Collaborators

Md. Ekhtekharul Islam has developed a strong professional profile at the intersection of teaching, research, policy analysis, and development consultancy. His academic background includes a PhD fellowship in Public Health at the University of Copenhagen, an MSc in International Development and Management from Lund University, Sweden, and both BSc and MSc degrees in Environmental Sciences from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. His academic work has consistently focused on environmental resilience, drinking water vulnerability, climate change adaptation, and sustainable rural development. As an academic, he has taught environmental science, climate change, environmental economics, disaster risk management, and environmental law at Independent University, Bangladesh. He has also delivered master’s-level lectures at the University of Copenhagen on disaster risk management and global health, reflecting his ability to connect environmental and public health perspectives in both national and international learning environments.

His research engagement includes high-level international contributions. As Lead Author of UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook 7, he contributed to analysis on environmental inequality and pollution in the Asia-Pacific region. As an IPCC Expert Reviewer, he is involved in reviewing the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. He is also affiliated with the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, where he has contributed to climate-induced displacement policy work, including a guiding template for Climate Vulnerable Forum countries and an action plan for Bangladesh. His publication record includes journal articles, book chapters, working papers, and conference presentations on rooftop farming, waterlogging, water quality, climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, coastal displacement, and ecosystem-based adaptation. He has also received research grants on transformative climate adaptation technologies, flood resilience financing, Indigenous community adaptation, climate change and Indigenous communities, and sea turtle conservation in Cox’s Bazar.

As a policy and research consultant, he has contributed to assignments on solidarity levy and climate finance, plastic waste management in Cox’s Bazar Municipality, tidal river management and women in the southwest coast of Bangladesh, and evaluation of refugee relief operations. Within ART Lab’s portfolio, he is listed as Team Leader for the Oxfam-supported baseline study on strengthening community preparedness, rapid response, and recovery in disaster-prone communities of Bangladesh. Through his interdisciplinary expertise, Md. Ekhtekharul Islam supports ART Lab’s commitment to evidence-based research, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and inclusive development. His work strengthens the organization’s capacity to deliver high-quality research and policy recommendations for development, humanitarian, and environmental programs.

Dr. Md Abdul Awal Khan is a distinguished Professor of Law at Independent University, Bangladesh, with extensive expertise in climate change law, environmental law, and human rights. With an academic career spanning nearly two decades, he has made significant contributions to legal research and policy development, particularly in the areas of climate-induced displacement and human rights protection. Dr. Khan earned his PhD from Western Sydney University's School of Law, Australia, where his research focused on the impact of climate change on the rights of displaced populations in Bangladesh. His scholarly work has been widely recognized, influencing policy discussions at both national and international levels. Dr. Khan has led numerous studies on pressing legal issues, including assessments of COVID-19 legal and policy responses from a human rights perspective and investigations into the environmental and health impacts of industrial activities. His research has been supported by esteemed institutions such as the UN Office of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute. As a prolific author, he has published policy briefs, book chapters, and articles in leading academic journals, with contributions to renowned publishers such as Routledge, Springer Nature, Palgrave Macmillan, and Edward Elgar. His policy insights have also been featured in publications of the United Nations University, reinforcing his role as a key voice in climate policy and human rights advocacy. Beyond research, Dr. Khan actively engages with global academic and professional communities through editorial roles and affiliations with organizations such as the World Commission on Environmental Law and the Asia-Pacific Academic Network on Disaster Displacement. He has presented his research at prestigious conferences in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Sweden, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. His dedication to legal education and advocacy aligns with ART Lab’s mission to advance high-quality research and policy recommendations. As a collaborator, Dr. Khan brings invaluable expertise in legal frameworks for climate resilience and human rights, supporting ART Lab’s commitment to evidence-based research and impactful policy solutions.