On the early morning of March 26, 2018, Mohammad Rubaiat Islam paced back and forth in the VIP Lounge of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka. He was part of the delegation there to welcome Prof. BAI Chunli, the President of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) to Bangladesh. Prof. BAI had been invited to witness the signing of a new MoU between the Institute of Tibetan Plateau, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ITPCAS) and the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC). Rubaiat, a Bangladesh master student at ITPCAS, joined the delegation as the beneficent of and future contributor to the scientific bond between China and Bangladesh. For him, this renewed commitment means another joint step taken by the two countries to save lives with science.

Before coming to China, Rubaiat worked as a remote sensing specialist for over two years at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). He has a special motivation to study the highly dynamic climate system:

"I have seen some of the deadliest cyclones of our time that cost thousands of valuable lives along with an enormous amount of property damage due to the absence of an improved early warning system. I would like to study processes like these so that I can contribute to the betterment of my country and my countrymen."

This sense of purpose has driven Rubaiat to further his research abroad. He received two offers, one from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), and the other from the University of Reading of the United Kingdom.

"The reason I choose China over UK is the cutting-edge research facility offered by CAS. Also, I wanted to know about China, its culture, society and how China became a global leader in scientific research and development. It is my hope that after graduation, I will be able to contribute to my country with the knowledge and experience that I have gained from my stay in China."

Ru Bai Yat (Image by Rubaiat)

His wishes are answered.

Rubaiat’s supervisor at ITPCAS, Dr. GAO Jing, is known for her excellent work on water stable isotopes in Pan-Third Pole region, which encompasses the Eurasian Highlands. As early as in 2014, ITPCAS has started scientific cooperation with its Bangladesh counterparts through Third Pole Environment (TPE), an international science program focused on Pan-Third Pole environmental changes. In 2018, this scientific tie is renewed with the MoU signing as witnessed by Prof. BAI Chunli.

The Signing Ceremony (Image by Rubaiat)

With the MoU, observation equipment has been sent from China to Bangladesh for joint collection of data on water vapor stable isotopes; plans have been made to step up scientific exchanges between the two countries, which will enable more young scientists like Rubaiat to study in China for the improvement of scientific research in Bangladesh.

What’s more, to echo the Belt and Road Initiative, CAS has launched a strategic A program of Pan-Third Pole Environment Study for a Green Silk Road, which list the Bay of Bengal as a key area for research and whose chief scientist is no other than Prof. Yao Tandong, TPE Chair and Honorary Director of ITPCAS.

"This opportunity of sharing our resources under the same hood, will definitely help us become more capable and knowledgeable professionals once we graduate." observed Rubaiat upon hearing this news.

Indeed, with more scientific efforts underway in light of the Belt and Road Initiative, Rubaiat’s ambition to save lives with science is becoming a closer reality every day.