Bangladeshi born water engineer Prof. Ataur Rahman of Western Sydney University, Australia has recently been included in the top 2% of world scientists. This list has been prepared by Stanford University by analysing publication data like number of publications, citations, h-index for 1965 to 2020 of over 6 million scientists globally.

He has authored 11 books, 33 scholarly book chapters and 366 journal and conference papers. Many of his papers have been published in highly prestigious journals in hydrology. 

Prof. Rahman received his BSc Engg. (Civil) degree from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), MSc in Hydrology from National University of Ireland Galway and PhD from Monash University, Australia. He has been Visiting Professor of Cornell University (USA), Vienna University of Technology (Austria), University of New South Wales, University of Newcastle and Masdar Institute of Technology (UAE). He worked in Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) and Bangladesh Water Development Board before migrating to Australia in 1992.

Prof. Rahman has developed flood risk assessment software that has been used to design flood-safe infrastructure in Australia. He is one of the authors of Australian Rainfall and Runoff (National Guide), popularly known as Bible of Flood Hydrology.

Prof. Rahman received the G N Alexander Medal from Engineers Australia, and Western Sydney University Vice Chancellor's Excellence Award as the Best PhD supervisor. He has supervised 20 PhD students to successful completion.

Prof. Rahman is serving in the Editorial Board of Journal of Hydrologic Engineering (USA), Water (Switzerland) and Australasian Journal of Water Resources (Australia).

He was Chair of the National Committee of Water Engineering Education in Australia under Australian Water Association. He is a Fellow of The Institution of Engineers Australia and founding Chair of GCSTMR, which has organised numerous international conferences.

Prof. Rahman has been working with A H M Kausher, former Chief Engineer, Bangladesh Water Development Board to prepare a position paper on water research in Bangladesh.

His main research areas include rainfall runoff modelling, flood frequency analysis, rainwater harvesting, climate change impact assessment, environmental risk assessment, water quality management and engineering education. He has provided consulting services to many organisations like Government of Qatar, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Sydney Water and Department of Natural Resources in Australia.