Saidul Islam gets Canadian sociology award

Dr Md Saidul Islam, a Bangladesh-born Canadian sociologist, has received the Canadian Sociological Association's Early Investigator Award 2015.

Sociologists get the accolade for making significant research contributions within the first 10 years since the completion of their PhDs, said a media release.

"The award recognises research demonstrating high quality, theoretical rigour and/or methodological innovation, and future potential," it added.

The award ceremony was held in Ottawa on June 3.

Dr Islam, an assistant professor of sociology at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, received his MA and PhD from York University in Canada where he also taught sociology. Prior to his current appointment, he taught at the College of William and Mary in the United States.

He is the first Canadian sociologist to receive this prestigious award from a non-Canadian University, the release said.

According to the Canadian Sociological Association's Research Advisory Committee 2015 Report, Dr Islam's "research productivity has been absolutely outstanding, with two sole-authored books (and another under contract), 14 peer reviewed journal articles (including a co-authored publication in 'Science', one of the most influential publications across disciplines and article in top environmental sociology journals), and 18 books and commissioned papers."

Dr Islam was born in Badekhanpur village of Chowgachha upazila in Jessore.

In his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, he secured the second and first place in 1991 and 1993 respectively in the combined merit lists of the humanities group under the Jessore education board.

He completed his bachelor in sociology and anthropology from International Islamic University, Malaysia and received the Royal Education Award, a graduate award, and earned his MA and PhD in sociology from York University with graduate fellowship for academic distinction.