The top management and policy body of the Center for Advanced Research in Arts and Social Sciences (CARASS) is CARASS Council. Professor Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal currently holds the esteemed position of ProVice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Dhaka, a role he has occupied since June 2020. He also serves as a Professor in the Department of Disaster Science and Climate Resilience, having previously held a professorial role in the Geology Department. In April 2022, he was appointed as a Visiting Professor at the prestigious University College London (UCL), marking the commencement of a fiveyear tenure. Professor Kamal has a commendable track record of involvement with UCL’s Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction (IRDR), contributing his expertise over several years. Professor Kamal embarked on his academic journey as a Lecturer in Geology in 2000, eventually ascending to the rank of Professor in 2010. Prior to joining his alma mater, he dedicated six years of his career to the Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO) as a Scientific Officer. Earlier, he worked as a Research Fellow by a two-year stint at the Bose Center for Advanced Study and Research in Natural Sciences at the University of Dhaka. Throughout his career, he has imparted knowledge in geology, environmental studies, and disaster management as part time faculty member at reputed institutions such as Jahangirnagar University, Khulna University, Bangladesh University of Professionals, and BRAC University respectively. Additionally, he spent four years (2007-2011) as an Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness Expert as well as Urban Risk Reduction Specialist for UNDP/CDMP talking lien from the University and, in early 2007, served as an Earthquake Microzonation Expert in Iran under UNDP/APDC. Beyond academia, Professor Kamal has made substantial contributions as a member of the National Advisory Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction and various other national and international organizations. Professor Kamal graduated with a BSc (Honors) from the University of Dhaka in 1988, and in 1989, he earned an MSc in Geology obtaining 1st class in both the examinations. He furthered his academic pursuits with a second Master’s degree in Applied Geomorphology and Engineering Geology from the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation of the University of Twente in the Netherlands. He attended the Tokyo Institute of Technology (TIT) in Japan for his PhD working in the area of Earthquake Engineering. Professor Kamal’s research output is noteworthy, with over 65 research articles published in both local and pg. 2 international journals.
His body of work extends to more than 100 research contributions in the form of book chapters, reports, and articles. Collaborative research efforts have taken him to universities such as University College London, UK; Peking University, China; Tokyo University, Japan; and the University of Edinburgh, UK. The domain of his research interest covers disaster risk reduction, impact modelling of climate change to address mitigation and adaptation, extreme event management and integration of scientific outputs into policy. Professor Kamal’s extensive experience encompasses key academic and administrative roles within the university. Notably, he was the founding Chairman of the Department of Disaster Science and Management from 2012 to 2017 which is presently known as Disaster Science and Climate Resilience. Before assuming his current role as Pro-Vice-Chancellor, he served as the elected Dean (2012-2020) of the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Science for four consecutive terms. Furthermore, he held the position of Provost at Master’daSurjaSen Residential Hall for two terms (2013-2018). His commitment to academia is evident through his election as President of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) for four consecutive terms (2017-2020) and General Secretary for three terms (2014– 2016). Professor Kamal’s influence extends to the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association (FBUTA), where he served as President for three terms (2017-2020) and as General Secretary for one term (2015). His tenure saw a steadfast protection of the professional rights of his colleagues and strategic steps taken to enhance the quality of higher education. Additionally, he has made significant contributions to the Senate, Syndicate, and Academic Councils in his alma mater and beyond. Professor Kamal’s engagement in various social, cultural and political organizations has remained active since his days as a student.
Dr. Maksud Kamal holds membership in a good number of professional bodies, including the roles of Chairman at the National Oceanographic and Maritime Institute (NOAMI) and the President of Bangladesh Society of Informatics (BSI). He also served as Acting General Secretary of the Bangladesh Geological Society (BGS) and as an Executive Member of the Bangladesh Earthquake Society (BES). Born into a prominent Muslim family on November 21, 1966, in Lakshmipur, Professor Maksud Kamal is the offspring of Farid Ahmed and MasumaKhatun, renowned for their charitable contributions and commitment to education and pg. 3 social welfare activities. His late elder brother, Mr. Shajahan Kamal, served as a Member of Parliament for three terms and held a cabinet ministerial portfolio (Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism). Professor Kamal’s spouse, an academic, currently holds the position of Associate Professor of the Department of English and Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Information Technology and Sciences (UITS). The couple is blessed with a daughter and two sons. In line with the values instilled by his parents, Professor Maksud Kamal is dedicated to assisting the less fortunate in society and advancing education through the Farid-Masuma Foundation, a charitable organization holding the position of its chairman, he actively supports. Professor Maksud Kamal is a recognized figure in the media landscape, with his insights on higher education, climate resilience, disasters, and socio-political issues frequently featured in newspapers and shared through electronic media outlets.