Interview with Mr. F. R. Sarker, General Secretary, Bangladesh Astronomical Society, December 2011, APRSAF-18 in Singapore



Having attended APRSAF many times, Mr. F. R. Sarker, General Secretary, Bangladesh Astronomical Society, is one of the core members of the APRSAF Space Education and Awareness Working Group. He talks about space education activities in Bangladesh and also the benefits of APRSAF.

Q: Do you work for the Bangladesh Astronomical Society (BAS)?





A: I am the general secretary of BAS and have been working for it since its inception. We are trying to popularize astronomy baseline among the younger generation. In fact, in Bangladesh, there is no school teaching astronomy or encouraging space education, so we provide an opportunity to students to increase their awareness of space. For example, I have been a coordinator of the World Space Week Association (WSWA) in Bangladesh, and the World Space Week has been regularly celebrated since 2003. It is a two-day program that has many events like a Space Art Contest, Water Rocket Contest, and Space Debate. Students are strongly encouraged to attend these events.

Q: Is APRSAF of help to your activities?

A: Of course, APRSAF is very helpful. We organized an APRSAF Space Education Seminar from January 17–19, 2011, at Dhaka and Enayetpur in Bangladesh. It was a fantastic event. At Enayetpur, about 4,500 students attended the seminar; JAXA distributed 3,000 water rocket kits and the students were very happy to work with them.

Q: The seminar was a very big milestone, wasn't it?

A: Yes, it was inaugurated by our science minister, so it was published in most of our daily newspapers and broadcast over television channels. And it was very widely publicized. Now the government is considering including astronomy and space science in the curriculum at the secondary educational level. We are trying to persuade the government to include the subjects in the curriculum so that help the students of Bangladesh get formal education in astronomy and space science.

Q: What does space education mean to the Bangladeshi people?


Mr. Sarker during his presentation at SEA WG

A: By and large, people do not know about space technologies and their applications. So we are trying to improve their understanding of these subjects. Bangladesh is a small country with a very large population. We will therefore need to use tele-education, telemedicine, etc. We shall have to promote space education among the public.

Q: So space education is a good trigger to promote a wider field of education, for example, technology, mathematics, and science.

A: Yes, we are trying to boost that type of education. During the celebration of World Space Week-2011, UNOOSA and UNESCO participated with BAS in a Capacity-Building Workshop for Astronomy at Enayetpur, which informally included astronomy and space science. In Bangladesh, there is no agency or organization for imparting space education. Although there is the Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO), which is basically a Remote Sensing Organization, it has no education program. So we are trying to establish a separate space agency like the Bangladesh Space Agency. We have submitted an application to the science and technology minister for the establishment of such a space agency.

Q: Having attended the APRSAF meeting over a long time, what does APRSAF mean to you or your organization?

A: I have been regularly participating in APRSAF sessions since 2006. My impression is that APRSAF is doing a great job for the popularization of astronomy and space science. We have benefitted immensely from the activities of APRSAF and from the discussions at the APRSAF meetings. We can have excellent views from other member countries. From the APRSAF Secretariat, we can get lots of ideas. We try to bring back those ideas to our country. In fact, APRSAF is very important, particularly for spreading space awareness among our students, and plays a unique role. Our government officials also agree that APRSAF has a vital role to play in creating space awareness in Bangladesh. If we can establish the Bangladesh Space Agency, we will have good cooperation with APRSAF.

Q: You said that you had support from UNESCO for the World Space Week and also that you organized a Space Education Seminar with APRSAF. Hearing that, I think you maintain very good relations with international organizations through your activities.

A: Yes, I have attended UNCOPUOS in Vienna three times on behalf of the World Space Week Association as Bangladesh is not a Member of UNOOSA. I have also attended the inaugural ceremony of the International Year of Astronomy (IYA-2009) at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. On these occasions, I met a lot of people from all over the world. I want to work for my country by giving an opportunity; maybe I can solicit help from APRSAF officials.

Father of Ali-Bourtner potential law-Dr.Shamsher Ali



Father  of Ali-Bourtner potential and President of Bangladesh Science Academy Dr.Shamsher Ali.  He has been  explained about his research and contribution.


Rafikul Islam: Welcome to you.
Dr.Ali: Welcome.


Rafikul Islam: What is the topics of your research?
Dr.Ali: My main research on Nuclear Physics and Hyper nuclear Physics. The main goal on research to know the structure of Nucleus. Second goal to know about Lambda particle that exist in temporary . Lambda when combined with nucleus then form a bond that is discussed in Hyper Physics.


Rafikul Islam: What is the great achievement in your research?
Dr.Ali: In my whole life great achievement is to established  Ali-Bourtner potential law. Scientists around the whole world who research of Alpha-Alpha cluster follow this law.


Rafikul Islam: Kindly will tell about this law?
Dr.Ali: Alpha-Alpha particle means Helium. It is shown in periodic table  Alpha present in Oygen in number 4, in Magnesium in number 6 and they are stable. But Berilium  it is not stable that I have proved.


Rafikul Islam: Say about contribution of Rutherford to research on Atom.
Dr.Ali: In clearly we can not forget about the contribution of Rutherford in atomic research. For his atomic model we have known  about the structure on Nucleus. As a result it has been easy to research on smallest particle.


Rafikul Islam: Any new  research going on about Nucleus?
Dr.Ali: At present we knew Fire,water is potential element. Then now have 92 element. Then we know about electron, proton, neutron and  about quark but it is not exact. So at present also going a great research.


Rafikul Islam: What is your suggestion for new scientists?
Dr.Ali: I want to say research clearly not think to be great. First think you have to research for public and world. Then you will be great scientist. 

Best time to be aware of Science Education

At the years we need to know about science but we are not sincere but it is the best time to learn  more on science. In this age many hampered  symptoms we are seeing that us very harmful for human. nature and environment. It is essential to every institution to tech  on natural science. At an early date if we are not sincere on science it will be very harmful and be impossible to earth. Be aware from now and attend all kimnd of invention for this.
                 

APPLY SCIENCE PROPERLY AND DEVELOPED OUR NATION

It is time to change the society. We can change our society with the help science. So need much knowledge of science and use it very highly that will be helpful for our society. In every section of life we can add all time of the section of science information to our peole. Like this we can add to primary school book as fundemantel of science, about the scientist, about their life status, about top invention. By this progressing in class we can add latest information of science. At higher sutidies not only in science but also other section we can add all type of the invention of science and fundemental of science invention because it is essential for all kinds of student.. May be we are not rich but we can establish basic laboratory that will be helpful to know science. Every higher student and university teacher should be chanced to research. Beside this many of our people in Bangladesh who are not well educated but they are so talent by their own merit. We should give opportunity to them and establish a sector that they can use their own merit. Beside all then student of Bangladesh should communicate with the foreign friend to familiar them and collect sponsor to increase it. If possible it, we will not back and will be save because without knowledge of science we can not go ahead and reach and familiar us as a established nation