Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 11, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted August 11, 2021 https://www.tbsnews.net/features/panorama/23-year-old-bangladeshi-entrepreneur-making-food-delivery-robots-south-korea Sheikh Rafi Ahmed 11 August, 2021, 10:20 am Last modified: 11 August, 2021, 12:58 pm A 23-year old Bangladeshi entrepreneur making food-delivery robots in South Korea Labib Tazwar Rahman is a 23-year-old Bangladeshi tech entrepreneur, founder of InclusionX and one of the co-founders of Neubility, a Seoul-based company that develops autonomous food-delivery robots Neubility develops autonomous food-delivery robots using vision-based localisation and path planning technologies. Photo: Courtesy Labib was only a 20-year-old undergraduate student at Stanford university when he, along with his friends, began meeting investors from prominent companies like Amazon, Hyundai etc. in different parts of the world, starting from South Korea, to Spain, and the US. "When we used to organise debate competitions in school, we had to move from one potential sponsor to another, in search of funding, and convince them why it was in their interest to sponsor our event. It's quite the same with Neubility, but on a much larger scale," Labib said. Labib Tazwar Rahman is a co-founder of Neubility, a Seoul-based company that develops autonomous food-delivery robots using vision-based localisation and path planning technologies. Neubility has already secured funding from the likes of Hyundai Motors. "Basically, Neubility develops robots for last-mile delivery. That is, our robots will collect your food orders from the restaurants and then deliver on their own to your doorsteps without requiring any human intervention," Labib explained. Labib wears many hats: he is the founder of InclusionX, a mental health and disability inclusion service in Bangladesh, the Co-President of the Stanford University Physics Society, and the author of the Stanford Disability Language Guide, which has been featured in The Smithsonian Institution and is currently used as an academic reference in many US universities. Labib met Andrew Lee and Cheongho Cho (the two other founders of Neubility) back in 2015 when he was in class 10. They all participated in the Conrad Awards held at the Kennedy Space Centre in Nasa. They were all finalists and became friends during the competition. "We kept in touch long after the competition and we were always wondering about something we could do together. Eventually, we came up with Neubility," Labib recalled. "Initially, we wanted to make gaming accessories and we worked on this idea for one or two years. But eventually, we pivoted towards making delivery robots since South Korean corporations were looking for an alternative to human delivery services," he added. Using robots for food delivery sounds quite futuristic. So, I wanted to know how this idea could be feasible. Labib Tazwar Rahman Apparently, South Korean citizens are more accustomed to using e-commerce sites. Because of the extremely high demand and booming global e-commerce market, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Korean e-commerce companies to use human labour for delivery, and they are looking for more efficient alternatives, particularly in the form of automation. In the words of Labib, "Currently, this idea is only feasible in meticulously planned cities like Seoul. Even many American cities are not as well-planned as South Korea's capital. But we are planning for the long-term." "These robots can carry any goods from one place to another at any stage of the supply chain. Currently, we are only manufacturing these robots for companies like Hyundai for their internal usage. Eventually, we will move on to producing food-delivery robots around Seoul and hopefully beyond," he added. Labib and his friends are now developing the software required to make sure that these robots can autonomously deliver food to people's doorsteps. This software would create designated paths for the robots around the city. Using these paths – much like Google Maps – the robots would deliver your orders to you. These robots would be programmed to follow Traffic signals and tackle other complicated situations a human delivery man would have to go through every day. Photo: Courtesy The most difficult challenge for any start-up is sustainability and Labib agreed. "Yes, it is very difficult. But we are given a set of milestones by our partners. As we reach each of the milestones, we can ask for more funding from them," Labib said. "While it is challenging to sustain a startup, it is also quite exciting. Reaching every milestone, overcoming every challenge motivates you even more to face the next challenge," he added. Labib also took the opportunity to share the story behind InclusionX. "InclusionX is quite personal to me. My late brother had Cerebral Palsy and I used to go to his school where I made a lot of differently-abled friends. But as I grew up I realised that my friends were quite insensitive about disability and used to make fun of my brother,", Labib said. After his brother passed away, Labib decided to take his friends to some of the schools for differently-abled people so that they could better empathise with them. "I prepared a google form and shared it on Facebook groups. Lots of people signed up on the form. Over the next two months, 250 people signed up and I took them to these specialised schools. The kids in those schools also liked our presence. They used to call us and ask when we would come again," Labib recalled. Through these visits, Labib realised that lots of youngsters like him were interested in interacting with persons with disabilities. But he wanted to do something for them in a more formal manner; something that would integrate children with disabilities into the mainstream discussion. So, Labib came up with the idea of InclusionX. Initially, InclusionX launched a computer training programme for children with disabilities. Later on, they became partners in many events organised by different schools and colleges where these children would participate with other kids from the so-called prominent institutions in Dhaka. Later, InclusionX expanded their area of work to include adolescent reproductive health as well as mental wealth. They have also made several videos showcasing the talents of differently-abled children one of which has gotten over 2 million views. They also organise events for these children on every special occasion like Eid, Pahela Baishakh etc. Finally, I wanted to know how Labib managed to juggle so many ventures at the same time, especially as an undergraduate student at a very demanding university like Stanford. Labib agreed that it was extremely difficult. "But the key is to manage time meticulously. The academic workload is extremely brutal. So, I have to allocate my time accordingly. Project management software does help sometimes. Yes, it's a work in progress. Sometimes, I feel burnt out. However, it is just one of the sacrifices that must be made in order to bring about positive change in the world," Labib concluded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 14, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted August 14, 2021 https://www.thedailystar.net/health/disease/coronavirus/fallouts-fightback/vaccine/news/wonder-nasal-vaccine-knocking-the-door-2151686 Wonder nasal vaccine knocking on the door Swedish drug awaits human trial in Bangladesh; successful test may see it available for use at start of next year Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Sat Aug 14, 2021 12:00 AM One sniff, and you're vaccinated against Covid-19! Almost 100 percent protected against almost all variants. It could be just that simple. No hassle for registration, hospital visit, cold chain storage or inoculation by medical staff. Just vaccinate yourself, at your convenience. "The results of the Swedish vaccine's trial on mice are very promising as those show efficacy rate close to 100 percent, and there is no side effect of the vaccine." Prof Dr ABM Abdullah Renowned physician And that's the promise an under-trial powdered vaccine is showing in which Bangladesh can be a part. A potential game-changing vaccine, as dubbed by Swedish researchers, now awaits human trial -- the third and final phase of vaccine research and development before approval for use -- which can be conducted right here in Bangladesh from next month. If the government weighs in to ensure a smooth research and approval process, the nasal vaccine could be available for use by the start of next year. And, if the trials get a clean chit, Bangladesh is free to buy the vaccine at production cost or even produce it on its own for being a party to the development of the vaccine, planned to be named after the Father of the Nation -- Bangabandhu ISR. Swedish research organisation Holding AB (ISR) is closing in on conducting human trial of its invented vaccine in Bangladesh, thanks to intense engagement of some Bangladesh-born doctors and scientists living in Sweden, the USA and Canada. To conduct the human trial, the ISR signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh Clinical Trials Ltd as its Contract Research Organisation (CRO) earlier this month. Renowned physicians Prof ABM Abdullah and Prof Ahmedul Kabir are the principal investigators of the CRO, which plans to conduct the trial at Mugda Medical College Hospital in the capital. They are planning to carry out the Phase-I trial on 180 healthy persons. Contacted, Prof Abdullah said that after taking the first sniff, one has to get the second one within three to four weeks like any other double-dose Covid-19 vaccine. "The biggest benefit of the trial is that Bangladesh will be able to purchase the vaccine at production cost. Even the government can produce it under its own arrangement if it wants to." Prof Dr Ahmedul Kabir Secretary general, Bangladesh Society of Medicine "The results of the Swedish vaccine's trial on mice are very promising as those show efficacy rate close to 100 percent, and there is no side effect of the vaccine. "The prime minister knows everything about the vaccine. We have proposed naming it Bangabandhu ISR," he said. Talking to this newspaper, Prof Kabir said they have already prepared the protocol and are likely to submit it to Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) in the last week of this month for ethical permission to hold trial in the country. Prof Kabir, secretary general of Bangladesh Society of Medicine, said that if phase-I trial is successful, phase-II and III trial will also take place here. "The biggest benefit of the trial is that Bangladesh will be able to purchase the vaccine at production cost. Even the government can produce it under its own arrangement if it wants," he observed. According to ISR scientists, the dry-powder vaccine uses manufactured Covid-19 virus proteins and can withstand temperature of up to 40 degrees Celsius. They also said a major advantage of the vaccine in development is the conditions needed to store it compared to the currently available Covid vaccines approved by the World Health Organization. "The game-changer is that you could distribute the [powder] vaccine extremely easily without the cold chain, and it can be administered without the need for healthcare providers," said a BBC report on July 26 quoting ISR founder, Ola Winquist, a professor of immunology at the Karolinska Institute, one of Sweden's leading medical universities. In a press release on the ISR website, Ola Winqvist, the CEO of ISR, said, "We are very pleased to be working with experts from Bangladesh to conduct a Phase I clinical study with our vaccine formulations designed for optimal immune response at the entry point of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the respiratory tract." Prof Kabir told this newspaper that if they get permission for clinical trial, a local drug-maker which struck a deal with the ISR will supply the vaccine. The ISR signed a MoU with UniMed UniHealth Pharmaceuticals Ltd on July 6 for manufacture and distribution of its Covid-19 vaccine in Bangladesh. "The purpose of MoU is to agree on a long-term cooperation agreement with a licensing agreement that gives UniMed an exclusive right to manufacture and distribute ISR's vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Bangladesh," said an ISR statement on its website. UniMed will manufacture 100 million units per year with an aim to produce 300 million units or more annually within five years, it mentioned. Prof Kabir said if everything goes smoothly and the BMRC gives quick approval, the phase-I trial will be completed by November. And analysing the data, the third phase trial can be started by December. "We hope to produce vaccine here from January next year," said an optimistic Kabir. INITIATION OF THE PROCESS It all started when Bangladesh-born Swedish economist Shahjahan Sayeed, who is acquainted with Ola Winqvist, came to know about the invention of the dry-powder vaccine. Shahjahan then communicated the matter to Arifur Rahman, a Bangladesh-born doctor living in Canada, to explore the possibility of a human trial of the vaccine in Bangladesh. Arifur then asked four Bangladesh-born US citizens -- cardiologists Prof Choudhury Hafiz Ahsan and Prof Masudul Hassan, nephrologist Prof Ziauddin Ahmed Sadek and former senior UN official Mahmud Ush Sams Choudhury to contact doctors in Bangladesh for initiating trial here. Prof Abdullah and Prof Kabir then prepared a protocol for the trial with Arifur playing the lead role and coordinating the whole thing from Sweden. Talking to this newspaper, Arifur said they came forward as Bangladesh is suffering badly due to Covid. "Now everything is almost ready and we are expecting to get within 15 days a toxicology report on whether the vaccine has any adverse effects. Once we get the report from a German organisation, we will send it to the CRO so that it can apply to the Bangladesh authorities for ethical permission for the trial. "We hope the trial will be a success and Bangladesh will get the chance to become a leader in Covid vaccine production…" Prof Masudul said, "If everything goes as planned, we will consider it a great service to the nation." "Patriotism is the lone driving force behind our efforts. There is nothing else. We wanted to do something for the country in this moment of crisis. Earlier, we had managed ventilators and vaccines from the USA and sent those to Bangladesh." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 21, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted August 21, 2021 Govt urged to utilize Bangladeshi expatriates’ expertise in infrastructure projects UNB Published at 11:31 pm August 21st, 2021 ‘Non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) should be brought to one forum’ Speakers at a webinar on Saturday urged the government to create opportunities to utilize expertise of the expatriate Bangladeshis in developing infrastructure projects. They also observed that more attention should be given to improve the country’s educational system to create skilled manpower. “The existing educational system is not being able to produce quality youths. As a result, they are not getting jobs and remain as educated but unemployed”, said Humayun Rashid, chief executive officer (CEO) of Energypac, while speaking at the virtual seminar organized by Energy and Power magazine. The seminar, titled “NRB’s & Local Technical Resource Integration For Capacity Development of Bangladesh”, was also addressed by Special Envoy to the Presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum Abul Kalam Azad, former power secretary Dr Sultan Ahmed, expatriate educationists Dr Habib Siddiqui, Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan, Abdus Saleque, and Managing Director of Summit Technopolis Abu Reza Khan. Magazine Editor Mollah Amzad Hossain conducted the function. The speakers said that certificates of Bangladesh’s vocational institutes are not accepted abroad. They said though many expatriate Bangladeshis want to engage themselves in the infrastructure projects to utilize their expertise, no initiative is taken by the government. Abul Kalam Azad said the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Finance Ministry can play a vital role in offering the expatriate Bangladeshis to engage in the infrastructure projects. The government is executing a project to develop 100 economic zones across the country where they could be employed, he opined. Dr Sultan Ahmed said if the expatriate Bangladeshis are employed in the country’s infrastructure projects, they could provide better services at a lower cost than that being offered by the foreign experts. Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan said many experts in our country are more qualified than foreign consultants. “We all need patriotism, honesty and then skills. They are qualified to give opinions on mega projects such as Padma Bridge and Metro Rail. But many times their opinion is not taken,” he added. Abu Reza Khan said that non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) have many forums. But they should be brought to one forum. He said if there is any database for the NRBs, then any ministry can utilize the relevant NRB experts when it comes to projects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 25, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted August 25, 2021 https://www.tbsnews.net/features/panorama/entrepreneur-ready-make-her-silicon-valley-designed-robots-bangladesh-292774#.YSXIbGhM7DQ.facebook Sheikh Rafi Ahmed 25 August, 2021, 10:15 am Last modified: 25 August, 2021, 10:23 am This entrepreneur is ready to make her Silicon Valley-designed robots in Bangladesh Rudmeela Nawsheen wants to pioneer robot manufacturing in Bangladesh and revolutionise agriculture with a blockchain-based transparent supply chain Rudmeela Nawsheen wants to manufacture robots in Bangladesh. Photo: Courtesy As industries become more capital-intensive, automation is the next frontier to remain competitive in the global economy. Rudmeela Nawsheen, a Bangladeshi-born US expat, recognised this reality and wants to nurture Bangladeshi young talents and tech enthusiasts so that they can take charge in the future. But that is not all. She also wants to manufacture robots in Bangladesh with local talent and create a hospitable ecosystem for tech and robotics enthusiasts. She wants to create a bridge for talent between Silicon Valley and Bangladesh. "I want to bring together the best of both countries (USA and Bangladesh) and build something that we can sell globally," Rudmeela proudly said. But who is she? And what is her plan to pull this off? Rudmeela Nawsheen, originally from Bangladesh, finished her A-Levels from Scholastica and went on to pursue Electrical Engineering degree at the San Jose State University in California, US, followed by Masters of Science in Digital Communication and Multimedia. She graduated with summa cum laude honours. She built her first company in 2016. It is an XR (Extended Reality) company that, by definition, focuses on augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality as well as animation and game development. It is called ConfigVR. Later, she went on and founded ConfigRbot which is a Robotics and AI company. Both ConfigVR and ConfigRbot are silicon-valley based start-ups that operate in both Bangladesh and USA. She is the founder and CEO of both entities. As of writing this feature story, Rudmeela has launched six robots. Apart from the educational robots, she has launched sanitising robots, humanoid robots, robotic arms, and so on. These robots have a wide range of applications from household hygiene to the industrial production and automation process. At first impression, Rudmeela seemed to have an aura of optimism that is very difficult to find over here. As soon as the conversation began, Rudmeela picked up one of the educational robots - more commonly known as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Robots - from the table in front of her. These robots can be found at her ConfigRbot Facebook page. "I want to encourage children in Bangladesh to take interest in the arena of robotics, programming, machine learning, and artificial intelligence from a very early age. That is why we promote and sell these educational robots and I received a great response from them as well," she explained. "Unlike Bangladesh, here we teach coding from a very early age, when children are in the fifth or sixth grade. Bangladeshi kids - except for a few enthusiastic minds - often get introduced to the world of coding and robotics only when they are in university," Rudmeela added. Currently, ConfigRbot manufactures their robots in China, India, and Singapore. However, Rudmeela wants to start assembling these robots in Bangladesh soon. "I want to shift the assembly process of ConfigRbot entirely to Bangladesh. I plan to establish an assembly plant by December 2021," she said. But she also knows that Bangladesh does not have the necessary infrastructure to accommodate or influence its youngsters to pursue a career in technology or innovate something extraordinary. Out-of-the-box ideas often do not see the light of day. Rudmeela's primary objective is to harbour a hospitable ecosystem that would accommodate tech enthusiasts in Bangladesh. "When I was in Dhaka, I felt like there were a lot of talented kids in Bangladesh. They were tech-savvy, broad-minded, and hard-working. We have a huge pool of talent but they do not have proper guidance from experienced mentors," Rudmeela said. Talent, we do have. Bangladeshi universities like Dhaka University, BRAC University, BUET and MIST have a history of commendable performances in global competitions like the "University Rover Challenge." Their prototypes often blow the minds of seasoned veterans in this field. However, these prototypes, usually, never become full-fledged products due to lack of funding and most of these talents fly abroad and never come back. "This is where I come in. Many of these kids come up with innovative ideas but cannot penetrate the glass ceilings, most students do not have the experience of working hands-on in laboratories. I want to change that. I want them to work with me on their prototypes and sell these products through my company," she said. To foster talent at the grassroots level, Rudmeela has also launched a training centre here in Bangladesh under ConfigRbot. The training centres offer courses at the grassroots level on coding, machine learning, robotics, AI as well as Chinese and Japanese language. On top of that, these courses are quite affordable and they are currently training 45 students, hailing from different parts of the country. They are also providing consultancy services to send students abroad. "When we initiate the plant, we are going to need a lot of skilled employees that we currently do not have in abundance in Bangladesh. So, I am looking forward to hiring some of the talents we acquire through our training centres," Rudmeela said. "I want to make ConfigRbot robots in Bangladesh, sell them locally and globally. I want these robots to read 'Made in Bangladesh'," she added. Rudmeela also wants to revolutionise agriculture in Bangladesh, especially in terms of the supply chain. Farmers in Bangladesh have historically been exploited at the hands of market syndicates and profiteers, while they could barely make their ends meet. This transcending cycle of disenfranchisement has continued for too long and has gotten away, thanks to the sheer dearth of transparency in the agricultural supply chain. Rudmeela, with her partner company, has come up with a solution to this problem. She believes using KrishokChain - a blockchain-based technology, tailor-made for the farmers in Bangladesh, can put an end to their everlasting misery. Most farmers who toil day and night do not even know how their produce reaches our doorsteps from theirs. Lack of training, education, or awareness often leaves them vulnerable to the hands of market syndicates, extortionists, and other forces that manipulate the market. Since the government is a centralised authority, it is often very difficult for it to take care of these problems at the grassroots level. This is where KrishokChain comes in. KrishokChain is a blockchain-based, decentralised, transparent ledger that would record all the transactions taking place across the country. This would allow farmers to be more aware of the market conditions and the prices charged in city markets for their produce. "I recently participated in a blockchain summit with Bangladesh government policymakers where I proposed KrishokChain as a solution for Bangladeshi farmers. Using krishokChain, the end-users will be able to tell where their products come from. If you buy a tomato, you would know which farmer produced that tomato and how much he received for it," said Rudmeela. Another major problem farmers face is an exclusive financial sector that fails to incorporate them in the process. Rudmilla has a plan for that as well. "We will be first in the world to connect blockchain with SMS and IVR. Financial inclusion does not exclude people without data networks and literacy. Most solutions assume people have the internet and smartphones," she said. "We would like to collaborate with different NGOs, visit centres that incorporate farming activities, create farmers' units, and train them. Then we will connect these units across the country so that farmers can communicate and trace each transaction in the supply chain." But Rudmeela is also concerned about the poor quality of internet and electricity in the rural pockets of Bangladesh. How does she plan to deal with these issues? Rudmeela said she has plans for it and will propose solutions in her upcoming visit to Bangladesh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 25, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted August 25, 2021 https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/bangladeshs-wahid-ibn-reza-working-spider-man-no-way-home-2160466 Bangladesh’s Wahid Ibn Reza working on “Spider-Man: No Way Home” Arts & Entertainment Desk Wed Aug 25, 2021 01:54 PM Wahid Ibn Reza, who has made a name for himself in Hollywood by working in several superhero films as a production manager, is now working on Marvel Studios' much-anticipated film, "Spider-Man: No Way Home." He is currently based in Canada, and working as a digital production manager at Digital Domain Holdings. Wahid shared on his Facebook profile that he has always wanted to work on Spider-Man, and he got a taste of it when he worked on the pre-school series, "Spidey and his Amazing Friends". Now, he is excited to work on the upcoming movie. He was associated with "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" as a project coordinator. Furthermore, he worked on Marvel Studios' "Captain America: Civil War (2016)" and "Doctor Strange (2016)" during his tenure in the Method VFX Studios. Wahid worked with the visual effects teams of "Furious 7" (2015), "Fifty Shades of Grey" (2015), "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" (2014) HBO's "Game of Thrones", and "Angry Birds 2" (2019), among other projects. In 2017, "Doctor Strange" was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best VFX, which made him a part of an Oscar nominated team. "Surviving 71", a 2D animated short film about the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh written and directed by Wahid, revolves around three captured freedom fighters who reminisce about what brought them to the war as they prepare to face their ultimate demise, getting shot in the back and thrown out of a moving train. The voice cast of the film includes Jaya Ahsan, Meher Afroz Shaon, Tanzir Tuhin, Gousul Alam Shawon, Anik Khan, Samir Ahsan and Wahid himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 27, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted August 27, 2021 Dr. Shuvo Roy is a Bangladesh-American scientist trying to create an artificial kidney for the CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) and Diabetes patient with the help of nanotechnology. https://www.facebook.com/TogbogBD/videos/820215278693871/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 31, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted August 31, 2021 https://therisingcampus.com/বাংলাদেশি-প্রকৌশলীর-নামে/ বাংলাদেশি প্রকৌশলীর নামে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে ভবন By The Rising Campus আগস্ট ৩০, ২০২১ যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের টেনেসি অঙ্গরাজ্যের টেনেসি টেকনোলজিক্যাল ইউনিভার্সিটির নির্মিতব্য প্রকৌশল ভবনের নামকরণ বাংলাদেশি প্রকৌশলী ও ব্যবসায়ী আশরাফ ইসলামের নামে করা হয়েছে। সম্প্রতি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের বোর্ড অব ট্রাস্টিজের সভায় এমন সিদ্ধান্ত হয়েছে বলে তাদের ওয়েবসাইটে জানানো হয়েছে। নির্মিতব্য ভবনের নাম দেওয়া হয়েছে ‘আশরাফ ইসলাম ইন্জিনিয়ারিং বিল্ডিং’। এতে শ্রেণিকক্ষ গবেষণাগারসহ শিক্ষার্থীদের জন্য নানাবিধ সুবিধা থাকবে। আগামী মাসে নির্মাণকাজ শুরু হওয়ার কথা। এক লাখ বর্গফুটের ভবনটির ব্যয় ধরা হয়েছে ছয় কোটি ২০ লাখ মার্কিন ডলার। ৪০ জন দাতা মিলে এই ব্যয়ের অর্থ দেওয়ার কথা। সেখানে ৩০ লাখ ডলার অনুদানের ঘোষণা দিয়েছেন আশরাফ ইসলাম। টেনেসি টেকনোলজিক্যাল ইউনিভার্সিটির সাবেক এই শিক্ষার্থী যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের পরিবহন খাতের স্বনামধন্য ব্যবসায়ী। প্রকৌশলী আশরাফ ইসলাম বাংলাদেশের শিক্ষামন্ত্রী ডা. দিপু মনির খালাতো ভাই। আজ সোমবার শিক্ষামন্ত্রী তাঁর ফেসবুক একাউন্টে এ নিয়ে একটি পোস্ট করেছেন। ফেসবুকে শিক্ষামন্ত্রী ডা. দিপু মনি লিখেছেন, ‘মাসুম ভাই, আমরা অসম্ভব গর্বিত। আল্লাহ আপনাকে সুস্বাস্থ্য ও দীর্ঘায়ু দান করুন। আমীন। আমাদের বড় খালাম্মা আসিয়া খাতুন ও বড় খালু ইউনুস মজুমদারের প্রথম সন্তান আশরাফুল ইসলাম, আমাদের নানাবাড়ির প্রথম নাতি, আৃাদের প্রিয় মাসুম ভাই। ঢাকা কলেজে পড়ার সময় রাজনীতিতে জড়িয়ে পড়েছিলেন। বেগম ফাতেমা জিন্নাহর নির্বাচনে ছাত্রলীগের সক্রিয় সদস্য হিসেবে ব্যাপক কাজ করেছিলেন। ফাতেমা জিন্নাহর পরাজয়ের পর আর দেশে থাকতে পারেননি। পাড়ি জমিয়েছিলেন যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে। মাসুম ভাই যে বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে পড়াশোনা করে প্রকৌশলী হয়েছেন সেই বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় টেনেসি টেকনোলজিকেল ইউনিভার্সিটি তাদের নতুন ৯০ মিলিয়ন ডলারে নির্মিতব্য অত্যাধুনিক স্টেট অব দি আর্ট ইনজিনিয়ারিং ভবনের নামকরণ করছে আশরাফ ইসলাম ইন্জিনিয়ারিং বিল্ডিং। এ বছর ১০ সেপ্টেম্বরে এ ভবন তৈরির কাজ শুরু হবে।’ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted September 3, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted September 3, 2021 https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/world/america/bangladeshi-origin-nusrat-chowdhury-recommended-to-become-us-federal-judge-1630593386 Bangladeshi-origin Nusrat Chowdhury recommended to become US federal judge Published: September 02, 2021 20:22:43 | Updated: September 02, 2021 22:38:35 US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday asked President Joe Biden to nominate three women experienced in civil rights litigation to serve as federal judges in New York, including one who would be only the second Muslim American on the bench in the country. Schumer recommended Jessica Clarke, Nusrat Choudhury and Nina Morrison to serve as federal judges in the Southern District and Eastern Districts of New York. Schumer is the top Democrat in the US Senate and senior senator from New York, and Biden often follows his recommendations, as well as those from other senior Democratic lawmakers, for home state nominees. If Biden makes the nominations they would further his goal of bringing more professional and demographic diversity to the judiciary, reports Reuters. Progressives and judicial reform proponents have long called for more judges on the federal bench with backgrounds other than the typical mix of former prosecutors or defence attorneys from major law firms. Biden has nominated 35 judges nationally. "These three diverse and incredibly talented women would bring tremendous expertise in civil rights, fair housing, criminal justice reform and more to the federal bench," Schumer said in a statement. Representatives for Clarke, Choudhury and Morrison did not respond to requests for comment. Clarke, whom Schumer recommended to serve as a federal judge in Manhattan, has served as the civil rights bureau chief under New York Attorney General Letitia James since 2019. She has been helping spearhead a lawsuit that James filed in January accusing the New York Police Department of using excessive force against racial justice protesters after the killing of George Floyd last year. The lawsuit remains pending. Before that, Clarke, 38, served in the US Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division and worked at what was then the firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady. Schumer also recommended that Nusrat Choudhury, 44, the legal director at the ACLU of Illinois, serve as a federal judge in the Eastern District of New York, which has courthouses in Brooklyn and Central Islip. She had previously worked since 2008 at the national ACLU, including as deputy director of the ACLU Racial Justice Program. If confirmed, she would be the first Bangladeshi American, and only the second Muslim American, to serve in the federal judiciary. The first, Zahid Quraishi, was confirmed by the US Senate for a seat in New Jersey in June. Nina Morrison, who Schumer also recommended serve as a federal judge in the Eastern District, is the senior litigation counsel at the Innocence Project, which helps people who were wrongfully convicted. She has been there since 2002 and was before that also a lawyer at Emery Celli. Her work includes litigating claims for access to post-conviction DNA evidence. Schumer's office said Morrison, 51, has personally helped free more than 30 innocent people from prison and death row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted September 15, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted September 15, 2021 https://www.dhakatribune.com/world/2021/09/15/bangladeshi-american-durreen-shahnaz-now-on-forbes-50-over-50-list Bangladeshi-American Durreen Shahnaz now on Forbes 50 Over 50 list Tribune Desk Published at 03:49 pm September 15th, 2021 File photo of Durreen Shahnaz Earlier, the Asia Society had honored her with the Asia Game Changer Award in 2016 and she bagged the Oslo Business for Peace Award 2017 Amid the continuing recognition for her priceless role as a financial changemaker, Durreen Shahnaz, a Bangladeshi-American investment banker-turned-entrepreneur, professor, and speaker, has now made it to the list of Forbes 50 Over 50. The prestigious journal published what it termed the 50 Over 50: Investment list on Tuesday, highlighting the female investors and financial leaders who are leading high-growth businesses in the male-dominated spaces of Wall Street, venture capital, and impact investing. Born in Bangladesh and educated in the US, Shahnaz started her career on Wall Street in the late ’80s and saw firsthand how the financial markets can change lives—and how the vast wealth the markets were creating were not reaching the world’s women, says Forbes. She went on to work for microfinancier Grameen and, in 2009, founded Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), a private placement platform to invest in “last-mile” female entrepreneurs around the globe. While IIX has invested $215 million across 53 countries and helped, by her estimate, millions of female small business owners, Shahnaz is most proud of a financial instrument she created on the cusp of turning 50: a women-focused bond series. In 2017, Shahnaz launched the $150 million Women’s Livelihood Bond Series with a goal of using debt securities to drive more sustainable livelihoods for women in developing countries. She priced the third bond in the series in December, and is eyeing a fourth this fall. “You can have deep impact, you can have women in the front and center of financial markets, and you can have sophisticated products that give you financial return and does good as well,” says Shahnaz, now 53. It is this forward thinking and this impact-driven investment thesis that have landed Shahnaz a spot on the list. Forbes‘ “50 Over 50” platform, in partnership with Mika Brzezinski’s “Know Your Value,” is dedicated to shining a light on diverse women over the age of 50 who have achieved significant success later in life, often by overcoming formidable odds or barriers. It’s the third of three subject-focused lists that expand on Forbes' inaugural 50 Over 50 list launched in June, a project meant to draw attention to women achieving their greatest accomplishments at ages when some parts of society are all too quick to overlook. Due to an abundance of interest in the inaugural 50 Over 50 list, Forbes has continued to roll out additional sub lists to spotlight women who are achieving great success after 50. In addition to the 50 Over 50: Investment list, Forbes has published a sub-list focused on Vision, which highlights women making an impact on society through their work in art and science, and Impact, which celebrates women who are changing their communities and the world through social entrepreneurship, law, advocacy and education. "The women on this list are changing the face of finance and creating new ways to move and make money," said Maggie McGrath, Editor, ForbesWomen. "Whether working on Wall Street, venture capital or as a fintech founder, they're united by a shared mission to make finance more inclusive and increase women's economic participation. They're paving the way for other women to be leaders and make a lasting impact in a traditionally male-dominated industry." On her 50th birthday, IIX founder Shahnaz addressed the United Nations General Assembly about impact investing and using conscious capitalism to foster peace and equality. She concluded her remarks by telling the audience that when she was younger, her grandfather would tell her that according to Muslim tradition and the astrological charts, she was born on an auspicious moment, something called chura moni that is said to ensure a child will reach great heights. “If only you were born a boy,” he’d continue, “then you could have reached the peak.” “I stand here today, proudly, as a woman who is reaching her peak with defiance and with optimism,” Shahnaz told the audience. “I want the girl who is born today to know that she has already reached her chura moni because she is born in a world that celebrates her birth; a world where she, and all of us, belong; a world that is embracing a new financial paradigm to promote equality.” Earlier, the Asia Society had honored her with the Asia Game Changer Award in 2016 and she bagged the Oslo Business for Peace Award 2017. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted October 19, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted October 19, 2021 https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2021/07/03/bangladeshi-platform-in-top-10-london-based-data-mining-startups Bangladeshi's platform in top 10 London-based data mining startups BSS Published at 05:20 pm July 3rd, 2021 WhadaTime is an interactive short video platform born from a mission to connect talented performers around the globe WhadaTime, founded by Shadman Sakib, a Bangladesh-born entrepreneur in Britain, has made its room the group of top 10 London-based data mining startups and companies. Sakib is the founder, chairman, and CEO of interactive short video platform ‘WhadaTime.’ ‘Best Startup’, a United Kingdom (UK) based digital platform, has selected the top 25 London based data mining startups and companies where the position of ‘WhadaTime’ is 10th, as per the ‘Beststartup.co.uk’ website. Earlier, WhadaTime won the Sixth Annual Technology Innovator Awards under the “Best Interactive Short Video Platform – California, USA” category. Corporate Vision, a United Kingdom (UK) based digital platform to support and guide better business practices gave the award. WhadaTime is an interactive short video platform born from a mission to connect talented performers around the globe. It’s a destination for people worldwide to showcase, consume and engage with talent, ideas, creativity, and culture from anyone, anywhere. Born from Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, WhadaTime is designed to connect viewers with performers, with an integrated AI element dedicated to advanced behavioral analysis for content consumption and creation. Innovation at WhadaTime is driven by a clear mission to empower anyone to become a performer, built on the belief that everyone is born with a talent – they need the space and the platform to discover it and display it to the world. “Our goal is to be a stimulant that ignites that hidden ability of ordinary people to become the next global phenomenon through using the WhadaTime platform,” says Founder and CEO of WhadaTime, Shadman Sakib. “And to realize this objective, we are devoted to inventing features that will bring communities together that support each other in growth and positivity,” he added. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted October 19, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted October 19, 2021 https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/07/07/british-bangladeshi-scientist-gets-10m-of-orders-after-inventing-spray-to-fight-covid British-Bangladeshi scientist gets £10m in orders after inventing spray to fight Covid Md Serajul Islam, Sylhet Published at 02:52 pm July 7th, 2021 Sadia is a young scientist who was about to take a PhD in Alzheimer’s Research and Neurodegeneration when the pandemic struck Collected The NHS, NASA and various independent peer reviewed labs have all successfully trialled Voltique – which will now be taken on by a number of governments and blue chip companies A young British scientist of Bangladesh origins has developed a revolutionary disinfectant solution that has been deemed "ground-breaking" in the global fight against Covid-19. After 14 months of research, Sadia Khanom, 26, developed “Voltique”, a spray that attracts and kills all pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi and other microbes) on any surface it is applied to for 14 days. The NHS, NASA and various independent peer-reviewed labs have all successfully trialled Voltique – which will now be taken on by a number of governments and blue chip companies. Hospitals in the UK said the spray is 100% effective in killing coronavirus and has the potential to save organizations 70% of their cleaning product bills. Khanom has already received orders for £10 million worth of Voltique from as many as 13 countries around the world. The spray can be used in medical facilities, hotels, motels, restaurants, aircraft, and nuclear stations. Khanom said: “I have been obsessed with science from an early age. My passion piqued at the age of 14, when my grandfather developed Alzheimer’s, and from then on I have made it my mission to prevent the disease.” She was about to pursue a PhD in Alzheimer’s Research and Neurodegeneration when the pandemic struck. Sadia Khanom with her Covid-19 fighting device | Collected “I have a strategy to find an early intervention for Alzheimer's, however, my restriction has been lacking funding. By creating something like Voltique, I could create a solution for Covid-19 whilst funding my Alzheimer’s research at the same time,” she added. Khanom used her parent’s restaurant, Café India, as her initial case study and tested her invention on different services. “I have studied Covid-19 extensively and have also conducted a great deal of research on all common disinfectants on the market. After months of research, I finally found the perfect formula and called it Voltique,” she said. Alongside scientific innovation and development professional Colin Hagan, Khanom plans to roll out the potentially life-saving invention on a global scale. Her father Kabir Ahmed is a proud man now. "There is nothing more joyous than knowing we can help people around the world with this discovery of my daughter," he said. The family lives in Chester, UK. Her father is a restaurateur, and her grandfather Azmat Ali migrated to the United Kingdom from Sylhet's Bishwanath back in 1964. Her father first admitted her to the local Blackburn Madrasa, as he wanted his daughter's education to start with lessons on religion. From Blackburn Madrasa, she successfully passed her GCSE and Alima course. She went on to study at Holy Cross Sixth Form College, Manchester, and eventually earned a Masters in Genetics from Chester University. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted November 5, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted November 5, 2021 https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/ইনটেলের-প্রসেসরে-বাংলাদেশি-বিজ্ঞানীরও-অবদান-থাকছে ইনটেলের প্রসেসরে বাংলাদেশি বিজ্ঞানীরও অবদান থাকছে শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী। কাজ করছেন বিশ্বের শীর্ষস্থানীয় প্রযুক্তি প্রতিষ্ঠান ইনটেল করপোরেশনের প্রিন্সিপাল ইঞ্জিনিয়ার হিসেবে। পাশাপাশি পোর্টল্যান্ড স্টেট ইউনিভার্সিটিতে পড়ান। বাংলাদেশ প্রকৌশল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় (বুয়েট) ও ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের পাঁচজন অধ্যাপকসহ বাংলাদেশ পরমাণু শক্তি কমিশন নিয়ে গঠন করেছেন একটি গবেষণা দল। ইনটেলে তাঁর উদ্ভাবন, বিদেশে বাংলাদেশি প্রকৌশলীদের সম্ভাবনা, গবেষণা দলের কাজসহ নানা বিষয় নিয়ে কথা বলেছেন প্রথম আলোর সঙ্গে। সাক্ষাৎকার নিয়েছেন মো. আব্দুল্লাহ আল হোসাইন প্রকাশ: ২১ অক্টোবর ২০২১, ০১: ৫৮ শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী বুয়েটের কোন ব্যাচের শিক্ষার্থী ছিলেন? শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী: ১৯৮৭ সালে এইচএসসি পাশ করি। আমি বুয়েটের ৮৭তম ব্যাচের শিক্ষার্থী। কর্মজীবন কোথায় শুরু করেন? শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী: আমার লক্ষ্য ছিল শিক্ষকতাকে পেশা হিসেবে নেব। বুয়েটে প্রথম শ্রেণিতে প্রথম হই। সেখানে শিক্ষক হিসেবে যোগ দিই ১৯৯৪ সালে। সেখানে পড়ানোর সুযোগ পাই দেড় বছর। বিজ্ঞাপন এরপর কি দেশের বাইরে চলে যান? শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী: পিএইচডির জন্য বৃত্তি নিয়ে আমি চলে আসি ইংল্যান্ডে। সেখানে যে বিষয়টা দেওয়া হয়েছিল, সেটা খুব একটা ভালো লাগেনি। তখন আমি সেমিকন্ডাক্টর (অর্ধপরিবাহী) ফিল্ডের দিকে যেতে চাচ্ছিলাম। পরে ইংল্যান্ড থেকে আয়ারল্যান্ড চলে যাই। ডাবলিন সিটি ইউনিভার্সিটি সুযোগ করে দেয় মাইক্রো ইলেকট্রনিকস, মূলত ম্যাটেরিয়ালসের ওপর কাজ করার। সেখান থেকে তিন বছরে পিএইচডি শেষ করে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে পোস্ট-ডক্টরেট করার সুযোগ পাই। ওহাইও স্টেট ইউনিভার্সিটিতে পোস্ট-ডক্টরেটের এক বছর কাজ করেছি ইলেকট্রনিক ম্যাটেরিয়ালসের ওপর। ওটার চাহিদা তখন ভালো ছিল, কারণ নতুন ক্ষেত্র। ইনটেল করপোরেশন, বিশ্বের বড় সেমিকন্ডাক্টর চিপ উৎপাদনকারী প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোর একটি। সেখানে আপনার যাত্রা শুরু হয়েছিল কীভাবে? শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী: ওহাইও স্টেট ইউনিভার্সিটির সঙ্গে কাজ করা অবস্থায় ইনটেল করপোরেশন আমাকে ডেকে নেয়। আমার একটা উদ্ভাবন দেখে তারা আমাকে নেয়। ১৯৯৯ সালে রিসার্চ অ্যান্ড ডেভেলপমেন্ট (আরঅ্যান্ডডি) সেক্টরে যোগ দিই সিনিয়র প্রসেস ইঞ্জিনিয়ার হিসেবে। সিনিয়র টেকনিক্যাল পদে যোগ দিতে গেলে অবশ্যই পিএইচডি থাকতে হবে। তারপর ইনডিভিজুয়্যাল কন্ট্রিবিউটর হিসেবে কাজ করি। এ পদে নিজের প্রজেক্ট নিজেই খুঁজে বের করতে হয়, যা বিরাট চ্যালেঞ্জের। এরপরের পদটাই হচ্ছে প্রিন্সিপাল ইঞ্জিনিয়ার, বর্তমানে এ পদে আছি। এখন মূলত ইনটেলের পরবর্তী প্রজন্মের মাইক্রোপ্রসেসরের রোডম্যাপ তৈরির গবেষণা করছি। প্রকৌশলী হিসেবে আপনি ইনটেলে কীভাবে অবদান রাখছেন? শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী: আমাদের দুইটা প্রধান ফোকাস থাকে। একটা হচ্ছে আরঅ্যান্ডডি সেক্টর, এখানে আমরা নতুন নতুন জিনিস উদ্ভাবন করি। আমাদের লক্ষ্যই হচ্ছে নতুন নতুন প্রযুক্তি, উদ্ভাবন ও ভাবনা দেওয়া। উদ্ভাবনের পর এগুলোর মেধাস্বত্ব হয়ে যায়, পাবলিকেশন হয়ে যায়। আমরা যখন দেখি গবেষণার মাধ্যমে মাইক্রোপ্রসেসরের প্রোটোটাইপ তৈরি করতে পেরেছি এবং তা কাঙ্ক্ষিত চাহিদা অনুসারে তৈরি হয়েছে, তখন আমরা উৎপাদনের জন্য পাঠিয়ে দিই। আমরা প্রযুক্তি উদ্ভাবন করি এবং এর পাশাপাশি উৎপাদনের জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় যন্ত্রগুলো উদ্ভাবন করে থাকি। উৎপাদিত যন্ত্রাংশ কৃত্রিম বুদ্ধিমত্তার মাধ্যমে উৎপাদনের পুরো প্রক্রিয়া সম্পন্ন করে। আপনি যে ল্যাপটপটা ব্যবহার করছেন, হয়তো কোনো না কোনো ক্ষেত্রে সেখানে আমার একটা ইন্টারঅ্যাকশন ছিল। ইনটেলের আরঅ্যান্ডডি বিভাগের একটাই সফলতা--- আমরা নিজেদের মতো করে ম্যাটেরিয়াল ডিজাইন করতে পারি, যা অন্য অনেক প্রতিদ্বন্দ্বী প্রতিষ্ঠানের নেই। আমরাই অনেক কিছু প্রথম উদ্ভাবন করেছি, এবং সবাই আমাদেরটা অনুসরণ করে। ইনটেলে আপনার উল্লেখযোগ্য একটি উদ্ভাবনের গল্প যদি শোনান... শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী: ১৯৯৯-২০০০ সালে ট্রানজিস্টরে কপার তারের প্রযুক্তি ইনটেলই বিশ্বে প্রথম উদ্ভাবন করে। সেখানে আমার অবদান আছে। এ ছাড়া ২০০৯ সালে আমার একটি মেধাস্বত্ব প্রকাশ হয়েছিল। তাইওয়ানের বিজ্ঞানীসহ আমি তখন একটা নতুন প্রযুক্তি উদ্ভাবন করেছিলাম, যাকে বলা হয় ‘ইলেক্ট্রোলেস ডেপোজিশন টেকনিক’। এর মাধ্যমে ন্যানো মাত্রায় কপার তার তৈরি করি, যা ট্রানজিস্টরের কাজে এখনো ব্যবহৃত হচ্ছে। ট্রানজিস্টরের একটা অংশ দিয়ে বিদ্যুৎ কীভাবে প্রবেশ করবে, সেটাই উদ্ভাবন করেছিলাম যার মাধ্যমে ট্রানজিস্টরের পারফরম্যান্স বেড়ে গেল। ইনটেলে সব মিলিয়ে ২০টির বেশি উদ্ভাবন করেছি। এর মধ্যে কয়েকটির মেধাস্বত্ব প্রকাশ করেছে ইনটেল শুধু জানান দেওয়ার জন্য। বাকিগুলো প্রকাশ করেনি, কারণ অন্য কেউ প্রযুক্তিটা ব্যবহার করতে পারে। শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী পরিশ্রম করে এত দূর এসেছেন। অবসরের আগে আর কী কী করতে চান? শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী: আমি আসলে এ জায়গাটায় অন্যদের চেয়ে একটু ভিন্ন। আমার মনে হয়, আমি এক জায়গায় আছি, কাজে সন্তুষ্টি পাচ্ছি। যেহেতু এখানে কাজের ক্ষেত্রে স্বাধীনতা আছে, তাই এই প্রতিষ্ঠান ছেড়ে আরেকটা প্রতিষ্ঠানে যাওয়ার কথা ভাবিনি। আমি মনে করি, আমার কাজে গুণগত মান থাকবে এবং সেই গুণই আমাকে টেনে তুলে নেবে। এমনকি এখানে প্রিন্সিপাল ইঞ্জিনিয়ারের পর ইনটেলে ফেলো হব, আমি এভাবেও চিন্তা করিনি। ইনটেলে বাংলাদেশি প্রকৌশলীদের সম্ভাবনা কেমন? যেসব তরুণ প্রকৌশলী টেক-জায়ান্ট প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোতে কাজ করতে আগ্রহী, তাঁদের বিষয়ে কী বলবেন? শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী: ইনটেলে আরঅ্যান্ডডি একটি বিরাট সুযোগের জায়গা। প্রতিষ্ঠানটিতে বিভিন্ন দেশের মোট ১ লাখ ১০ হাজার কর্মী আছেন। আমাদের বাংলাদেশি প্রকৌশলীর সংখ্যা ২ হাজারের মতো। বুয়েট, ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়সহ আরও যে নতুন নতুন বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলো আছে, বিআইটি (বাংলাদেশ ইনস্টিটিউট অব টেকনোলজি)--- এগুলো থেকে কাজ করতে এসেছেন তাঁরা। ইলেক্ট্রিক্যাল ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং, পদার্থ, রসায়ন, কেমিক্যাল ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং, এই ধরনের বহু বিষয়ে পড়া শিক্ষার্থীদের ইনটেল নিয়োগ দিয়ে থাকে। ইনটেলে প্রথমে একটা সুযোগ করে দেয়। প্রথম দুই বছর যদি আমি পরিশ্রম করে তাদের দেখাতে পারি যে আমি সত্যিকার অর্থে একজন কন্ট্রিবিউটিং ইঞ্জিনিয়ার, ওরা যদি বুঝে ফেলে যে ইনটেলের স্থির করা লক্ষ্যে এগিয়ে যেতে আমি অবদান রাখছি তাহলে পরবর্তী ধাপে যাওয়া খুবই সহজ। এটার জন্য প্রচণ্ড নিবেদিতপ্রাণ হতে হয়। ফোকাস লাগে, সময়ও দিতে হয়। আমার মতে, বড় বিষয়টা হলো আমি আসলে কী করতে চাই, তার পরিকল্পনা করা। এই জিনিসটা ধীরস্থিরভাবে বুঝে নিতে হবে। অনেকের মধ্যে অল্প পরিশ্রম করে ভালো করার একটা প্রবণতা লক্ষ্য করা যায়। আমরা যখন ইন্টারভিউ নিই তখনও প্রশ্ন করি, তোমাকে কাজটা কাল জমা দিতে হবে, সঙ্গে অন্য কাজগুলোও রয়ে গেছে। এটা তুমি কীভাবে ব্যালান্স করবে? এই জিনিসটা হয় কাজের প্রতি নিবেদন থেকে। এমন অনেক রাত গেছে আমি ঘুমাইনি। এমন অনেক সময় গেছে আমার ইনটেলের ভেতরে টাস্কফোর্সে বসে সমাধান দিতে হয়েছে। আমি বাংলাদেশ থেকে ওই ফোকাসটা ঠিক করেই এসেছি। এই যে মানসিকতা, একজন প্রকৌশলীর জন্য এটা একটা বিরাট ব্যাপার। বড় কিছু শুরুতে না দেখে, ধীরে কিন্তু দৃঢ়ভাবে এগিয়ে যাওয়া একজন ভালো প্রকৌশলীর বৈশিষ্ট্য। টেক জায়ান্ট প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোতে বিভিন্ন দেশের প্রকৌশলীরা কাজ করেন। তাঁদের সঙ্গে বাংলাদেশিদের তুলনার ক্ষেত্রে কী বলবেন? শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী: সৎভাবে বলি, বুয়েট, ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের বিজ্ঞান অনুষদে যারা পড়াশোনা করেন তাদের কিন্তু ব্যাকগ্রাউন্ড কোনো অংশেই কম না। অনেক ক্ষেত্রে তাঁরা তাত্ত্বিক বিষয়গুলো বেশি জানে। কাজেই নিজেকে ছোট করে তুলে ধরা চলবে না। আমাদের হয়তো সুযোগ কম, কিন্তু সেই জায়গাগুলো শিখে নিতে হবে নিজেদের ইচ্ছায়। এবং এই সুযোগ ইনটেল, গুগল, মাইক্রোসফট, আইবিএম-- এসব বড় বড় কোম্পানি দিয়ে থাকে। এই সুযোগ নিলে ঘাটতি বছরখানেকের মধ্যে এমনিতেই চলে যায়। আইআইটি (ইন্ডিয়ান ইনস্টিটিউট অব টেকনোলজি) বিশেষ করে কানপুর ও খড়গপুর আইআইটির একজন শিক্ষার্থী যখন স্নাতকোত্তর ডিগ্রি নেন, তাঁর যে জ্ঞান এবং তা বাস্তবিক প্রযোগের সক্ষমতা, তা আমাদের ছেলে-মেয়েদের চেয়ে অনেক বেশি। একজন চীনা শিক্ষার্থী প্রচণ্ড খাঁটেন, দিন-রাত বলে তাঁর কিছু নাই। ওঁদের কাজপাগল বলা হয়। তাঁদের সঙ্গে আমাদের তুলে ধরতে হবে। যদি আমার কোনো ঘাটতি থাকে, সেই ঘাটতি পূরণে আমাকে প্রচুর পড়াশোনা করতে হবে। একটা ডিগ্রি নিয়ে বের হলেই যে প্রকৌশলী হয়ে গেলাম, তা কিন্তু না। প্রতিটা মুহূর্তে শিখতে হবে, প্রতিটা মুহূর্তে তাঁদের সঙ্গে প্রতিযোগিতা করতে হবে। আপনি এখনো শিক্ষকতা করছেন। ইনটেলে প্রকৌশলী হিসেবে কাজ করার পাশাপাশি এটা কীভাবে সামলাচ্ছেন? শায়েস্তাগীর চৌধুরী: আমি অরেগন অঙ্গরাজ্যে থাকি। ইনটেলের কাজ শেষে সন্ধ্যায় পোর্টল্যান্ড স্টেট ইউনিভার্সিটিতে একজন অ্যাডজাঙ্কট প্রফেসর হিসেবে কাজ করি। আমার ওই আগ্রহটা আছে যে, আমি শিক্ষকতায়ও থাকব। আমি সেমিকন্ডাক্টর উৎপাদন বিষয়ে পড়াই এখানে। আমি ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় ও বুয়েটে অনলাইন ক্লাসেও একই বিষয় পড়াই। এ ছাড়া ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ইলেক্ট্রিক্যাল ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং বিভাগ, বুয়েটের ইলেক্ট্রিক্যাল ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং ও ম্যাটেরিয়াল সায়েন্স বিভাগের পাঁচজন অধ্যাপকসহ বাংলাদেশ আণবিক শক্তি কমিশন নিয়ে একটি গবেষণা দল গঠন করেছি। ইনটেল মাইক্রোপ্রসেসরের ১০টা সার্ভার কম্পিউটার নিয়ে গিয়েছিলাম বিভাগগুলোর জন্য। উদ্দেশ্য ছিল সুপার কম্পিউটারের মাধ্যমে আমরা যখন বাস্তবে নতুন ম্যাটেরিয়াল উদ্ভাবন করি, তার সিমুলেশন করা যেন আমি প্রত্যাশিত ফলটা পাই। কারণ, তাত্ত্বিকভাবে যদি কোনো উদ্ভাবন প্রমাণ করতে পারি, তখনই আমার গবেষণার ৬০ ভাগ কাজ শেষ, বাকি ৪০ ভাগ হচ্ছে বাস্তবিকভাবে তৈরি করা। বাংলাদেশে কোটি কোটি ডলার খরচ করে ল্যাবরেটরি তৈরি যেহেতু সম্ভব নয়, আমার দেশের মেধা দিয়ে শুধু সিমুলেশন করি। এতে ৬০ ভাগ গবেষণা কিন্তু হয়ে গেল। তাঁরা এ ধরনের নতুন নতুন উদ্ভাবনের কাজ শুরু করে দিয়েছেন। যেমন, বালু থেকে সোলার সেল তৈরি করার কাজ এগিয়ে চলছে। Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted November 19, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted November 19, 2021 https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/bangladeshi-architect-marina-tabassum-wins-2021-soane-medal-london-330874 TBS Report 17 November, 2021, 12:20 pm Last modified: 17 November, 2021, 02:07 pm Bangladeshi Architect Marina Tabassum wins 2021 Soane Medal in London She has previously won the highly esteemed Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2016 for one of her most notable buildings, the Bait-Ur-Rouf Mosque in Dhaka Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum has been awarded the 2021 Soane Medal presented by Sir John Soane's Museum in London on Tuesday (16 November). She is the first architect from the global south to have won the prestigious medal, reports The Guardian. According to Artdaily, Marina appeared in a live digital event at the Museum and gave the fourth Soane Medal lecture upon receiving the honour. "My current work is focused on the twin crises of Bangladesh: the plight of refugees, and the heightened threat to our population of flooding, exacerbated by global warming," she informed. "Both factors have led me to focus on prototyping low impact, mobile housing which can be delivered at the lowest cost possible for those in need," she added. "Our goal is to make it an open source knowledge that can help people build their own houses," stated the founder and principal architect of 'Marina Tabassum Architects'. Marina, a pioneer of what she describes as "the architecture of relevance", won the highly esteemed Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2016 for one of her most notable buildings, the Bait-Ur-Rouf Mosque in Dhaka. Bait-Ur-Rouf Mosque in Dhaka. Photo: Collected She expressed candid remarks about her latest accolade saying, "Compared to the previous winners, Rafael Moneo, Dennis Scott Brown and Kenneth Frampton, I am very much a work in progress." "The search is still on," Marina humbly added. The Soane Medal, established by Sir John Soane's Museum in 2017, is awarded to honour practitioners of architecture in culture and society. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted November 20, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted November 20, 2021 https://www.dhakatribune.com/technology/2021/11/20/jwst-a-giant-new-eye-in-the-sky JWST: A giant new eye in the sky Nabban Haque Published at 08:35 pm November 20th, 2021 https://media-eng.dhakatribune.com/uploads/2021/11/lamiya-ashra-mowla-1637418804250.jpg Lamiya Ashraf Mowla Courtesy The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the largest space telescope ever built, is expected to finally be launched at the end of the year after countless delays. As the launch nears, Dhaka Tribune’s Nabban Haque sat with Dr Lamiya Ashraf Mowla, Dunlap Fellow at the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of Toronto and member of the Canadian team guaranteed time on the JWST, to discuss what makes the iconic Hubble Space Telescope’s replacement special Is there really a big difference between Hubble and the JWST? There are numerous differences between the two space telescopes, the most obvious among them being size. Whereas Hubble is the size of a small bus, the JWST closer to the size of a tennis court. It is the largest and most ambitious space telescope that has been built, so far. Moreover, comparing Hubble to the JWST is kind of like comparing an old landline to today’s smartphones. While Hubble observed in the UV to near infrared range, the JWST can capture high-resolution infrared images. Being able to observe infrared is crucial to studying the birth of galaxies, stars, and planets out of the dust and gas of the cosmos. Hubble was launched in 1996 and supposed to stay in service for 10 years but is still going strong after three decades in service, although it has needed some maintenance every now and then. The JWST has much more advanced technology, being almost 100 times more sensitive than its predecessor, and it is going to need every edge it can get. That sounds ominous. What do you mean by that? Hubble and the JWST are not only very different machines, but they are also going to be used in very different ways. Hubble orbits the earth, and this allows for astronauts to carry out maintenance through space missions, as needed. There will be no such opportunity with the JWST, as it will literally be out of our reach. https://media-eng.dhakatribune.com/uploads/2021/11/jwst-infograph-credit-jwst-website-1637418852526.jpg Collected from the JWST website After take-off from Earth, the JWST is going to careen through space for about a month before reaching its destination on the other side of the Sun. Along the way, it is going to unfold mirror deployments and other devices necessary to send signals back to earth. That seems extremely risky! Why the long trek? It is extremely risky and that is primarily why there have been so many delays. Construction of the JWST began in 1996, just as Hubble was launched, and it was supposed to be ready by 2007. However, it has been delayed by nearly a decade and a half because the team are acutely aware that there is only one chance to get it right after launch. As for why the telescope needs to get to its spot on the other side of the Sun, it is to do with minimizing resistance from gravity. The telescope will be stationed at Lagrange point, a point at which the gravitational force from the Sun and the Earth cancels each other out. This way, the telescope does not need to spend precious fuel to fight off gravity. What exactly is the main goal of the JWST? The main goal of the JWST is to find some of the first galaxies ever born, as well as clues to the birth of stars and protoplanetary systems. It takes about 13 billion years for photons from the first galaxies to reach us as they are the farthest away, so the light is in the infra-red spectrum by the time it gets here and specific sensors are needed to detect it. Another crucial factor in meeting the goal is time. Unlike Hubble, the JWST will have shelf life of only five years. As a result, any budding astronomers who wish to use it need to start taking steps to contact the relevant authorities as soon as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted December 2, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted December 2, 2021 https://www.tbsnews.net/features/pursuit/bangladeshi-engineer-bashima-named-forbes-30-under-30-list-337708 TBS Report 02 December, 2021, 12:10 pm Last modified: 02 December, 2021, 01:40 pm Bangladeshi engineer Bashima named in Forbes 30 under 30 list Bashima Islam, an engineer from Bangladesh, has been named in the Forbes 30 under 30 list 2022 under the science category. "Islam, an incoming assistant professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), is engineering the next generation of internet of things [IoT] devices to operate without batteries. She is developing intermittently powered devices using solar energy and radio frequency, as well as an acoustic sensing wearable to warn pedestrians of the danger of approaching cars", reads her profile in the Forbes website. "The interdisciplinary nature of my research involves diverse domains including Machine Learning, Mobile Computing, Embedded Systems, and Ubiquitous Computing", Bashima says in the WPI website. She received her PhD in Computer Science from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) in 2021, and BSc in Computer Science and Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2016. She is currently a visiting postdoctoral research associate working with Professor Romit Roy Choudhury and Prof Nancy McElwain at the University of Illinois. This year Forbes is celebrating a decade of publishing the first 30 under 30 list. "Ten years from today, it's a good bet we'll all be living in a new world being imagined today by the 600 entrepreneurs, innovators and entertainers that make up our 10th Anniversary class", reads an article on their website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted December 4, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted December 4, 2021 https://www.dhakatribune.com/science/2017/10/25/bangladeshi-mahmooda-sultana-nasa-innovator-year Bangladeshi-born Mahmooda wins Nasa Goddard Innovator of the Year award Tribune Desk Published at 06:11 pm October 25th, 2017 https://media-eng.dhakatribune.com/uploads/2017/10/mahmooda-sultana.jpg Nasa research engineer Mahmooda Sultana has been named as the 2017 “IRAD Innovator of the Year” for her groundbreaking work advancing nanomaterials and processes to create small, potentially revolutionary detectors and devices for use in space. The annual award is given for achieving significant results creating technologies under the Goddard Space Flight Center’s Internal Research and Development, or IRAD, programme, Nasa said. “She embodies the very essence of innovation,” Goddard Chief Technologist Peter Hughes said, adding they were fortunate that she had come to Nasa. He described Mahmooda as a “tenacious, creative thinker” who impressed everyone with her technical acumen and drive. She has successfully competed for 10 awards under IRAD programme, compiling an impressive list of accomplishments, including the creation of advanced sensors for which a patent is pending, Huges said. She has also emerged as one of Nasa’s experts in nanotechnology. Mahmooda immigrated to California with her family as a teen and earned a PhD in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2010. She became the lead in development of graphene-based censors – efforts that led to the filing of a still pending patent application – within a few months of joining Nasa. Graphene is 200 times stronger than structural steel and highly sensitive and stable at extreme temperatures. https://www.facebook.com/NASAGoddard/photos/a.461884970897/10156718215255898/?type=3 Mahmooda said: “When I came to Nasa Goddard in 2010, no one at the center was doing substantial work on graphene … I wanted to explore what graphene had to offer for space applications.” Currently, Mahmooda and her team are collaborating with MIT to develop a prototype imaging spectrometer. In another collaboration, she and her team are experimenting with Boston’s Northeastern University-created Nanoscale Offset Printing System to manufacture a multifunctional sensor platform. Mahmooda now represents Nasa on national and regional nanotech councils and is the recipient of many Nasa awards and honors. Her colleague Goddard technologist Mary Li was full of praise for Mahmooda, saying she would go far in the Nasa environment. She has been recently named the associate branch head of Goddard’s Instrument/Payload Systems Engineering Branch. Her position will allow her to apply her detector expertise to create next-generation instruments and missions, including CubeSats, according to Nasa. Ted Swanson, senior technologist for strategic integration for Goddard’s Office of the Chief Technologist, said she was “a real go-getter.” “She leverages the expertise of her colleagues, constantly looks for ways to advance the readiness of our technologies, and isn’t afraid to seek vehicles for financial support — the hallmark of a successful innovator.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted December 14, 2021 Author Elite Members Share Posted December 14, 2021 https://www.startupdaily.net/2021/12/vyro-is-a-new-startup-making-electric-vehicles-accessible-to-all-australians/ Vyro is a new startup making electric vehicles accessible to all Australians ROWAN CROSBY- DECEMBER 13, 2021 Vyro co-founder and CEO Will Wise While there are many benefits to owning an electric vehicle, Australia has lagged much of the world when it comes to the shift to EVs. So Will Wise, Tanvir Uddin and Tessa Fields have founded Vyro in a bid to bring electric vehicles to all Australians. The team saw that the country was falling behind the rest of the world in its adoption of sustainable cars, and instead becoming a “third-world dumping ground” for used petrol vehicles. They built Vyro to change that. Its innovative direct-to-customer approach aims to make the process of purchasing an electric vehicle both seamless and achievable, for all Australians. CEO Wise says that Vyro will not only change the current dealership model, but will also speed up the adoption of EVs across the country. “At Vyro, we’re creating Australia’s first virtual dealership,” says Wise. “Traditionally, brick and mortar dealerships sell a vehicle at a loss, and recuperate from that loss with after-sale servicing. Electric vehicles need a lot less servicing than traditional ICE vehicles, so this model is flawed. We’re going to take those high operational costs and repurpose them to benefit our customers and our suppliers. “We’re going to take away a lot of the challenges that come with the traditional dealership model, and provide a way for people to purchase an electrical vehicle in the easiest way possible.” He continues: “The simple fact is that Australians want electric vehicles, they just don’t yet have an easy and affordable way of getting them. The high upfront cost is a real barrier, and the process of selling and buying a car – any car – is really challenging. Not to mention there’s an outdated, obscure and deliberately misleading auto-finance sector that needs to change.“ Wise says Vyro will offer an innovative direct-to-customer model as well as financing. “When a customer comes to our site, they’ll be able to plug in their current vehicle registration details and see how much they’ll save over five years, by switching to an electric car,” he says. “After that, with a click of a button, they’ll be able to trade in their current car and get a guaranteed price on the spot, which they can then credit towards the cost of an electric vehicle. We’re also going to make it easier to get into an electric vehicle, by offering a drive now, pay later, payment plan.” Wise says the team have faced a number of challenges especially with the small number of electric cars customers can currently access. “The biggest challenge we’ve had is around the actual availability of electric cars here in Australia,” he says. “Most people know about the current electric car manufacturers, such as Tesla and Hyundai. But we don’t have many other models available in the country just yet. “Next year, we’re going to be bringing in a number of new electric car brands that have never been sold in Australia before. We’ll be partnering with a company called The Good Car Co, which imports electric vehicles for the Australian market. “This will give Australians a lot more options for when they’re ready to switch to an electric car.” The Vyro team joined the Antler platform in June, and subsequently launched the business last month. Wise says the entire process has been incredibly important for the company. “Since day one, Antler has been very supportive of us and our mission. We knew we wanted to work in the area of sustainable energy and finance,” he says. “They have offered so much support, but at the same time really challenged us out of our comfort zones. “With all of that combined, it’s far more than you would get from any other VC.” Going forward, Wise hopes to be the leading force in bringing electric vehicle adoption to Australia. “We want to be the online place that everyone goes to, to pick up an electric vehicle here in Australia,” he says. “We want to be there from the point that you think about an electric vehicle, to the point that you pick up the keys, and everything beyond that. “Electric vehicles are going to create a whole new market and with that comes new opportunities for our customers, like peer-to-peer car share and energy arbitrage. “There’s so much more to this sector and we want to be at the centre of it.” ● Startup Daily is the official media partner of Antler in Australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 9, 2022 Author Elite Members Share Posted August 9, 2022 https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/last-page/nrb-engineers-footprint-in-us-it-market-grows-1659638261 NRB engineers' footprint in US IT market grows FE REPORT | August 05, 2022 00:00:00 Non-resident Bangladeshi (NRB) engineers are consolidating their position with their professional skills and integrity in the US market to ensure a strong footing in the ever-growing global ICT sector. A good number of Bangladeshi engineers have established their own engineering, and information and communication technology (ICT) firms in the USA and carrying out high-end ICT functions globally. Faisal Qader, president of the American Association of Bangladeshi Engineers & Architects, has shared this inspiring story with the FE recently. These NRB-owned firms are working with global tech giants like Microsoft, Intel, Cisco and Tesla under different categories and involved in providing necessary hardware and software services. Bangladeshi firms are also involved in providing very sophisticated ICT solutions, including cyber security services, continues Mr Qader. He cites Technauf LLC, a Bangladeshi-held ICT firm, as an example. Technauf provides cyber-security services to the Internal Revenue Service that looks after revenue collection in the USA like the National Board of Revenue in Bangladesh. Mr Qader profusely proclaims the feat of a Bangladeshi engineer who has innovated the main feature of the world's mostly-used video-sharing platform YouTube. Bedsides, Bangladeshi engineers are working in different senior management positions in globally-reputed tech firms like Apple, Google and Facebook. To groom Bangladesh engineers further, his association has been helping Bangladeshi students through providing stipends and jobs during their studies in the USA. The platform also hosts seminars and workshops centrally in the USA every two years to share views and business ideas among Bangladeshi engineers and help attain their business goals further. Bangladeshis inv-olved in other professionals, students and kids also take part in the conventions to get knowledge in latest engineering innovations and technologies, mentions Mr Qader. This year, the biennial convention of the association will be will be held on October 07-09 at Gaylord National Resort in Washington DC. Exchanging views and knowledge in respective engineering, architectural and technology fields among members are the main target, he remarks. A number of events like science fair, seminars on critical topics, job fair and placement, networking sessions, cultural show, math and trivia competition for kids are organised. The event includes the biennial general meeting followed by a musical soiree where international and Bangladeshi artists perform. [email protected] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 24, 2022 Author Elite Members Share Posted August 24, 2022 https://www.dhakatribune.com/others/2022/08/15/bangladeshi-scientist-leads-cosmic-study-offering-clearer-look-at-black-holes Bangladeshi scientist leads cosmic study offering clearer look at black holes Dr Tonima Tasnim Ananna and her team at US’ Dartmouth College have now advanced mankind’s knowledge about black holes and lights emitted therefrom, which have long mystified researchers Reaz Ahmad August 15, 2022 9:16 PM In September 2020, preeminent American science biweekly – Science News – named 10 scientists in the world – all under 40 years of age – whom it considered the most promising in their respective fields of scientific works. Bangladeshi scientist Tonima Tasnim Ananna, then only 29 years of age, made it to the Science News’ – ‘10 Scientists to Watch’ – list being the youngest of the lot. Science News, now in its 100th year of publication, praised her feat saying: “Tonima Tasnim Ananna is bringing the heaviest black holes out of hiding. She has drawn the most complete picture yet of black holes across the universe — where they are, how they grow and how they affect their environments.” Two years later, Tonima and her team at the United States’ Dartmouth College have now advanced mankind’s knowledge about black holes and lights emitted therefrom, which have long mystified researchers. Supermassive black holes are believed to reside at the center of nearly all large galaxies. The space objects devour galactic gas, dust and stars. By knowing how fast a black hole is feeding, its mass, and the amount of radiation nearby, researchers can determine when some black holes underwent their biggest growth spurts. That information, in turn, can tell them about the history of the universe. Tonima Tasnim Ananna, postdoctoral research associate, right, and Ryan Hickox, professor of physics and astronomy, in Dartmouth’s historic Shattuck Observatory Dartmouth College's website When new images captured by Nasa’s James Webb Space Telescope help scientists understand some of the most powerful forces in the universe, Ananna and her team’s latest study is clarifying the mystery of supermassive black holes in the rapid growth stage, known as active galactic nuclei or AGN. “The light signatures from these objects have mystified researchers for over a half-century,” says Tonima Tasnim Ananna, currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Professor Ryan Hickox’s group at Dartmouth College. She is the lead author of a new paper on the special family of black holes, published last month in the Astrophysical Journal (ApJ), run by the American Astronomical Society. Light coming from near supermassive black holes can have different colors with varied levels of brightness and spectral signatures. Until recently, researchers believed that the differences depended on viewing angle and how much a black hole was obscured by its “torus,” a doughnut-shaped ring of gas and dust that usually surrounds active galactic nuclei. But Ananna, Ryan Hickox and their other team members challenged this model and they have found that the black holes look differently because they are actually in separate stages of the life cycle. According to a Dartmouth College news report, the team’s study found that the amount of dust and gas surrounding a supermassive black hole is directly related to how actively it is growing. When a black hole is feeding at a high rate, the energy blows away dust and gas. As a result, it is more likely to be unobscured and appear brighter. The research provides some of the strongest evidence yet that there are fundamental differences between supermassive black holes with different light signatures, and that these differences cannot be explained only by whether the observation is taking place through or around an AGN’s torus. “This provides support for the idea that the torus structures around black holes are not all the same,” the Dartmouth College report quoted Hickox, the study co-author, as saying. “There is a relationship between the structure and how it is growing.” Taking the study to larger distances of the Universe In an email interview with Dhaka Tribune, Ananna says, their research will open up pathways to better understand where do the supermassive black holes come from, eventually giving us more knowledge about the universe as a whole. “This result is the current snapshot of the Universe, but as we look at greater distances, we look further back in time, and we want to understand how black holes have evolved over time, so my team's next steps will be to expand our study to larger distances of the Universe,” explained Ananna, a graduate from Bryn Mawr College who obtained her master’s and doctorate degrees from Yale University. Talking about Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Ananna says: “The Hubble Telescope was launched in 1990, and provided us with images of galaxies with unprecedented clarity. This spurred the astronomical community into action to build a telescope that could provide even greater clarity and see even further back in time, and thus, the JWST was proposed. This telescope has been in the making for the last two decades. In fact, when I was an intern in Nasa's Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in 2011, the gold-plated mirrors were already built and assembled, and I got to see them and meet Dr. Jane Rigby, the Goddard Space Flight Center Astrophysicist who presented the JWST images to President Biden this July.” Supermassive black holes can be obscured by a doughnut-shaped ring of dust and gas, known as a ‘torus’ Dartmouth College's website “She has been working on this telescope for about 15 years, and a lot of people have spent an entire career building this telescope. There are many risk factors associated with a launch like this, so it is truly amazing that all their hard work has paid off.” Ananna further states: “The JWST is an infrared telescope, whereas the Hubble Space Telescope is an optical telescope. These are two distinct parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. We can see optical light using our eyes. We can feel infrared as heat, and we see the effect of ultraviolet rays on our skin. Each wavelength shows a different aspect of the Universe to us.” “The advantage of infrared light over optical light in observing the Universe is that infrared wavelengths are bigger, so it can penetrate a lot of dust and gas, giving us a clearer view of hidden things that would be difficult to detect using optical light - such as the majority of supermassive black holes. The topic of my research is supermassive black holes, so I am excited to start looking into data from the JWST.” Besides providing amazing images, according to Ananna, the JWST will lead to many scientific breakthroughs. She thinks: “So the next decade would be a very exciting time for infrared Astrophysics, and for communicating science to the general public!” At an early age Ananna realized there were other worlds When Ananna was a 5-year-old in Dhaka, Bangladesh, her mother told her about the Pathfinder spacecraft landing on Mars. Her mother was a homemaker, she says, but was curious about science and encouraged Ananna’s curiosity, too. “That’s when I realized there were other worlds,” she says. “That’s when I wanted to study astronomy.” There were not a lot of opportunities to study space in Bangladesh, so she came to the United States for undergrad, attending Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. She chose an all-women’s school not known for a lot of drinking to reassure her parents that she was not “going abroad to party.” Although Ananna intended to keep her head down and study, she was surprised by the social opportunities she found. “The women at Bryn Mawr were fiercely feminist, articulate, opinionated and independent,” she says. “It really helped me grow a lot.” Traveling for internships at Nasa and CERN, the European particle physics laboratory near Geneva, and a year at the University of Cambridge, boosted her confidence. (She did end up going to some parties — “no alcohol for me, though.”) Now, Ananna is giving back. She co founded Wi-STEM (pronounced “wisdom”), a mentorship network for girls and young women who are interested in science. She and four other Bangladeshi scientists who studied in the United States mentor a group of 20 female high school and college students in Bangladesh, helping them find paths to pursue science. Some parts of this article have been taken from a few reports of Dartmouth College and Science News. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 26, 2022 Author Elite Members Share Posted August 26, 2022 https://www.thedailystar.net/tech-startup/news/buet-graduates-robotics-startup-raises-20m-series-investment-3103351 Spotlight BUET graduate’s robotics startup raises $20M in Series A investment Toggle Desk Fri Aug 26, 2022 12:02 AM Last update on: Fri Aug 26, 2022 11:18 AM Co-founded by BUET graduate Ariyan Kabir, GrayMatter Robotics is a smart automation provider that develops AI-based tools and robotic assistants to make manufacturing tasks more efficient. The company recently raised a $20M Series A investment led by Bow Capital and joined by B Capital Group, Calibrate Ventures, OCA Ventures, Pathbreaker Ventures, Stage Venture Partners and 3M Ventures. Swift Ventures joined the financing round as well. According to Ariyan, the latest funding will help GrayMatter Robotics in expanding the team and enhancing the product, support, services and fuel deployments of smart robotic cells. "We are improving shop workers' lives by enhancing their productivity and enabling them to focus on higher-value tasks," he stated in a press release. Ariyan believes that owing to the increasing labour shortage, the global economy benefits a lot from automated surface finishing and treatment - crucial roles in modern manufacturing industries. Last year, the company raised $4.1M in seed rounding funding led by Stage Venture Partners and Calibrate Ventures. B Capital Group, OCA Ventures, Pathbreaker Ventures and 3M ventures were also investors in this round. GrayMatter Robotics also received the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award, which recognises creative and influential robotic-based innovations. The AI startup also received the NSF SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Phase 1 and Phase 2 grants, which helped them develop the core technology behind their robotic tools. As per a previous report by The Daily Star, GrayMatter Robotics utilises commercially available robots and sensors to build software that helps with industrial manufacturing. The process involves machine vision and path planning to identify a unique robotic part's geometry, enabling the automation tool to automatically pick up and process what material to use. The program then tells the robot arm to move in the correct direction and perform the intended operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted September 3, 2022 Author Elite Members Share Posted September 3, 2022 https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2022/09/03/us-startup-looking-to-tap-into-bangladeshs-remittance-market US startup looking to tap into Bangladesh’s remittance market The money transfer app is catering to the remittance market- allowing users to send money home instantly with no additional fee Zisan Bin Liaquat September 3, 2022 6:12 PM Taptap Send, a US-based expat-focused fintech company that provides a no-fee international money transfer service for expats, has apparently been working to expand its services in Bangladesh. According to a post on the talent recruiting software company Lever's website, Taptap is currently looking for a candidate to fill the position of Growth Launcher for the US -Bangladesh market. Based on a three-month contract, the company is hiring to play the role of leading the launch of Taptap Send in the remittance market from the US to Bangladesh. “Your role will be to lead the launch of Taptap Send in the remittance market from the US to Bangladesh. You’ll quickly understand the customer and community, build an initial strategy, execute on growth tactics, track and report on their success, and iterate over time to ensure that we hit our growth targets,” the job description reads. Founded in 2019 by Michael Faye, the startup looks to take advantage of the growing trend of mobile money services and other distribution networks to offer cost-effective and faster money transfer services. A development economist, Michael’s previous two startups prior to Taptap: GiveDirectly and Segovia were also in the fintech space. Taptap is a money transfer app with which users can send money internationally, catering to the remittance market- allowing users to send money home instantly with no additional fee as well as saving money in the process. As per the company, it does not want to charge users and instead has developed a business model where it generates revenue by making a cut on foreign exchange instead of charging commission or any other fees for transfers. The company’s mission statement is to “Reduce inequity by helping immigrants move money home by becoming the leading cross-border fintech for immigrants.” It currently operates in the UK, EU, US, and Canada, and supports payments into Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Ghana, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Zambia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, DR Congo, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Rep. Congo, Pakistan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Cambodia, Haiti, Tunisia, Uganda, and Lebanon with more countries on the pipeline, according to Taptap’s website. The fintech startup has been providing services in Bangladesh since July 2022, and according to media reports, the company apparently sees further growth opportunities in the country. It has partnered with bKash and almost all banks in the country. Bangladeshi immigrants from the EU, UK, US, and Canada can now send money using Taptap Send to bKash mobile and bank transfers to any bank in Bangladesh. Industry insiders said remittance is a huge market globally and immigrants from across countries face a myriad of challenges when it comes to sending money home. Mobile financial services such as bKash have played an excellent role in making it easier to send and receive money over the years, with the country’s first unicorn entering the remittance market a few years back and is currently one of the major players for Bangladeshi immigrants across the Middle East and Malaysia. Remittance remains one of the major sources of foreign currency for Bangladesh with some estimates suggesting over 10 million Bangladeshis currently living and working abroad. However, sending remittances remains expensive to the extent that the UN has set a goal for remittance pricing and commissions to be no higher for any company than 3% of the total sent. And to that end, Bangladesh is a perfect market for Taptap. According to TechCrunch, Taptap has built its whole tech stack from the ground up and it passes on lower exchange rates to its customers, typically lower than others that might be serving the same markets. The company believes having better rates will drive more users, which in turn might not mean better margins but a higher volume of transacting and more returns overall. According to the hiring post, the company will initially focus on the US to Bangladesh remittance market — the US as a sender/originator country and Bangladesh as a receiver country. However, it can gradually expand to other major immigrant markets for Bangladesh such as the Middle East and Malaysia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted September 11, 2022 Author Elite Members Share Posted September 11, 2022 https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrickcai/2022/09/07/stability-ai-funding-round-1-billion-valuation-stable-diffusion-text-to-image/?sh=3bb74a4b24d6 Startup Behind AI Image Generator Stable Diffusion Is In Talks To Raise At A Valuation Up To $1 Billion Kenrick Cai Forbes Staff I cover venture capital and startups from the West Coast. Follow Sep 7, 2022,01:38pm EDT A collage of images made using Stability AI's online tool, which allows users to create AI-generated images by typing in a text prompt: (from left) a portrait of Beyoncé in the style of Vincent van Gogh, a cyberpunk cityscape in the style of Japanese artist Hokusai and a science fiction alien world. STABLE DIFFUSION / KENRICK CAI With the image generator Stable Diffusion, you can conjure within seconds a potrait of Beyoncé as if painted by Vincent van Gogh, a cyberpunk cityscape in the style of 18th century Japanese artist Hokusai and a complex alien world straight out of science fiction. Released to the public just two weeks ago, it’s become one of several popular AI-powered text-to-image generators, including DALL-E 2, that have taken the internet by storm. Now, the company behind Stable Diffusion is in discussions to raise $100 million from investors, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. Investment firm Coatue expressed initial interest in a deal that would value the London-based startup Stability AI at $500 million, according to two of the people. Lightspeed Venture Partners then entered talks — which are still underway — to invest at a valuation up to $1 billion, two sources said. Stability AI, Coatue and Lightspeed declined requests for comment. The London-based startup previously raised at least $10 million in SAFE notes (a form of convertible security popular among early-stage startups) at a valuation of up to $100 million, according to one of the sources. An additional fourth source with direct knowledge confirmed Stability AI’s previous round. Much of the company’s funds came directly from founder and CEO Emad Mostaque, a former hedge fund manager. News of the prior financing was previously unreported. By nature of being open source, Stability AI’s underlying technology is free to use. So far, the company does not have a clear business model in place, according to three of the sources. However, Mostaque said in an interview last month with Yannic Kilcher, a machine learning engineer and YouTube personality, that he has already penned partnerships with “governments and leading institutions” to sell the technology. “We’ve negotiated massive deals so we’d be profitable at the door versus most money-losing big corporations,” he claims. The first version of Stable Diffusion itself cost just $600,000 to train, he wrote on Twitter — a fraction of the company’s total funding. Mostaque, 39, hails from Bangladesh and grew up in England. He received a master’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Oxford University in 2005 and spent 13 years working at U.K. hedge funds. In 2019, he launched Symmitree, a startup that aimed to reduce the cost of technology for people in poverty; it shuttered after one year, according to his LinkedIn profile. He then founded Stability AI in late 2020 with the mission of building open-source AI projects. According to its website, text-to-image generation is only one component of a broader apparatus of AI-powered offerings that the company is helping to build. Other open-source research groups it backs are developing tools for language, audio and biology. “We’ve negotiated massive deals so we’d be profitable at the door versus most money-losing big corporations.” Emad Mostaque, Stability AI founder and CEO Stable Diffusion — created in collaboration with RunwayML, a video editing startup also backed by Coatue, and researchers at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich — has generated by far the most buzz among the company’s projects. It comes as AI image generators entered the zeitgeist this year, with the release of OpenAI’s DALL-E 2 in April and independent research lab Midjourney’s eponymous product in July. Google also revealed a text-to-image system, Imagen, in May, though it is not available to the public. Mostaque and his peers have said that the existing technology only represents the tip of the iceberg of what AI art is capable of creating: Future use cases could include drastically improved photorealism, video and animation. These image generators are already facing controversy: Many of them have been trained by processing billions of images on the internet without the consent of the copyright holder, prompting debate over ethics and legality. Last week, a testy debate broke out online after a Colorado fine arts competition awarded a top prize to an AI-generated work of art. Moreover, unlike DALL-E and Midjourney, which have restrictions in place to prevent the generation of gory or pornographic images, Stable Diffusion’s open source nature allows users to bypass such a block. On 4chan, numerous threads have appeared with AI-generated deepfakes of celebrity nudes, while Reddit has banned at least four communities that were dedicated to posting “not safe for work” AI imagery made using Stable Diffusion. It’s a double-edged sword for Stability AI, which has accumulated community goodwill precisely due to its open source approach that gives its users full access to its code. The company’s website states that the company is “building open AI tools,” a mission that mirrors the initial intent of OpenAI to democratize access to artificial intelligence. OpenAI was launched as a nonprofit research organization by prominent technologists including Sam Altman and Elon Musk, but upon accepting a $1 billion investment from Microsoft in 2019, it became a for-profit business. The move led it to focus on commercializing its technology rather than making it more widely available, drawing criticism from the AI community — and Musk himself. Stability AI has been a for-profit corporation from its inception, which Mostaque has said is meant to allow the open source research to reach more people. In an interview with TechCrunch last month, he said that the company was fully independent. “Nobody has any voting rights except our 75 employees — no billionaires, big funds, governments or anyone else with control of the company or the communities we support,” he said. At a $1 billion valuation, Mostaque would be ceding up to 10% of the company to the new financiers. Venture capital investors who take significant stakes in startups typically ask for board positions so they can influence the decisions the company is making using their money. Lightspeed, which manages $10 billion of assets, and Coatue, which is in charge of $73 billion, both have a track record of taking board seats, though it’s unclear if that will be the case with Stability AI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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