Dr Mohammad Didare Alam Muhsin :
What is the greatest asset of a nation? What is the biggest reservoir of its power? What determines if the nation will move forward or it will continue to crawl? Its natural and mineral resources? Land fertility? Funding? War supplies? No doubt, all of these could be important. However, it seems that more important than all of these is its human resources — a skilled, educated and disciplined population who are always ready to give their all for the sake of the country and the nation. The future development and progress of a nation largely depends on how its future generation — the adolescents and youths — develops.
A visionary nation, therefore, places utmost importance on building its young generation as skilled and well-educated manpower in line with the needs of the future. You may think of the issue on a small scale. When the young of a poor family work hard to get well-educated and begin to shine in society, those who were so powerful all around for money and wealth, even a generation ago, seem to have become a shadow beside them. Similarly, if a nation can educate and train its young generation, you may see a magical change in its status within a generation or two. Youths are the main asset of any nation. They have intense curiosity, constant restlessness, and eagerness to do something. How you are going to meet these physical and mental needs of the youths will determine which way the talent and energy inherent in them will flow.
Science clubs established in different educational institutions of the country are playing an important role, through various programs, in making students mindful of science. Jahangirnagar University Science Club (JUSC) has been playing a unique role in this regard. Currently, it is the country’s largest campus-based science club and has more than three hundred active members. A 46-member executive body coordinates the club’s overall activities. The general members meet once a month and the executive body as needed. Moreover, there is an advisory council with teachers from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Biological Sciences to assist them with the necessary advice and guidance. Vice Chancellor of the university is the chief patron, ex-officio, of this organization. The club has an office in the Teacher-Student Center (TSC) of the university, from where its overall activities are conducted.
Since its inception in 2005, the organization has been inspiring and motivating students to pursue science through a variety of science-based programs throughout the year. These programs include Math Olympiad, Science Festival, Scientific Workshop, Science Tour, Quiz Competition, Scientific Talking etc. The club also has a regular annual publication named Nucleus. It also publishes another occasional magazine called Orbit on contemporary scientific issues. When on the one hand the organization has received regular guidance and advice from the teachers of the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Biological Sciences, it on the other hand has established a link with the students from schools, colleges and other universities through programs like Math Olympiad and Science Festival over the years. Also, every year the organization is honoring the outstanding people for their contribution to science in this country.
In recognition of all these feats, the organization was registered with the National Museum of Science and Technology in 2018. Currently, the club is receiving the highest grant, from the Ministry of Science and Technology, among the 157 organizations listed with it. Like every year, The Maths Olympiad, organized by the club, is going to be held in the 1st week of next month. Neural Semiconductor Limited, one of the top technology firms in the country, has undertaken the responsibility of sponsoring and conducting Olympiad tests online. It is expected that this time, too, a large number of students from schools and colleges will participate in the Math Olympiad.
The path that Jahangirnagar University Science Club (JUSC) is showing to encourage the young generation of the country in the practice of science is worth following. However, there is a need to regularly review how these activities can be further modernized over time. It may be considered whether the activity of encouraging the youth in the practice of science can be further strengthened by building a network of science clubs established in different parts of the country. Moreover, attempts can be made to establish contact with well-known science clubs abroad. We may hope that, in this way, the activities of JUSC will further accelerate in coming days.
(Dr Muhsin is Professor of Pharmacy, JU & Advisor, Jahangirnagar University Science Club. Tareq Aziz, the incumbent president of Jahangirnagar University Science Club, assisted in compiling this article with various facts and figures).
