Bangladeshi student Tasim Mohammad wins bronze and project award at international biology olympiad
Tasim Mohammad, a first-year student at the University of Dhaka's Institute of Social Welfare and Research, developed a passion for biology from watching nature documentaries on Discovery and Animal Planet as a child. His fascination with the animal kingdom, from tigers to whales, led him to delve into biology in the eighth grade, spending his free time studying the functions of organs like the kidneys, lungs, and heart. This early interest propelled him to participate in various biology olympiads, ultimately winning the Bangladesh Biology Olympiad in tenth grade. Recently, he competed in the Open International Biology Olympiad (OIBO) in Russia, where his team secured the 'Project Winner' title and he personally earned a bronze medal.
Mohammad's journey to the OIBO involved overcoming financial hurdles, with SouthEast Bank providing crucial support for him and his teammate Rupkotha Roy, an eleventh-grade student, to attend. Their mentor was Afia Noushin, a lecturer at Independent University, Bangladesh. The competition comprised practical, theoretical, and project rounds. While the practical round, which involved analyzing specimens under microscopes, proved challenging due to advanced equipment not available in their university labs, Mohammad performed well in the theoretical segment. The project round, focused on 'Practical Methods of Modern Botany,' required participants to study the environmental impact on trees in a specific region.
Despite being a team of only two members in the project round, compared to the usual five or six, Mohammad and Roy successfully gathered field data in a remote forest, even spotting bear tracks, and conducted laboratory analysis. Their dedication led them to win the 'Project Winner' award. Mohammad, who also won a gold medal at the International Olympiad on Climate Change and Environmental Issues (IOCE) in Russia last year for a project predicting wildfires, aims to address environmental crises. He founded the Sustainability and Life Sciences Network (SLSN) to foster a community of researchers dedicated to tackling climate change.
This narrative highlights an individual's scientific aptitude and drive, fostered by early exposure to educational media and competitive academic platforms. The student's success in international olympiads, particularly in biology and environmental issues, underscores the potential for talent development when opportunities for advanced learning and participation are provided. The involvement of financial support from a bank and mentorship from university faculty demonstrates a collaborative ecosystem that can nurture promising young minds. The student's initiative in founding SLSN to cultivate researchers, rather than just engaging in conventional environmental activities, points towards a forward-thinking approach to addressing complex global challenges like climate change. This case illustrates the systemic impact of accessible educational resources and targeted support structures in cultivating future innovators capable of contributing to scientific and societal advancement in the coming decades.
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