Story: My Future Deltas Summer Course Experience

Coming to the Future Deltas summer course at Utrecht University was one of the best choices I have made in my academic carreer. I have read a lot about Dutch engineering approaches for flood protection and delta management, and this summer school gave me the opportunity to physically visit many of those infrastructures. I had a chance to discuss lots of global change issues with experts and practically see many of those through field excursions.

The entire Netherlands seems a living laboratory for researching delta processes-functions-services to me. For a delta researcher, there is no better place to get a similar experience as you will get in the Netherlands. 

My time in the Future Deltas summer course 2017 was a fabulous experience. I have rediscovered my delta identity. I have many things in common with the Dutch researchers, despite the scale differences of the problem and means of solutions. The multi-disciplinary approach of solving complex problems was quite unique in the course. We got to learn the social-ecological, physical and legal aspects of different drivers of the delta, their impact and potential solutions. I have enjoyed the critical discussions and openness of accepting criticism of Dutch solutions by the course lecturers. The Dutch can teach us many things, including creating tailor-made solutions for different countries around the world, such as Bangladesh.

I hope this connection with Future Deltas will remain, and gives me more chances to exchange knowledge and work with researchers from Utrecht University.    

Mofizur Rahman,
Research Investigator (Environment and Climate Change)
Initiative for Climate Change and Health, icddr,b
Bangladesh