From tackling electricity shortages and waste management to addressing climate change and modernising agriculture, young students have showcased 80 innovative projects at a science fair in Rajendrapur, Gazipur.
Organised by Iqbal Siddiqui Education Society, the daylong Science Fair 2026 was held on Sunday at the premises of Kochikachar Academy, where young innovators presented technology-based ideas aimed at solving various real-life problems.
The projects included smart agriculture, missile defence systems, smart clean societies, greenhouse technology, windmill-based electricity generation, power production from waste, renewable energy, carbon absorption, floating agriculture and automatic streetlights.
The students also presented ideas on rainwater harvesting and purification, reflecting their efforts to address challenges related to energy shortages, environmental pollution, agricultural management and urban life.
Dr Md Habibur Rahman Mukul, chief scientific officer of the Adaptive Research Division at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), inaugurated the fair by cutting a ribbon at 9am.
Later, invited guests, guardians and journalists visited different stalls, where students explained how their projects worked and their potential applications.
Among the projects, 'Smart Clean Society' attracted considerable attention. Young innovator Fahmida Sultana Shirin presented a model integrating rainwater harvesting and filtration, solar power generation and compost production from organic waste.
Explaining the project, Shirin said the system collects rainwater and makes it suitable for use through filtration. It also incorporates solar energy as an environmentally friendly power source.
The model features an organic garden where vegetable waste and other biodegradable materials can be converted into compost for plant cultivation. The stored rainwater can also be used for gardening.
Through the integrated approach, the students sought to demonstrate how water, energy and waste management could be brought under a single sustainable system to reduce environmental pressure and ensure efficient use of resources.
Expressing his appreciation for the projects, Dr Mukul said the students had demonstrated innovative thinking by focusing on real problems facing the country.
He particularly highlighted the importance of solar and wind power generation in addressing electricity shortages. He also praised students for presenting ideas on flood-resilient housing in the country's haor regions and agricultural techniques suitable for cultivation on water.
He said electricity generation remained insufficient compared to national demand, forcing people to endure load-shedding.
Emphasising the importance of research-oriented education from an early age, he said proper guidance and opportunities for scientific exploration could help transform students' ideas into practical technologies in the future.
He also noted that Bangladesh had considerable potential to increase electricity generation by utilising its abundant solar energy resources.
Haider Siddiqui Uday, chief executive and member secretary of Iqbal Siddiqui Education Society, said the main objective of the initiative was to nurture scientific thinking and encourage children to dream big.
He said this year's participants had developed projects addressing important national challenges, including electricity shortages and agricultural management.
Their initiatives were encouraging, he said, adding that proper mentoring and research opportunities could enable these young scientists to make significant contributions to national development.
The organisers said the fair was arranged to encourage students to apply their textbook knowledge to solving real-life problems while developing their interest in science and technology.
The daylong event concluded with a discussion at the Sazzad Qadir stage of Kochikachar Academy, followed by a quiz competition and prize distribution among students whose projects were selected as the best stalls.
