Form national taskforce for more scientific researches
November 15, 2009
Speakers at a conference yesterday called on the government to form a national taskforce to carry out more scientific activities and research works in Bangladesh.
The taskforce should have female representatives to promote women’s involvement in scientific and technical professions, they said.
Styled ‘Gender participation in the development of science’, the international conference was organised by Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS) in association with Inter Academy Panel (IAP), Academy of Science for Developing World (TWAS) and Network of Academy for Sciences in Islamic Countries (NASIC).
Scientists and researchers spoke at the two-day conference that began at National Museum of Science and Technology auditorium at Agargaon in the city began with the theme ‘Women Scientists for Development’.
BAS President Dr M Shamsher Ali in a keynote paper said, “While the National Council of Science and Technology tends to take decisions regarding research activities, it is the responsibility of the government to implement them,” adding that a taskforce would make the implementation process more effective.
Myth needs to be broken that women’s administrative and decision-making capabilities are inferior to their male counterparts, he mentioned.
“We have myths in our society that women are not interested in the pursuit of science and technology. This is untrue as suggested by the ever-increasing number of women being involved in science, engineering, architecture, computer science and medicinal fields.”
There is a common misconception that village women are involved only in domestic activities, Dr Shamsher said, adding that women play a vital role in the agricultural sector of the country.
“Out of the dozen or so agricultural activities, some seven or eight are conducted by the rural women. In fact, 67 percent of agricultural workforce include village women,” he said.
The speakers at the conference said initiatives should be taken so that more and more technical and scientific jobs in different industries would be accessible to women.
There should be provisions of special facilities and incentives for females so that they are motivated to take up science as a career and play their role as mothers as well, they added.
Speaking as the chief guest, State Minister for Science and ICT Yeafesh Osman said Bangladesh is blessed as some the most important leadership positions in the country are held by females.
“This proves that we have realised the importance of women in the development of the country as a whole,” he said.
He called on the researchers and scientists to learn what the general people expect from technology. “We need to know how the common people, especially the villagers and farmers, want from technology, he added.
Source: thedailystar.net
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