Feature

A new vision for people in space
Bangladeshi professor part of space research team

After conducting preliminary briefings with various stakeholders in Washington, team members say political leaders, a National Research Council panel, and the Obama transition team, among others, have enthusiastically received it.

The report offers "primary objectives" for sending human beings into space as those that can only be accomplished through the physical presence of human beings and are worthy of significant risk to human life. Says David Mindell, the report's lead author and professor of engineering systems and director of the program in Science, Technology and Society at MIT - "we argue for including notions of risk, human experience, and remote presence into the fundamental rationales for sending people into space. The results show that the United States might want a rather different human space flight program from the one now planned."
Among the report's major conclusions are that the United States should be cooperating more on human spaceflight, both with other nations -- including China and India -- and with commercial ventures such as private rocket companies. The nation should also set ambitious goals for long-term exploration, and make sure that near-term work is geared toward those ends. In addition, a comprehensive strategy of basic research is needed to lay the groundwork for these longer-range goals.

The Space, Policy and Society Research Group at MIT, which Mindell directs, prepared the report, called "The Future of Human Spaceflight,". The group includes MIT aeronautics and astronautics professor and former space shuttle astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman; Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics Laurence Young; Aeronautics and Astronautics Professor Dava Newman; Jerome C. Hunsacker Assistant Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Engineering Systems Annalisa Weigel; lecturer in science, technology and society Slava Gerovitch; postdoctoral associate Scott Uebelhart; graduate students Eph Langford, Teasel Muir-Harmony, Sherrica Newsome, Zakiya Tomlinson and Rebecca Perry; Lawrence McGlynn, president of Insurance Services of New England; Asif Siddiqi, assistant professor of history at Fordham University; John Tylko, vice president at Aurora Flight Sciences; and John Logsdon of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.

Source: MIT Website

The BRACU Annual Cultural Program 2008

Aparna Islam

The BRACU Annual Cultural Program 2008 was held in the National Sports Council auditorium in Purana Paltan. Prof. Jamilur Reza Choudhury graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Pro-VC, BRACU and Mr. Mahmood Hasan, Registrar, BRACU also attended the function. A number of faculty members along with huge number of BRACU students and their parents enjoyed the program.

The function was a combined effort of both students and faculty members of the BRACU. Constant support of Prof. Zainab Ali and guidance of Mr. Shams Mansoor Ghani made the show a triumph.

The continuous support and cooperation extended by BRACU Administration and Student Affairs Office during the rehearsals and on the day of the event, and the efforts of our Volunteers were instrumental in making the program a success.

(The writer is Adviser, BUCuC)