Dr. Sakina Khanam, a trailblazer for women in STEM, is currently a Principal Scientific Officer at the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA). In the field of agriculture, women often bear the burden of unpaid work without receiving due recognition. However, Sakina Khanam has defied the odds and made a name for herself. In 2004, she was awarded the prestigious MEXT Government scholarship from Japan, which enabled her to pursue her Ph.D. at Kobe University. One of her remarkable achievements is the development of the BINA-25 rice variant, a groundbreaking alternative to basmati rice holding immense potential in addressing food insecurity in Bangladesh. Additionally, she is actively involved in a separate project focused on creating cold-tolerant rice lines in various regions, such as haors, chars, and hilly areas, with the aim of transforming the lives of local communities, particularly women. Furthermore, she serves as the Principal Investigator for an IRRI-funded project that conducts adaptation trials of submergent rice lines from the Philippines. Dr. Sakina Khanam’s contributions to the field of plant breeding and genetics are truly remarkable and serve as an inspiration for aspiring women in STEM.
