UGC chief urges research focused on solving real problems

Research should go beyond publishing papers and earning citations and focus on solving real-life problems, Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Mamun Ahmed said on Saturday.

"Research does not require age, expensive equipment or a large laboratory. It can begin by identifying problems around us and trying to solve them with the materials at hand," he said.

He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the 11th Thought Cultivation Young Researchers Conference 2026 at the Student-Teacher Centre (TSC) auditorium of Dhaka University.

A total of 318 students from Classes 7 to 10, representing around 58 schools from different districts and upazilas, are taking part in the day-long conference. They are presenting 128 research papers, concept papers and posters on subjects including education, science, environment, computer science and sociology at eight venues across the university, including the TSC.

Prof Mamun said research should not be considered an activity that begins only at university level. School students can also conduct research by identifying problems in their surroundings and using their creativity and available resources to find solutions.

He stressed the importance of courage, enthusiasm, curiosity and scientific thinking among young researchers. "The ability to find a solution to a problem, alongside identifying it, is the main point of research," he said.

Referring to the country's research activities, the UGC chairman said the government and various private organisations had invested substantially in research over the past five decades. Many research papers had been published in international journals and received citations, but many problems affecting people's daily lives remained unresolved.

"Research papers have been prepared, published in international journals, and citations have also been received. But in many cases, the real problems of people have remained the same," he said.

He called for a new approach to research, with greater emphasis on identifying specific social, economic and environmental problems in Bangladesh and developing solutions to them.

Prof Mamun said the UGC would consider funding project proposals from researchers that clearly identified specific problems and proposed ways to address them. The commission would also consider whether the outcomes of research were producing practical solutions, he added.

Mentioning problems such as traffic congestion, electricity shortages, access to safe drinking water and salinity, he said future scientists would have to come forward to address such challenges.

"Today's young researchers will become tomorrow's scientists. You will solve the problems around us," he told the participants.

Encouraging research from school level

The voluntary research organisation Chintar Chash has been organising the conference for 11 years to encourage school students to take an interest in research and create an environment for research practice.

Conference Convener and Chintar Chash Director Zahidul Islam delivered the welcome address at the opening ceremony, highlighting the organisation's activities and the continuity of the conference.

Dhaka University Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane said he had not previously seen such an initiative involving school students on such a scale.

He expressed hope that the country's aspirations for development and progress would be realised through the young researchers participating in the initiative.

Prof Upama Kabir, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at Dhaka University, said the growing use of artificial intelligence was reducing people's reliance on their own intellectual abilities.

She stressed the need to continue practising basic research despite rapid technological advancement, saying it was essential for addressing emerging challenges.

Asjadul Kibria, Planning Editor of The Financial Express, said he had been associated with Chintar Chash for a long time. His generation had not had similar opportunities to engage in research at school level, he said, adding that the organisation was helping the current generation develop their potential through such opportunities.

Chintar Chash Chairman Advocate Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman said the organisation's initiative to spread research practice among school students had continued for 11 years and would continue in the future. He said students of the current generation were demonstrating their abilities and creativity through such activities.

Students explore environmental solutions

Students of Class 10 at Jamuna Cantonment Public School and College in Bhuapur, Tangail, took part in the Environmental Science section of this year's conference.

They presented a research paper titled "Preparation of organic fertiliser from household vegetable waste and testing its effectiveness in growing potted plants".

Lecturer Md Abu Raihan, who supervised the research team, said the students had gained practical experience by participating in the Environmental Science section of the conference.

"Such an event helps develop research-oriented thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills among students," he said, thanking the organisers for providing the students with an opportunity to demonstrate their research interests and creativity.