Jahangirnagar University Research Society (JURS) hosted its inaugural “JURS Research Summit and Freshers’ Reception 2025” at the Senate Bhaban of Jahangirnagar University. With the theme “From Curiosity to Discovery: Empowering Undergraduate Research”, the event brought together 150 students from 15 universities, setting the stage for a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to undergraduate research.

The summit opened with remarks from JURS founder and president Md Al Amin Bijoy, who welcomed the new members and reflected on the organisation’s journey, vision, and future ambitions. JURS advisor Professor Md Moazzem Hossain highlighted the need to cultivate research competencies among undergraduates and emphasised the role of student-led research organisations in generating knowledge and contributing to policy reform.

Professor Dr M Mahfuzur Rahman, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), delivered an in-depth lecture on research methodology, graduate school readiness, and international academic cooperation. He announced initiatives to expand access to academic journals, establish a Research and Innovation Centre, and modernise the university’s central library, noting that “The true measure of a university’s excellence lies not only in academic performance but in the depth, quality, and impact of its research output.”

Associate Professor Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, another JURS advisor, stated that research must be viewed not just as an academic task, but as a means to exercise civic responsibility and catalyse societal progress.

Distinguished guest speakers included Dr Mahbubur Rahman, Project Coordinator and Associate Scientist at icddr,b; Md Mosharraf Hossain, Manager at McDreamer USA; and keynote speaker Md Saiful Islam, a PhD fellow at Johns Hopkins University. Their sessions covered a range of topics including research design, academic writing, ethics, proposal development, SOP crafting, and strategies for applying to graduate programmes abroad.

The summit featured three major segments: research proposal presentations, poster presentations, and a research quiz competition. Out of over 80 abstract submissions, 20 were selected for the final round of proposal presentations, reflecting the highly competitive nature of the summit.

In the Research Proposal category, Maruf Hasan from HSTU won first place, followed by Sabbir Hossain from Jahangirnagar University and Sumanta Biswas from BUET. In the Poster Presentation segment, Md Naimur Rahman Khan Sifat from UAP earned the top spot, while Tasmia Rahman and Samiur Rahman, both from JU, secured second and third. In the Research Quiz Competition, Mehedi Hasan Afrad, S M Masud Alam, and Afsana Hena triumphed in the junior category, while Md Zahid Hasan, Anaya Talukdar, and Shanto Kormokar led the senior group.

In closing, General Secretary Hasibul Hasan Emon and President Md Al Amin Bijoy reaffirmed JURS’s commitment to building a sustainable research ecosystem and providing young scholars with the necessary tools and mentorship to thrive.

The programme highlighted the transformative power of undergraduate research and reinforced the message that with the right support, Bangladesh’s universities can reach global standards in academic excellence and innovation.