M. Shamsher Ali

Muhammad Shamsher Ali (Bengali: ডঃ এম. শমশের আলী) is a former president of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, former vice-chancellor of Southeast University and former founder vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Open University.

Early life

Shamsher Ali was born in Bheramara, Kushtia, Bangladesh, to parents from Shingia, Jessore.

Education

Shamsher Ali obtained his Master of Science (MSc) degree in physics from the University of Dhaka in 1960 and PhD in theoretical nuclear physics from Manchester University, UK in 1965. He was a professor of physics at the University of Dhaka from 1982 to 2006. Prior to teaching, he worked at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy. He also worked the Pakistan and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commissions in various positions including directorship of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka (1970–78). From 2004 to 2012, he served as the president of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences. He then served as the vice-chancellor of Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Associations with academics worldwide

Dr. Shamsher Ali has been a member of several distinguished scientific bodies. These include:

• Fellow of the Bangladesh Physical Society;
• Fellow of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences;
• Member, Board of Governors, National Council of Science and Technology, Bangladesh, (1978-1981);
• Vice-President, The Association of Academies of Sciences in Asia.
• Senior & Honorary Associate, the Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy.
• Fellow, Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS), Jordan.
• Fellow, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences.
• Fellow, Bangladesh Physical Society.
• Fellow, Bangla Academy.
• Life Member, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
• Life Member, Bangladesh Mathematical Society.
• General Secretary of Bangladesh Association of Scientists and Scientific Professions.
• Member, Pugwash Group.
• Member, American Physical Society.
• Former Member, Board of Governors of the Bangladesh Museum of Science & Technology.
• Member, Regional Committee of International Council for Science for Asia and the Pacific.
• Council Member, Federation of Asian Scientific Academies and Societies.
• Executive Member, Inter Academy Panel (IAP) on International Issues (2003–2009).

• ^ "Profile: Prof. Muhammad Shamsher Ali". Islamic Academy of Sciences. Islamic Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 20 January 2016. 

Awards and honors

Dr. Shamsher Ali is a recipient of several national and international awards including:

• The Hari Prasanna Roy Gold medal in 1974 by the University of Dhaka for original contribution to Nuclear Physics.
• Bangladesh Academy of Sciences Gold Medal (1985)
• TWNSO (Third World Network of Scientific Organizations) Award in 1990 for the promotion of the Public Understanding of Science.
• The J.C. Bose Gold Medal
• Was awarded the Mother Teresa Gold Medal.
• The Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah Gold Medal.

He is an Honorary Fellowship (the highest award) of the World Innovation Foundation, (H.Q. in UK) ; Founded by Nobel Laureate Dr. Glenn Seaborg.

In 2010 he was nominated as an alumnus of "Great Minds of the 21st Century," a directory for the most influential and creative minds by the American Biographical Institute.