For the 9th consecutive time, Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), in collaboration with BASIS Students Forum, has organized NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023, a press release said on Friday. This Hack-a-Thon will run continuously for 36 hours. The closing ceremony will be held on October 7 (Saturday), 2023 at 6:30 pm.
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is implementing this program with the aim of bringing together talented young people from different fields such as technicians, scientists, designers, artists, educators, entrepreneurs from 185 countries of the world to find innovative solutions to solve various global problems of the world. As part of this project, BASIS has organized in 9 cities of Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chattagram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Cumilla). In addition to engaging one crore students through social media, the NASA Space Apps Challenge is planning to engage 2 lakh students directly through the competition.
This time more than 2 thousand contestants from 9 different cities of the country have participated. From there, out of the top 210 projects, top 50 projects will participate in hybrid model in person and the remaining 160 projects through online in the two-day long Hack-a-Thon which is taking place at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) from October 6-7, 2023.
Md Shamsul Arefin, Secretary of Information and Communication Technology Division (ICT) was present as the chief guest in the opening ceremony while Russell T. Ahmed, President of BASIS, Tanvir Hossain Khan, Convener of NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023 and BASIS Director, Mohammad Mahdee-uz-Zaman and Ariful Hasan Opu, Adviser of NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023 were present at the opening ceremony.
ICT Secretary Md. Samsul Arefin said, “It is very important to make scientists for the development and prosperity of a country. We are moving forward with the goal of SMART Bangladesh. To reach this goal we need to develop equally in all sectors of technology. We need to give more encouragement to our youth for this development and only through this technological development we can reach the goal of implementing SMART Bangladesh. Enthusiasm and desire among young people to become scientists in the future is mandatory. It is also important to encourage science and technology among the youth. We hope that the youth will get more encouragement through the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023.”
BASIS President Russell T. Ahmed said, “BASIS is organizing this event for the 9th consecutive time. In the last five years we have become world champion for three times. When we see one of you going to NASA and holding the flag of Bangladesh, this makes us feel proud. Then we feel that we have successfully organized the programme. The ‘NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023’ is a competition that will help open a door to encourage science and technology in the most independent way. I believe that through this kind of programme our youth will develop the desire and ambition to become scientists in the future. I believe that the streak of glory of being world champion for the past three times will continue.
Convener Tanvir Hossain Khan said, ‘My journey with NASA Space Apps Challenge started from 2018. ‘Team Olik’ from Shahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST) achieved high ranks and won “Best Use of Data” in 2018 with a Lunar VR app. I had the opportunity to work as a mentor for this team. From there I got more motivated and I have been working as the convener of this program for the past two years. We take pride in the achievements of our youth in recent years. In 2021, “Team Mohakash”, a combined team from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and Technology (BAUET) became world champion in “Best Mission Concept,” inspiring with their ideas. In 2022, amidst fierce competition involving over 5,300 teams from 160 nations, “Team Diamonds” clinched the world championship in the “Most Inspirational” category. These achievements are a shining example of the skill, talent, creativity and innovation of the young technologists of Bangladesh.’
After 36 hours long Hack-a-Thon, tomorrow (October 7, 2022) on 6:30 pm the closing ceremony will take place at Independent University, Bangladesh. Dipu Moni, Minister of Education, will be present as the chief guest. Professor Tanweer Hasan, Vice-Chancellor of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) will be present as the special guest and James Gardiner, officer of Economics, Science and Technology of the US Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh will be present as the guest of honour.
