"Through the support of this fellowship, I will initiate grassroots initiatives to involve general people in the community air quality awareness and monitoring system, which will pave the way forward in advocating for clean air at the policy and enforcement levels," says Rakib Hossain, the first Bangladeshi to be awarded the prestigious OpenAQs' Community Ambassador Program of 2024 fellowship.
According to IQAir's global ranking, Bangladesh had the unfortunate title of having the worst air quality in 2023. Dhaka, the capital city, is notorious for its poor air, with PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO guidelines by a staggering 16 times. This translates to an average life expectancy shortened by an estimated 6.8 years for the average Bangladeshi citizen. Yet, public awareness about this silent killer remains low. Rakib's dedication to tackling this crucial issue is not just a personal mission, but a beacon of hope for the entire nation.
Like Rakib Hossain, thousands of youths aspire to achieve something special in their lives or become changemakers in their fields. They might have numerous questions in their minds about this fellowship. For example, 'How did he learn about this fellowship? Where and how can I apply? What qualifications do I need to be eligible for scholarships?' Rakib's journey can serve as a guidebook to satisfy these curiosities and inspire them to pursue their own paths.
Not a GPA-5 holder in HSC: Like many middle-class students, he struggled with many issues, from personal to financial constraints and academic hurdles. His initial dream of becoming a doctor didn't materialise as he tried twice but failed.
However, Rakib's journey was guided by a strong sense of purpose. As he puts it, 'The Almighty had the best plan for me. Sometimes, the way you see your future and find it in reality is different, but what matters to me most is how I can make the best out of the opportunities that are in hand.' His experience at Jahangirnagar University's Departmentof Public Health and Informatics" was a turning point that ignited his passion for research, particularly in the quantitative field. His journey can serve as a guide for those seeking to make a difference in their communities.
The university could have been smoother sailing, too. Grades were only sometimes top-notch, but Rakib persevered. After graduation, a stint as an air pollution researcher at a multinational company (MNC) further nourished his aim, giving a backbone to his interest in the field. He credits his university's research-oriented environment and a supportive professor, Dr Md Shakhaoat Hossain, for igniting his passion for this critical area.
What inspired him to apply for this fellowship programme: "I realised that Bangladesh and Dhaka have been plagued by air pollution for a long time, and there is a vast research gap," Rakib explains. This realisation fueled his desire to delve deeper and find solutions, and that's where the 'OpenAQ Community Ambassador Program' application arrived through a chance encounter.
The process starts from here: His employer shared the link to the fellowship on LinkedIn after seeing that this internationally recognised programme offered precisely what Rakib craved-in-depth knowledge, clean air advocacy skills, and the opportunity to connect with a global network of like-minded individuals.
Rakib went through a rigorous selection procedure. The fellows 'IP wanted a resume along" with a question-answer-based 'statement of interest' to be filled in detail. "The application process started with my resume detailing my experience in air pollution research. A responsive statement of interest was significant to consider my application," said Rakib.
"I outlined my project idea based on the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) framework," with enough data and doable scenarios that aligned with my experience."
Sometimes, people fail to get this fellowship even after putting their heart and soul into what they did earlier in their lives. "I connected to one of the previous fellows of this programme via email, and asked for guidance. Those valuable insights helped me navigate the programme," Rakib explained how confident he was in becoming a fellow.
What skills will he learn from this fellowship: "I will receive low-cost air quality monitoring sensors to employ as part of my community participatory research. Also, I will have training on advocating clean air with community engagement on ambient air pollution, the impact of air pollution on health, air quality monitoring, data transparency, data access, data analysis, participatory research and community engagement."
The fellowship will go a long way for his career: Rakib believes that a great opportunity comes with enormous expectations and responsibilities. "I see this opportunity as a stepping stone in my career. My learnings, experiences, and connections will facilitate my career more swiftly in air pollution and health research. I am determined to use the knowledge and expertise I gained from the programme to improve Dhaka's air quality.
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