Promoting behavioural neuroscience research for the future generation

A seminar on the promotion of behavioural neuroscience research took place in the International Bangladesh Hope School (previously known as International Turkish Hope School) in Uttara recently. Attended by 90 enlightened students of the school, volunteers, organisers, students, teachers, and the Vice Principal of the school, it was aimed at raising awareness about the importance of behavioural neuroscience research and to trigger the inner curiosity of students to solve the mysteries of the brain in the future.

The seminar was hosted by the Bangladesh Neuroscience Society (BNSS) and lectures were given by Dr. Hasan Mahmud Reza and Dr. Md. Ashrafur Rahman, two chief members of the society.

Professor Dr. Hasan Mahmud Reza completed his PhD from the Nara Institute of Science and Technology in 2002 in the field of molecular and developmental biology. He has been working as a Professor of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in North South University since 2007 and is the President of Bangladesh Neuroscience Society. His topic during the seminar was on the prospects of neuroscience worldwide.

Dr. Ashrafur Rahman is also an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Science of North South University. He completed his PhD in 2016 and achieved the Dean's Award for his outstanding performance in the field of memory formation, consolidation, and expression. He is credited with developing the Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory in North South University. He is serving as the Vice President of the Bangladesh Neuroscience Society and his topic during the seminar was on the prospects on neuroscience in Bangladesh.

Dr. Reza reiterated the importance of further research on behavioural neuroscience, its prospects worldwide, and how further studies can lead to ground-breaking leads on finding the physical operations of brain that affects the mental state of a being.

Following Dr. Reza, Dr. Rahman took over the helm. With a Powerpoint presentation for assistance, the students looked on with intrigued eyes and ears as he described how the motor area controls the movements of our voluntary muscles, how the brain stem is responsible for our consciousness, breathing and heart rate, how a functioning cerebellum is in charge of our posture, balance, coordination of movement, etc. He then spoke of the male and female brains and revealed to the astonished students that they have stark differences between them.

Dr. Rahman kept the students on the edge of their seats by giving interesting examples and by stating a few mind-numbing facts. Einstein's brain became an interesting point of conversation at one point after he let out the information that Einstein's brain, upon having examined, was found to be much different than any other human brain, perhaps giving him the edge and separating him from the average human.

At the end of their respective lectures, Dr. Reza and Dr. Rahman allowed the participation of students by allowing them to ask questions about the subject matter. They seemed pleased to answer the students' queries and were impressed with the interactive attitude and curiosity of the students about the topic of the event.

The event was drawn to a close with an interactive game for the students. The game was basically a series of brain teasers and the ten best performers were rewarded with a prize each. The students who took part in the event were given participatory certificates for their involvement in the seminar to cap the day off.

The event can be hailed as a success as it was educational and informative and it is largely possible that it may have inspired many of the future generation to indulge themselves in neuroscience research in the future.