International Conference on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Beyond

The International Conference on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Beyond (IC4IR) was held in Dhaka on December 10th and 11th last year. The event was organised in a hybrid format to bring together research work from home and abroad to solve local issues and attain the goal of sustainable development. The University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) hosted the conference to mark the 100th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence. 

Dr. Dipu Moni, Education Minister, Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister for ICT, Mr. Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, Deputy Education Minister, Professor Kazi Shahidullah, Chairman of UGC, and other honourable government officials and respected guests had visited the BracU stall in the physical exhibition. 

Professor Vincent Chang, Vice-Chancellor of Brac University, hosted a session at the online conference titled “Exit vs. Voice”, with other keynote speakers. Oliver D. Hart, Nobel Laureate and the Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor at Harvard University, was also present at the conference. Furthermore, Vice-Chancellor Vincent Chang presented a paper titled “Fourth Industrial Revolution: Shaping the New Bangladesh” together with BracU Professor Charalabos Doumanidis, Vice President for Research, Professor Arshad M. Chowdhury, Dean of the School of Engineering, and Dr. David Dowland, Registrar. 

The innovative projects of BracU students were recognised and commended by the conference’s guests, particularly by Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, who spoke highly about the university and its initiatives in his speech. Additionally, Team Duburi from BracU also attended the conference with their invention, “Duburi”, an autonomous underwater vehicle that was deemed one of the best projects in the exhibition.