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Linking Young Minds Together
     Volume 2 Issue 116 | April 26, 2009|


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Feature

Seminar on Nanotechnology @ BRAC University

Imran Khurshid

THE term, being illusive so as whether it actually deals with the range of 10-9, mesmerizes many. No sooner had I spotted the announcement on the notice boards that a seminar on Nanotechnology is going to be held I could hardly wait to verify this range. To serve as an adjunct to my excitement I found out that it was Dr. Mumit Khan who would be introducing the topic to the enthusiastic students of the university. It was an initiative of the IEEE student branch of BRAC University to inject the enthusiasm among the students of having a deeper understanding into the field of Nanotechnology. The seminar was aptly titled 'A Gentle Introduction to Nanotechnology'.

Nanotechnology, as the name suggests, deals with the range of 10-9m. The new nanotechnology with the bottom-up approach claims the formation of complex substances, such as nanotubes from elementary particles. This is completely opposite from the old top-down approach, which inspired the breaking down of matter into the more basic particles. In the context of Dr. Khan's speech it surfaced that the future will take on a flip over. Computer chips with a thousand times more transistors and microchips with a thousand times more capacity will invade the positions of transistors and microchips with lower capability of today.

The milestones of Nanotechnology exposed during the seminar were quite impressive. Starting from the scanning of Tunneling Microscope in 1981 to the discovery of Atomic Force Microscope in 1986 to the creation of Buckyballs and Carbon Nanotubes in 1991 were enough to provoke researchers all around the world to dive into the bottom, which revered the invitation of Richard Feynman to enter the field of Nanotechnology- “There is plenty of room at the bottom”. Indeed, Nanotechnology has a diverse application such as Nano-electro-mechanical devices (NEMS), Carbon Nanotubes in TV displays, Protein Nanotubes and so on which gives a researcher plenty of room to prioritize his option.

As we reached towards the end of the seminar I was happy to find myself at a new level of awareness about Science for the unprecedented era, the level that could serve as a stepping stone towards it. And as I found out I was not the only one but the presenter was flooded with questions from both professors and students among the audience. At the end of the day it culminated into a fruitful learning experience.


Pahela Baishakh in CU

Shushmita Ahmed

PAHELA Baishakh is an important part of the Bangalis' life. If there is any festival that unites all of us, it is none other than the Bengali New Year or the Pahela Baishakh. The day is celebrated with traditional festivities across the country as well as all over the world. The University of Chittagong also arranged a three-day programme with a rally which started from the Bot-tali station. Several kinds of games were arranged on the premises, such as-“golla-chut”, “kutkut”, “kabadi” etc. Different cultural programmes were also arranged. On the very first day of Baishak “Jobbarer boli khela” which is the tradition of Chittagong was arranged, “Putul-nach” which came from Bramohnbaria amused the spectators, there was “Bull-fight” on the adjacent field of the 'Abdur Rob Hall', an elephant was brought on the occasion. In the evening, the well-known singer of our country 'Farida Parvin' sang several songs.

(Dept. of Law , University of Chittagong)

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