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Brain engineering initiative in Bangladesh

Shahrin Ashraf
The goal of the “brain engineering' initiative is a comprehensive understanding of brain structure and function through the development and use of computing tools. The overall brain engineering projects will provide assistance in the work of cognitive and theoretical neuroscientists to unlock deeper insights into the workings of human brains.
Key brain engineering initiatives around the globe
The 'Blue Brain Project', founded in May 2005 in Switzerland, is an attempt to build biologically detailed digital reconstructions and simulations of the rodent, and ultimately the human brain.
The China brain project, 'Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence', is formulated as a 15-year plan from 2016 to 2030. The China brain project aims to study the pathogenic mechanisms and to develop effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for brain disorders that are developmental (autism and mental retardation), neuropsychiatric (depression and addiction) and neurodegenerative (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease).
Whole brain engineering Whole brain engineers merge the analytical and technical components of engineering (left brain) with creativity, design, and diver-
gent thinking (right brain). This philosophy has been introduced by Julio M Ottino, Dean of McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University.
The whole brain engineering philosophy encompasses more than combining different ways of thinking. While it is said that engineers are excellent problem solvers, Ottino pointed out that not much is gained by solving correctly the wrong problem. That is where right-brain thinking comes in.
Using human-centred design, for example, engineers must interact and empathise with clients to pinpoint the clients' often-unarticulated needs. The next chapter lies in developing whole brain organisations, where different types of thinkers — left brain, right brain, and whole brain — converge to create more balanced, innovative and productive hives.
'Brain engineering' initiative in Bangladesh
Complete understanding of the structure and function of the human brain is an attractive but remote goal of neuroscience.
However, the limited understanding of the brain that neuroscience has achieved is already useful for addressing some urgent problems our society is facing.
The 'brain engineering' initiative of Bangladesh will be required to have necessary technology, the know-how and crucially, the invest-
ment, to take the leaps and bounds that future neuroscience and future computing, not to mention future society demand.
The imperatives for Bangladesh
1. Establish a large facility for diverse experiments and sharing of knowledge with a common goal of unlocking the most complex structure in the known universe.
2. Prepare to install supercomputers for complex processing of this brain initiative.
3. Formulate advanced training facilities for current and future workforce.
4. Anticipate the need for brain engineering among diverse industries of Bangladesh so they be motivated to invest in this initiative and connect to their respective fields.
5. Therefore, focus on creating a knowledge-based economy where emphasis is on intellectual capital and where knowledge acts as the driver of productivity and economic growth.
The brain engineering initiative sets academia and industry on a new road to understanding the human brain. On the way, it will unify existing knowledge, generate new approaches and methods for the brain sciences and develop new intelligent technologies. The potential social and economic impact will be enormous.
The writer is a Lecturer at Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP).