Jamal Khan - A PhD researcher from Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, France
I am Md Jamal Uddin Khan, currently pursuing my doctoral study in France, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier. The topic of my research is about the cyclonic storms in Bay of Bengal and associated flooding in the Bengal delta. This region is very well known for frequent strong cyclonic activity. On average, an intense cyclone hits every three years. The area is densely populated and home to about fifteen million people. Very flat and low topography with numerous interconnected rivers makes these people very vulnerable to storm surge induced inundation and related hazards. In addition to that, sea level rise associated with the global temperature rise is projected to increase the extent and level of risk in the future. A proper understanding of the mechanisms of these flooding events is thus crucial for the society to understand and manage the risks from such extreme events under current and future climate. Being a leader in climate research, France is the destination for the researchers and engineers in the world to conduct such studies.
These kinds of academic research activity are typically done under a research unit in France. These research units are often case known as a laboratory. The laboratory I am working on is called Laboratoire d’Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS). It is part of a group of laboratories, also known as Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, which is closely associated with the Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier. LEGOS is one of the leading laboratory focusing on the research of the processes in oceans and continental waters.
Research is a collaborative process and only useful when it reaches to the attention of other people. The culture of transferring the knowledge is firm in the environment of French research organizations. Seminars, presentations, talks, formal and informal meetings among the research group are some of the activities that help to keep track of the development in the relevant fields. These activities give a deep feeling of the scientific topic and better communication with the colleagues as well as experts from the outside of the laboratory. These events are always open to everyone, thus making the laboratory a fascinating learning place for numerous topics. However, I must focus on the fact that French research organizations are not only about research but also about people. Informal meetings without any specific agenda is a commonplace event where people can talk about anything one wants. These kinds of activities increase the bonds between the colleagues and help to balance the scientific and personal life.
In my opinion, the attitude towards the quality of research in France is entirely different. Nowadays, the academic research has become very competitive around the world. In many parts of the world, researchers are generally under tremendous pressure to publish new results as frequent as possible. This rush sometimes leads to publications with the poor quality of results with little scientific contents. In French institutes, the quality of the scientific content is taken very seriously and a lot of effort is generally put on publishing results with very rich scientific materials. This culture of maintaining the high standard of the research is one of the fundamental reason for me to pursue my doctoral study in France.
Finally, to a Bangladeshi student like me, France offers exposure to a vibrant culture, exciting learning experience and opportunity to bring back the best of a developed nation and use that for the betterment of the people of my country.