Istiak Ahmad

Resource Person

Mr. Istiak Ahmad

Resource Person, BEMA

B.Sc. in Geography and Environment – Jahangirnagar University

Academic Background:

B.Sc. in Geography and Environment – Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh

Expertise & Research Focus:

Mr. Istiak Ahmad is a geographer and geospatial analyst with extensive experience in GIS, remote sensing, and environmental modeling. His research centers on:

Wetland Management & Climate Change Adaptation – Assessing ecological dynamics and environmental sustainability
Flood Risk Assessment & Disaster Management – Modeling flood vulnerabilities and cyclone shelter suitability
Aquatic Ecosystem Analysis – Investigating shoreline dynamics and water resource sustainability
Spatial Analysis & Environmental Monitoring – Utilizing GIS and remote sensing for predictive modeling

Research & Professional Contributions:

Mr. Ahmad has made significant contributions to environmental research through:

Research on Charan Beel Wetland Morphological Dynamics – Examining socio-environmental transformations
Climate Change Impact Modeling on Forest Health – Research Assistant under the SUFAL Innovation Grant, focusing on policy evaluation, data analysis, and environmental assessments
Disaster Risk Reduction & Policy Development – Engaging in academic writing and geospatial research for sustainable development initiatives

Technical Proficiency:

Geospatial Tools: ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth Engine
Data Analysis & Research Methods: SPSS, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KII)
Environmental & Climate Modeling: GIS-based assessment of climate resilience and sustainability

Leadership & Public Engagement:

Beyond research, Mr. Ahmad is an active leader and public speaker. He has:

Served as Organizing Secretary of the Jahangirnagar University Debate Organization
Held the position of Former Secretary of the Geography Debating Club
Represented his university in national debate competitions, earning multiple Best Speaker awards

Vision & Impact:

Mr. Ahmad is dedicated to integrating geospatial technology into climate resilience, disaster risk management, and sustainable development. His mission is to bridge the gap between scientific research and real-world applications, contributing to environmental policy-making and sustainability efforts for a more resilient future.

Professor Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam Prantique

Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam is a distinguished professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. With an illustrious academic career, he graduated with a B.Sc. (Honors) and M.Sc. (Thesis) in Geography and Environment, both with 1st Class 1st Position from Jahangirnagar University. He further pursued advanced studies, completing partial credits in Environmental Sciences from Wageningen University, The Netherlands, and earning a Ph.D. in Environmental Systems Modeling from the University of Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Islam also completed a prestigious JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Marine Ecosystems Engineering at the University of Tokyo.

Expertise & Research Focus

Dr. Islam specializes in environmental and ecological modeling, climate change impact assessment on aquatic ecosystems, phytoplankton transition modeling, harmful algae analysis, and marine ecosystem simulations. His expertise includes hydrodynamic ecosystem modeling, computer-based programming for numerical simulations, and research techniques for environmental systems analysis. His work has contributed significantly to understanding coastal seas, estuaries, and marine ecosystems.

Academic & Research Contributions

A globally recognized researcher, Dr. Islam has authored over 160 peer-reviewed articles and 17 books and research volumes on climate change, environmental modeling, and marine ecosystem management. His notable publications include:

Environmental Management of Marine Ecosystems (Taylor & Francis, CRC Press, USA)
Global Blue Economy: Analysis, Developments, and Challenges (Taylor & Francis, CRC Press, USA)
Climate Change in Bangladesh: A Cross-Disciplinary Framework (Springer)
Bangladesh I & II: Climate Change Impacts, Mitigation, and Adaptation (Springer)
India I & II: Climate Change Impacts, Mitigation, and Adaptation (Springer)

Dr. Islam serves as the Executive Editor-in-Chief of Modeling Earth Systems and Environment (Springer International Publications).

Awards & Recognitions

Dr. Islam has received numerous accolades for his outstanding contributions to ecological modeling and environmental research, including:

Best Young Researcher Award 2012 – International Society of Ecological Modeling (ISEM), France
Best Paper Presenter Award 2010 – SautaiN, Kyoto, Japan
Best Poster Presenter Award 2010 – Techno Ocean Conference, Kobe, Japan
Young Scientist Financial Award 2010 – IOC/WESTPAC Science Conference, South Korea

Teaching & Supervision

Dr. Islam teaches undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. students in areas such as:

Environmental and Ecosystem Modeling
Marine Biogeochemistry & Oceanography
Climate Change & Disaster Management
Computational Fluid Dynamics & GIS Modeling
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

He is currently supervising multiple research projects on climate change impacts, aquatic ecosystem resilience, disaster management, and environmental innovations.

Global Engagement & Collaborations

Dr. Islam has collaborated with leading international institutions and research agencies, including NSF (USA), MEXT (Japan), JSPS (Japan), JICA (Japan), USAID, UGC, and MOST. His extensive global experience spans over 20+ countries, including the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, China, South Korea, and more.

Research Interests

Environmental & Climate Change Modeling
Natural Hazards & Vulnerability Analysis
Marine & Aquatic Ecosystem Simulations
GIS-Remote Sensing Integrated Models
Harmful Algae Blooms & Marine Pollution
Computational Programming for Environmental Analysis

Dr. Islam’s contributions to environmental research, policy development, and academic leadership continue to drive impactful solutions for global climate resilience and sustainable development.