The International Society of Muslim Women in Science (ISMWS), founded by Ohio State University astronomer Prof. Sultana N. Nahar, has launched a new chapter at the University of Barishal in Bangladesh, expanding its global network supporting Muslim women in STEM.

Inauguration in Barishal

The University of Barishal, a public university in Barishal, Bangladesh, formally inaugurated the ISMWS–Barishal University chapter in March 2026 at a campus-wide event themed “Stay in Science.” Female students and faculty in STEM fields filled Jibananda Das Hall for a program that combined recognition, competition, and community-building around science education and careers.astronomy.

The event was chaired by Prof. Rahima Nasrin, chair of the Department of Physics and founding faculty adviser of the new chapter, and featured the Vice Chancellor of the University of Barishal, Professor Dr. Mohammad Taufiq Alam, as chief guest, along with a distinguished Bangladeshi scholar as special guest. Prof. Nahar, founder and president of ISMWS and professor in the Department of Astronomy at The Ohio State University, delivered the keynote address and provided guidance and financial support for the program.

In one of the attached photos, students and organizers gather on stage with certificates and plaques following the award ceremony, highlighting the scale of participation and enthusiasm surrounding the chapter launch.

Engaging female students in STEM

The inauguration responded to challenges many female students in Bangladesh face in continuing STEM studies at the university level, including family responsibilities and limited opportunities. To address these barriers, the Barishal chapter organized a month-long series of activities to raise awareness about the value of STEM disciplines and sustain women’s participation in them.

Under Prof. Nasrin’s leadership, female students in STEM produced an introductory video on STEM fields and the mission of ISMWS, which the university circulated through social media to reach a wider student audience. The chapter also hosted university-wide competitions featuring impromptu talks on STEM knowledge and debates on STEM topics, helping participants build confidence in public speaking, leadership, and scientific communication.

A second attached image, taken from university news coverage, shows the chief guests and organizers seated on stage in front of a banner for the “Inauguration of the ISMWS Chapter, University of Barishal & Award Ceremony 2026,” underscoring the institutional support behind the event.

Recognizing excellence and building community

As part of the inauguration, a selection committee identified two academically outstanding female students drawn from ten STEM departments across the university. These honorees, along with winners of the speaking and debate competitions, received certificates and awards in front of the vice chancellor and invited guests during the ceremony.

The chapter also recognized the extensive contributions of student volunteers who carried out the month-long preparations and activities leading up to the inauguration. Their work helped generate strong campus engagement and created an early culture of peer mentorship, collaboration, and mutual encouragement among women in STEM at Barishal.

Local and national newspapers covered the inauguration and related awards, and both national and local television news highlighted the event. The Akon TV channel broadcast a segment on the inauguration, available via Facebook, and the Barishal students’ introductory video about ISMWS is accessible online:

• ISMWS–Barishal introductory video (student-produced) on astronomy.ohio-state
• Akon TV coverage of the inauguration on facebook

Growing global network of ISMWS

The Barishal chapter adds to a growing network of ISMWS chapters across the United States, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia, and now Bangladesh. ISMWS currently counts more than 500 members in 34 countries, linking students, faculty, and professionals and creating pipelines for mentorship, research collaboration, and graduate study.

In March 2026, ISMWS partnered with the Indo-US APJ Abdul Kalam Center for STEM Education and Research at Ohio State and Aligarh Muslim University to co-host an international symposium marking International Women’s Day, drawing participants from ten countries. The society also published the fourth volume of its e‑magazine An‑Nisa, which showcases stories and achievements of women in STEM fields worldwide.

The ISMWS–Barishal University chapter has already registered more than 200 members, signaling both the demand and the determination among Bangladeshi students who aspire to careers as scientists. Through sustained programming and continued collaboration with ISMWS and Ohio State, the new chapter aims to expand opportunities for women in STEM and help them “stay in science” across their academic and professional journeys.