Multidisciplinary research
It was encouraging to see the ministers approve of the idea of establishing the concept of research and research funding for improving agriculture, health and industry in our country in a programme organised by NTV at Sonargaon Hotel. Innovation is the key to success of all countries and research is the stepping stone to innovation. A pro-research government would mean a lot in terms of solving existing problems and impediments and creating the environment for research and innovation. One of the major hurdles obstructing agricultural and medical research in the country is the rule of procurement of research perishables and chemicals as well as equipment. Another is the lack of multidisciplinary approaches for solving a problem. For example, molecular sciences like Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology are contributing in a big way to Medicine, Agriculture as well as Industry. It is the true partnership between these sciences that will lead to major milestones in improving Health and Agriculture for prosperity of the country. Most Agricultural Universities and Medical Colleges have their major thrust on Agriculture and Medicine respectively, which is essential. This means that the students of Agriculture and Medicine learn Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Molecular Genetics only in their final years. This consequentially is too meagre for proper utilization. On the other hand, Dhaka University and most other General Universities offering the subjects of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering, Microbiology and Biotechnology have assigned 4 years of these specific disciplines and students thoroughly learn the basics. So, Agricultural or Medical research institutes should ideally hire multidisciplinary teams of scientists from all areas to address specific problems facing the country. Examples of collaborative research in Agriculture and Medicine are rare in the country and whatever exists is due to personal initiatives. The latter have however proved to be mutually beneficial and these models need to be encouraged and institutionalised by the government. In neighbouring countries like India, integration between the different disciplines has been brought about a Ministry called "The Department of Biotechnology" and it provides funding in a problem oriented approach and identifies scientists from different disciplines who then work on the research problem in a coordinated way.
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