The inaugural 1st National Conference on Challenges in Environmental Science and Technology & Training on Occupational Health, Safety, and Environmental Management Systems convened on June 1–2, 2025, in the Professor Md Sharif Hossain gallery of the Kobi Nazrul Academic Building at Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST). Guided by the visionary leadership of Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Mazid, Vice Chancellor of JUST, and supported by Professor Dr. Hossain Al Mamun, Treasurer of JUST, and Professor Dr. Shireen Nigar, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, this landmark gathering was expertly steered by Convener Professor Dr. Gopal Chandra Ghosh and all faculty members from the Department of Environmental Science and Technology. Together, they assembled an extraordinary coalition of scholars, policymakers, and practitioners committed to pioneering sustainable solutions.

Precisely at 10:30 AM on June 1, Chief Guest Professor Dr. Abdul Mazid Vice Chancellor of JUST, formally inaugurates a program of discovery and collaboration destined to chart new pathways in Bangladesh’s environmental stewardship. From 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, four distinguished keynote speakers painted bold visions for the future: Professor Md. Jamal Uddin (Jahangirnagar University) revealed breakthrough strategies for pollution mitigation; Professor Dr. Tatsufumi Okino (Hokkaido University, Japan) shared sustainable development goals and resilient climate-adaptation frameworks; Dr. Md. Saifur Rahman, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, outlined critical policy imperatives; and Professor Dr. Mujibur Rahman (Khulna University) unpacked sustainable resource-management blueprints.

After a lively networking lunch, the corridor and open space in front of the departments class room, with energy as more than fifty researchers—ranging from graduate students to industry experts—converged for the afternoon poster session. In this vibrant forum, participants showcased inventive advances in water-treatment technologies, ecotoxicological assessments, waste management, and community-centered sustainability initiatives. By rotating among exhibits, challenging one another’s assumptions, and forging new partnerships, they wove a tapestry of interdisciplinary exchange that crackled with promise. 

On June 2, from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, the focus shifted to an immersive training on Occupational Health, Safety, and Environmental Management Systems. Through scenario-driven simulations, interactive modules, and ISO-compliant EMS design workshops, participants honed skills in safety auditing, risk-assessment protocol development, and management-system implementation. Real-world case studies ensured that theory translated into operational excellence.

As the late-afternoon sun bathed the gallery, Chief Guest Professor Dr. Abdul Mazid returned to present certificates of completion and Best Poster Awards. The gleaming certificates recognized each attendee’s mastery of EMS fundamentals, while applause for poster winners celebrated creativity with tangible impact.

By its close, this groundbreaking conference had elevated competencies in integrated environmental solutions, catalyzed cross-sector policy dialogues, and reaffirmed JUST’s reputation as a regional beacon of sustainability innovation. Energized by this success, the Department of Environmental Science and Technology pledges to carry forward the momentum through an annual conference series, targeted collaborations, and a special proceedings volume—ensuring that the insights and alliances forged here bloom into enduring environmental progress across academia, industry, and government.