Md. Abdul Awal Khan, PhD, Professor at the Department of Law and Director (in-charge) of Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), has received the prestigious “Emerging Scholar Award” from the US-based Common Ground Research Network at the “16th International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts and Responses”, which took place during April 25-26, 2024 in Pau, France.

Prof. Khan won the recognition for presenting a paper titled “Ensuring Justice in Climate Legacy of Bangladesh — an Evaluation”. The organisers highlighted that the award recognizes the recipient's outstanding scholarship and their potential for significant future contributions in their field. "We had many well-qualified individuals apply for the award and are pleased to inform you [Prof. Khan] that we have selected you as one of our recipients," the organisers stated.

For each conference, a small number of Emerging Scholar Awards are given to outstanding graduate students and emerging scholars who have an active research interest in the conference themes. Emerging Scholars perform a critical role in the conference by chairing the parallel sessions, providing technical assistance in the sessions, and presenting their own research papers.

Prof. Khan said, “This award is a significant honour and a recognition of the collaborative work being done to ensure climate justice in Bangladesh. I am deeply grateful to the Common Ground Research Network for this opportunity. Serving as chairperson for thematic panels and sharing insights with leading experts was a valuable experience, enriching the dialogue on climate change and its impact globally. I look forward to continuing my efforts in contributing to impactful solutions.”

In addition to receiving the award, Prof. Awal contributed to the conference as a chairperson for several themed panel sessions. He also served as part of the Common Ground Conference team, assisting delegates with logistical questions and connecting them to appropriate staff for specific requests.

The four key themes for this year’s conference were The Nature of Evidence; Assessing Impacts in Diverse Ecosystems; Human Impacts and Responsibility; and Technical, Political, and Social Responses.

Common Ground Research Network is a U.S.-based organisation founded in 1984. It focuses on facilitating academic and professional communities through conferences, journals, and other scholarly engagements. The network organises international conferences on a variety of interdisciplinary topics, publishes academic journals and books, and provides an online platform for researchers to share and collaborate.

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