Scientists and politicians in power crisis
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Lutfor Rahman
THE crisis in electricity generation and transmission is widening gaps among the political parties. Almost every body in the country is affected by the shortage of power generation. The opposition party naturally takes it as a serious issue for their political gain. On the other hand, the ruling party tries to remind the people of their past achievements in the power sector.
Whatever be the roles of the politicians or political parties, the common people and students are suffering a lot. The present energy crisis in the country is a big lesson on "Sustainability of Power" for all. This raises basic questions: Are we really capable of using electricity effectively and efficiently? How much do we know about generation, transmission and applications of electricity? How much important is electricity in our daily life compared to food, shelter, clothe, education or health? Is it possible to see electricity physically as a we can see rice, coconut or petrol? Can we buy just ten-taka electricity from a nearby shop or super market? Or, is it possible to measure its weight using traditional weighing machines? No, we cannot. It has no physical existence. It is a form of energy like sound, heat and light. Its intensity is still measured in kilowatts or megawatts observing its effects or influence on other bodies through virtual methods.
Perhaps electricity or electrons are one of the most dangerous innovations of humankind in the history of science. It spares none from its dangerous effects. So the users always need to remain careful. If the total population of the country is now fifteen crore (150 million), then at least one crore (10 million) people have studied or are now studying Physics and electricity but very few of them know the reasons of studying electricity. The present crisis in power generation has compelled many of them to open their books and study afresh the chapters of electricity.
In four decades of teaching physics-related courses like electricity, electronics and ICT, I have met about one lakh students who now realise the importance of electricity. Interestingly, I recently met one of my brilliant students of 38 years back at the Sangsad Bhavan. She is now a Member of Parliament (MP) with an M.Sc degree in Physical Science and, of course, she is a politician with scientific knowledge. Thousands of such brilliant human resources are not aware of their potentials and they do not know how much they can contribute towards the nation -- even in the present power crisis.
The power crisis has made the citizens more curious about electricity, its production and transmission. If it is defined in scientific and technical language, electricity is a general term that encompasses a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. Lightning is also a recognisable phenomenon and one of the most dramatic effects of electricity that we observe in the cloudy sky. The word "electricity" is adequate to refer to a number of physical effects. In scientific usage, the term is vague, and related concepts are better identified by more precise terms like Electric charge, Electric current, Electric field, Electric potential and electromagnetism.
Now, the question is what should be the roles of the politicians and scientists in solving the power crisis that we are now facing. The answer is neither the scientists nor the politicians have much to do, independently, in such a crisis but their joint efforts can do a lot for the nation. An honest and dedicated politician with scientific knowledge and vision, or an honest scientist with clear political ideas and vision can be a unique resource for the country in the present power crisis and for future scientific development which is a continuous process and not a one-time proposition. Just setting up a power plant is not enough and not a sustainable process. It needs continous modification to adjust with global technological changes and to adapt ourselves with the rest of the world. For such activities we need our human resources, not imported technologists (human resources) who might become a risky burden for a country like Bangladesh.
Where to get the essential resources and resource persons in the country? The answer is: the country is full of resources like natural, import from outside. The only thing to do, is to open our eyes and to refocus on our national resources. Not only the power crisis but scientific, technical and social problems can be solved in our own ways effectively and efficiently. How much electricity is needed per person in the country? Is electricity equally important for everybody? Energy can be generated in local, traditional or indigenous processes. Have we ever requested the people, particularly in the rural and remote rural places, to meet their partial needs in their traditional ways?
To illustrate this statement, let us consdier the case of a small island of 20-30 square kms with a population of 10000 to 12000. The island was full of crimes and fighting among the local people using dangerous weapons was normal. Literacy rate was almost zero. Using the home-grown ideas, along with new scientific knowledge, the island has now been converted into a land of technology and tranquillity. This is not a story but a reality. The island is close to the birthplace of the Father of the Nation and it is a river island (circular shaped char) of Modhumoti River that flows between Gopalgonj and Narail.
(Prof. Lutfor Rahman is the Science Connect Country Ambassador and founder VC of Science and Technology University in rural Bangladesh. He may be contacted at e-mail: "Lutfor Rahman" lutfor.aait@gmail.com)
THE crisis in electricity generation and transmission is widening gaps among the political parties. Almost every body in the country is affected by the shortage of power generation. The opposition party naturally takes it as a serious issue for their political gain. On the other hand, the ruling party tries to remind the people of their past achievements in the power sector.
Whatever be the roles of the politicians or political parties, the common people and students are suffering a lot. The present energy crisis in the country is a big lesson on "Sustainability of Power" for all. This raises basic questions: Are we really capable of using electricity effectively and efficiently? How much do we know about generation, transmission and applications of electricity? How much important is electricity in our daily life compared to food, shelter, clothe, education or health? Is it possible to see electricity physically as a we can see rice, coconut or petrol? Can we buy just ten-taka electricity from a nearby shop or super market? Or, is it possible to measure its weight using traditional weighing machines? No, we cannot. It has no physical existence. It is a form of energy like sound, heat and light. Its intensity is still measured in kilowatts or megawatts observing its effects or influence on other bodies through virtual methods.
Perhaps electricity or electrons are one of the most dangerous innovations of humankind in the history of science. It spares none from its dangerous effects. So the users always need to remain careful. If the total population of the country is now fifteen crore (150 million), then at least one crore (10 million) people have studied or are now studying Physics and electricity but very few of them know the reasons of studying electricity. The present crisis in power generation has compelled many of them to open their books and study afresh the chapters of electricity.
In four decades of teaching physics-related courses like electricity, electronics and ICT, I have met about one lakh students who now realise the importance of electricity. Interestingly, I recently met one of my brilliant students of 38 years back at the Sangsad Bhavan. She is now a Member of Parliament (MP) with an M.Sc degree in Physical Science and, of course, she is a politician with scientific knowledge. Thousands of such brilliant human resources are not aware of their potentials and they do not know how much they can contribute towards the nation -- even in the present power crisis.
The power crisis has made the citizens more curious about electricity, its production and transmission. If it is defined in scientific and technical language, electricity is a general term that encompasses a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. Lightning is also a recognisable phenomenon and one of the most dramatic effects of electricity that we observe in the cloudy sky. The word "electricity" is adequate to refer to a number of physical effects. In scientific usage, the term is vague, and related concepts are better identified by more precise terms like Electric charge, Electric current, Electric field, Electric potential and electromagnetism.
Now, the question is what should be the roles of the politicians and scientists in solving the power crisis that we are now facing. The answer is neither the scientists nor the politicians have much to do, independently, in such a crisis but their joint efforts can do a lot for the nation. An honest and dedicated politician with scientific knowledge and vision, or an honest scientist with clear political ideas and vision can be a unique resource for the country in the present power crisis and for future scientific development which is a continuous process and not a one-time proposition. Just setting up a power plant is not enough and not a sustainable process. It needs continous modification to adjust with global technological changes and to adapt ourselves with the rest of the world. For such activities we need our human resources, not imported technologists (human resources) who might become a risky burden for a country like Bangladesh.
Where to get the essential resources and resource persons in the country? The answer is: the country is full of resources like natural, import from outside. The only thing to do, is to open our eyes and to refocus on our national resources. Not only the power crisis but scientific, technical and social problems can be solved in our own ways effectively and efficiently. How much electricity is needed per person in the country? Is electricity equally important for everybody? Energy can be generated in local, traditional or indigenous processes. Have we ever requested the people, particularly in the rural and remote rural places, to meet their partial needs in their traditional ways?
To illustrate this statement, let us consdier the case of a small island of 20-30 square kms with a population of 10000 to 12000. The island was full of crimes and fighting among the local people using dangerous weapons was normal. Literacy rate was almost zero. Using the home-grown ideas, along with new scientific knowledge, the island has now been converted into a land of technology and tranquillity. This is not a story but a reality. The island is close to the birthplace of the Father of the Nation and it is a river island (circular shaped char) of Modhumoti River that flows between Gopalgonj and Narail.
(Prof. Lutfor Rahman is the Science Connect Country Ambassador and founder VC of Science and Technology University in rural Bangladesh. He may be contacted at e-mail: "Lutfor Rahman" lutfor.aait@gmail.com)