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Full Time Faculty Phone: +880-2-55668200 Ext: 2054 |
Dr Kamrun Nahar is an Agronomist and Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Management. She earned her PhD degree on Plant Physiology and Biochemistry at the Department of Applied Plant Sciences and Plant Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria. She also served as a faculty at the School of Environmental Science and Management, Independent University Bangladesh (IUB) and BRAC University.
Her research since the 1980’s focused on plant production in tropical and subtropical conditions and water stressed (drought) plants aimed on yield in increasing water deficit conditions due to global climate change and its relation to crop/fruit yield which is key in combating world hunger. With expertise in plant production in the field, green house, tissue culture and hydrophonic systems she specializes in working with energy crops to produce green energy and their adaptability (biomass feedstock production) in different soil types of Bangladesh especially in waste lands and salinity. Her recent published work included exploring the potential of biofuel production from Energy Crops on a limited land space for sustaining a growing population. She has published a number of scholarly articles on Agronomy and Renewable Energy (bio-fuel) propagation in order to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change in Asian, European and American Journals. She is also the author of the book “Cultivation of Jatropha curcas L in Bangladesh, A Sustainable Solution to the Energy, Environmental and Socioeconomic Crisis”.
Dr Nahar worked under the Henry County Biofuels project as a visiting scholar and published a working paper with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida, USA about biofuel extraction from Jatropha. Recently she also worked as a visiting scholar with Biofuel cropping system at the department of Crop and Soil sciences, Washington State University, USA. Dr. Nahar has given speeches on biofuel production and climate change in many International/national seminars and roundtables.
She is also the founding member of BGBC (Bangladesh Green Building Council) and currently researching with non food energy Crops, such as Jatropha, Castor bean, Sweet sorghum, Water hyacinth, duck weed etc as sustainable feedstocks to produce renewable energy
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Nahar.K and S.A.Sunny. (2023).Co-benefits of Eichhornia Crassipes (Water hyacinth) as sustainable biomass for clean energy production and aquatic ecosystem phytoremediation (under review)
Islam, A., Hossain, M.E., Nahar. K and, Majed. N. (2023) Assessment of Environmental Hazard and Heavy Metal Contamination in Dhaleshwari River Sediment: A Toxicity based Study on Pollution, in Pollution. 9 (1): 67 -83
Nahar, K., & Ullah, S. M. (2022). Climate Smart Agriculture with Drought Resistant Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Cultivars under Subtropical Climate. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 12(12), 138-147. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2022/v12i121448
K. Nahar. and S. Hoque 2021. Phytoremediation to improve eutrophic ecosystem by floating aquatic macrophyte , water lettuce ( Pistia stratiotes l.) at lab scale. Egyptian Journal of aquatic research, Elsevier, 47 (2): 231-237
K.Nahar 2020. Azolla (Caroliniana): An Aquatic Energy Crop for Remediation of Eutrophic Ecosystems with Prospect of Biofuel Production in Bangladesh.2020.Asia Pacific Journal of Energy and Environment, 7(2) : 79-86
K.Nahar and Sanwar Sunny. 2020. Duckweed based clean energy production dynamics (Ethanol and biogas) and phytoremediation potential in Bangladesh. Springer nature, Modeling Earth System and Environment. 5(4):1-11. Doi.org/10.1007/s40808-019-00659-y
K.Nahar and Qafeal Ahsan. 2019. Heavy metal contamination in soil and vegetation from tanning industries in Bangladesh. European journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical research. 6(6):453-462. DOI: 10.20959/ejpmr20196-6564
K.Nahar and W.L.Pan. 2018. High resolution in situ rhizosphere imaging of root growth dynamics in oilseed castor plant (Ricinus communis L.) using digital scanners. Springer, Modeling Earth Systems and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-018-0564-4
K.Nahar and S.M Ullah, 2018. Drought Stress Effects on Plant Water Relations, Growth, Fruit Quality and Osmotic Adjustment of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under Subtropical Condition. Asian journal of agriculture and horticultural research. 1(2): 1-14
K.Nahar and R.S. Borna. 2018. Jatropha curcas L. and Ricinus communis L : In vitro Plant Propagation from Shoot Tip Explants for Commercial Cultivation and Biofuel Production. Asian Journal of Biotechnology and Bioresource Technology. 2(3):1- 8
K. Nahar and S.M Ullah. 2017. Fruit quality and osmotic adjustment of four tomato cultivars under drought stress. Asian journal of soil and plant nutrition. 2(1):1-8
K. Nahar, Sanwar Sunny. 2016. Bio-diesel, Glycerin and Seed Cake production from roof-top gardening of Jatropha curcas L. Current Environmental Engineering, Forthcoming (Accepted).
K. Nahar and W.L.Pan. 2015. Urea fertilization: Effects on Growth, Nutrient uptake and Root Development of the Biodiesel Plant ( Ricinus communis). American Journal of Experimental Agriculture. 5(4): 320 - 335
K. Nahar and S.A.Sunny, 2014. Jatropha curcas L: A Sustainable Feedstock for the Production of Bioenergy and Byproducts. Journal of Energy and Natural resources.3 (4):51-57
K. Nahar and R. Borna. 2013. In Vitro Plant Regeneration from Shoot Tip Explants Of Jatropha Curcas L: A Biodiesel Plant. ARPN Journal of Science and Technology. 3(1):38-42
K. Nahar. 2013. Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.) - A Biofuel Plant:Morphological and Physiological Parameters Propagated from Seeds in Bangladesh. Asian Business Review, 2(2): 64-66
K. Nahar & Hoque, S. 2013. A Morphological and Physiological Study of Jatropha curcas Linn. Propagated from Seeds in Bangladesh. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 13(8), 1115-1118
K. Nahar and R.S. Borna, 2012. In vitro Propagation from Shoot tip Explants of Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L): A Bioenergy Plant, Canadian Journal on Scientific and Industrial Research. 3 (5):354-355.
K. Nahar and S.M. Ullah, 2012. Morphological and Physiological Characters of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) Cultivars under Water Stress. Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research, 37(2): 355-360.
K. Nahar. 2012. Biogas Production from Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes). Asian Journal of Applied Science and Engineering. 1(1): 9-13
K. Nahar and S.A. Sunny, 2011. Extraction of Biodiesel from a Second Generation Energy Crop (Jatropha curcas L.) by Transesterification Process. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 4: 498-503.
K. Nahar and M. Ozores Hampton, 2011. Jatropha: An Alternative Substitute of Fossil Fuel. University of Florida, USA, IFAS Extension. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS1193
K. Nahar, 2011.Sweet Sorghum: An alternate feedstock for Bioethanol. Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment. 2 (1): 58 -61
K. Nahar, S.M. Ullah and N. Islam, 2011. Osmotic Adjustment and Quality Response of Five Tomato Cultivars (Lycopersicon
esculentum Mill) Following Water Deficit Stress under Subtropical Climate. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences. 10 (2): 153-157.
K. Nahar, S. A. Sunny and S. S. Shazi, 2011. Land Use requirement and urban growth Implications for the production of biofuel in Bangladesh. Canadian Journal on Scientific and Industrial Research. 2(6): 195-208.
K. Nahar and R. Gretzmacher. 2011. Response of Shoot and Root Development of Seven Tomato Cultivars in Hydrophonic System under Water Stress. Academic Journal of Plant Sciences, 4(2): 57-63.
K. Nahar, S. M. Ullah and R. Gretzmacher. 2011. Influence of soil moisture stress on height, dry matter and yield of seven tomato cultivars. Canadian Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research. 2(4):160-163.
K. Nahar and S.M Ullah, 2011. Effect of water stress on moisture content distribution in soil and morphological characters of two tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) cultivars. Bangladesh Journal of Scientific research. 3 (3): 677-682.
K. Nahar and R. Gretzmacher. 2002. Effect of water stress on nutrient uptake, yield and quality of tomato (L.e) under subtropical conditions Die Bodenkultur. Austrian Journal of Agricultural Research. 53: 45-51.
S.A. Ahad, A.S.M. Mohiuddin and K. Nahar. 1993. A Study of some morphological and physical properties of soils from Raojan Rubber Plantation of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Journal of Soil Science. 24 (1&2) 31-39.
M.S. Hussain, K. Nahar, A.K.M.E. Islam and S.F. Elahi, 1989. A Morphological and clay mineralogical study of some soils from Bhola District in Bangladesh. Dhaka University Studies. Part B, 4 (2): 93-104.
Book:
Climate change adaptation in Bangladesh Agriculture (2022) in “50 years of Bangladesh, A tale of a miracle” (Book chapter- Energy and Climate change), Prothoma Prokashan, ISBN: 97898496750 13
K. Nahar and S.A. Sunny, 2021. Climate Change and State of Renewable Energy in Bangladesh: An Environmental Analysis.(Book chapter) In “Climate Change in Bangladesh,” Springer, ISBN:
K. Nahar. 2011. Cultivation of Jatropha curcas L. in Bangladesh: A Sustainable Solution to the Energy, Environmental and Socioeconomic Crisis . ISBN: 978-3-639-36580-1. VDM Publisher.
K. Nahar. 2014. Soils of the Coastal Belt of Bangladesh. ISBN: 978-3-639-66686-1. Scholars’ Press
K.Nahar. 2014. . Effect of Water Stress on Nutrient Uptake, Osmotic Adjustment and Root Development in Different Tomato Cultivars. ISBN 978- 1-312-59237-7. Lulu Publisher
International Conference Proceeding: “Global Biotechnology Congress 2014” Boston USA.. Poster paper presentation. Poster Title: Urea Fertilization: Effects on growth, nutrient uptake and root development of the biodiesel plant, castor bean (Ricinus communis L).
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
04/13-08/13 Visiting Scholar , Washington State University Pullman, WA, USA
Biofuel Cropping Systems (BCS), Nutrient Cycling and Rhizosphere Ecology (NCRE) Research, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
07/12- 09/13 Principal Investigator, North South University Dhaka, Bangladesh
Funded Project: Climate Change Mitigation and Prospect of Biofuel Production
from Second Generation Energy Crop Jatropha with Environmental and Socioeconomic Benefits
06/11-01/12 Senior Researcher, University of Dhaka Dhaka, Bangladesh
In vitro propagation of Jatropha and castor plant to produce sustainable feedstock for energy Tissue culture laboratory, Department of Botany
05/09-Present Researcher, North South University Dhaka, Bangladesh
Alternative energy (Biofuel) - Jatropha, Castor oil, Water Hyacinth and other energy crops
08/10-11/10 Visiting Scholar, University of Florida Immokalee, Florida, USA
Worked with Jatropha Curcas at Intelligentsia International, Inc with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS- University of Florida) in Hendry County Sustainable Biofuels Center
07/01-07/10 Researcher, Independent University, Dhaka University, North South University Nationwide, Bangladesh
Worked with subtropical fruits and vegetables in field and greenhouse settings, laboratory analysis of soil, plant and waters samples
03/97-08/00 Research Assistant, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Austria Research included working with different varieties of tomato on hydrophonic systems in the greenhouse
04/95-02/97 Research Associate, University of Dhaka Dhaka, Bangladesh
Effect of salt and water stress (drought) in Bangladesh soils on Rabi crops (winter crops - oil seeds and vegetables)
Certification and Training:
Certified DWA (German Associations for Water, Waste water and Waste) Trainer in Water Sector
GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) German Development Cooperation Certified trainer of Effluent Treatment in Textile Production
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Awards and Honors:
ÖAD Osterreichisher Austauschdienst (1997-2000) Austrian Academic Exchange Award (Doctoral)
Bangladesh Education Board First Class Award (1981) University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Major: Agronomy
Department of Applied Plant Sciences and Plant Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences (Universität für Bodenkultur) 2000
Dissertation Topic: Effect of Water Stress on Nutrient Uptake,
Osmotic Adjustment and Root Development of Different Tomato
Cultivars under Subtropical Condition
Master of Science (MS), Soil Chemistry
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka
Dissertation Topic: Salinity of Bangladesh Soils, 1982, GPA: 4.0/4.0 (1st Class)
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Hons), Soil Science
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, 1981, GPA: 4.0/4.0 (1st Class)
09/06-Present:
Professor, North South University - Department of Environmental Science and Management (ESM)
10/03-07/05:
Guest Lecturer- Assistant Professor, BRAC University- Department of Architecture
12/00-05/05:
Assistant Professor, Independent University, Bangladesh - School of Environmental Science and Management
06/93-03/95
Lecturer, Ispahani Public School and College - Agricultural Science and Biology
Industry Academy Govt. Collaborations
Principal Investigator and Lead Researcher of North South University -Research and Innovation Committee Grant for research titled “Climate Change Mitigation and Prospect of Biofuel Production from Second Generation Energy Crops with Environmental and Socioeconomic Benefits”
Certified Trainer: DWA (German Associations for Water, Waste water and Waste) in the water sector by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)).
Certified trainer of Effluent Treatment in Textile Production by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Collaborations/Accreditation Nahar, K., & Ozores-Hampton, M. (2012). Jatropha: An Alternative Substitute to Fossil Fuel. 2011 Paper part of at a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida, USA.
Soil Science
Ecology
Sustainable energy resources
Environmental Biology
Agricultural Science
Agriculture & Land Resource Management
Sustainable Agriculture
Population and Environment
Environmental Health and Sanitation
Environmental Management
Forest Management
General Biology
Population Environment and Development Planning
Introduction to Environmental Science
AFFILIATION & MEMBERSHIP
Member, Soil Science Society of America
Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
Member, Soil Science Society of Bangladesh
Founding Member, Bangladesh Green Building Council (BGBC)
Member, Dhaka University Soil Science Alumni Association (DUSSAA)
Former Secretary and Member, Institute of Environmental Professionals - Bangladesh (IEPB)
Member, Soil, Water and Environment Department of Dhaka University Trust (SWED-DU Trust)
Member, Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science (BAAS)
Reviewer of the Journal of Environment, Development and Sustainability, Netherlands
Parlar Scientific Publication (PSP), Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, Germany
Renewable energy- Biofuel, Climate change: Adaptation and Mitigation Potential, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Soil Chemistry, Soil, water, plant relationship