A panel discussion on the opportunities and challenges of digital technologies to combat climate change has been organized at American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) on June 6. The event was jointly organized by Science, Technology, Innovation & Public Policy Forum (STIPPF) and AIUB. The panel discussion featured members from different sectors including policy makers, industry experts, diplomats, and academia. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP & Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change; Charles Whiteley, Ambassador & Head of Delegation of the European Union in Bangladesh; Ishtiaque Abedin, Founder Member and Chairman, Board of Trustees, AIUB, Dr A.F.M. Saiful Amin, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, BUET & Acting Chair of BAETE, IEB  and Md. Sazzadul Hassan, Chairman and MD, BASF Bangladesh Limited, were present at panel discussion. Riaz Hamidullah, Ambassador of Bangladesh in Netherlands, was also present in online. Panelists discussed on the role of digital technologies in combating climate change both from Bangladesh and the broader global context.

All the honorable panelists agreed that digital technologies can potentially unlock innovative solutions to complex development challenges brought by climate change. The session was moderated by Dr Muhammad Tarik Arafat, Professor and Head, Department of Biomedical Engineering, BUET and Member, STIPPF. STIPPF is a non-profit think tank which aims to promote such discussions in order to harness the nexus between science, technology, innovation, and public policy. Prior to the panel discussion, a European Mock Parliament Debate session was organized on the Corporate Sustainability: Due Diligence Directive. The debate session was moderated by Mr. M Nakibur Rahman, Country Head of Sandoz. 27 participants from more than 10 debating clubs of different universities participated in the debate session. The vote of thanks for the event was given by Prof. Dr Md. Abdur Rahman, Pro-Vice Chancellor, AIUB. The event has been supported by the Faculty of Engineering along with AIUB Oratory Club (AOC) and AIUB Community of Engineering Students (ACES).