foreign purchase. Hence we give same item in two purchases (local and foreign) and some times we get from none. Some times we get from both. Both the situation is not good for research work. If you investigate you will find many unused chemicals and instruments due to such faulty procurement process in every laboratory of every government research organizations in Bangladesh. So to make the procurement process research worthy and minimize wastage, the system must be change.
We must be allowed to buy what ever we want and when ever we want so that we can buy chemicals and instruments as per our requirement. For this, there will have no separation of budget such as for chemical, instrument, local or foreign purchase.
All the money for each institution and division or project will go to the bank account of each institute and division. They will buy as per their need from previously listed Supplier Companies. In the present system, in many cases seasonal supplier win tender and provide low grade chemicals and can not give training and post sale service for costly instruments. Ultimately most of them become useless.
We must make sure that the company that are listed must have track record of such supply business, enough manpower for installation of instrument and training on its operation and to give post sale service. Yes, there must have accountability and transparency in purchasing but there must also have freedom in terms of time and quality.
If we can ensure these three things then we can make NIB different from other research organizations, a centre of excellence. Working with the same procedure (of recruitment, promotion and procurement) we can not expect different results. This expectation is not scientific.