A six-day ‘National Environment Olympiad 2013’ has been started at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban in Dhaka University (DU) from May 31 with the theme “Think. Eat. Save (Reduce Your Food print).”The Olympiad has been organised by the Department of Geography and Environment of Dhaka University.
Nasreen Ahmad, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) of Dhaka University was present there as a chief guest while Asiatic Society Chairman Nazrul Islam as special guest. Professor Hafiza Khatun was presented a key-note paper.
SS Maksud, Dean of Earth and Environmental Science department was presided over the inaugural session.
Around 300 students from different school, college and university of the country participated in the Olympiad.
The organiser said the programme is arranged to mark World Environment Day on June 5 and to increase people’s awareness regarding environment.
Environmental Photography exhibition, article presentation and 50 power point presentation competitions will be held at the Olympiad.
In addition, persons having immense contribution in environmental issue will be awarded besides delivering certificates, awards and books among the competitors.
Environment experts present there emphasised creating awareness on preventing wastage during food production, distribution and disposal to end inequalities in food distribution in the interest of a sustainable environment.
Food discarded in landfills mostly generates methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide, they said, advocating for individual efforts to curb carbon footprint, the total amount of greenhouse gases a population activities produces.
Presenting the keynote paper, Professor Hafiza Kahtun of DU said the habit of throwing food away has grave and adverse implications on environmental resources like water.
To stop this trend, she opined for shopping as per needs and preserving leftovers for consumption afterwards.
Nasreen Ahmad said prevention of food wastage required practical steps at homes, farms, supermarkets, canteens and hotels – anywhere food was prepared and consumed.
Asiatic Society of Bangladesh President Professor Nazrul Islam said programmes such as the Olympiad would ensure the spread of environmental knowledge among the masses.
The Olympiad is scheduled to end on June 5, World Environment Day.
On June 1, 2013 the participants made 50 PowerPoint presentations on food and the environment at the department.
On June 5, 2013 they will take an hour-long exam on the topics from 2:00pm and again present PowerPoint presentations at the Senate Bhaban.
The Olympiad will end with accolades for prominent personalities for their contributions and an oath tasking ceremony on keeping the environment green.
(Staff Reporter)
