Dr.

Sara Nowreen

Assistant Professor Cell : +88 01553 636 657

Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Email : snowreen@iwfm.buet.ac.bd
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET) sara.sohel@gmail.com
Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. Website: http://snowreen.buet.ac.bd/

PhD (April, 2017) IWFM, BUET.

Education GPA: 3.33 (on a scale of 4.0)

MSc (June, 2010) in Water Resources Development, IWFM, BUET.

GPA: 3.33 (on a scale of 4.0)

BSc (June, 2005) in Water Resources Engineering, WRE, BUET.

GPA: 3.69 (on a scale of 4.0) and the position was 1st

HSc (1999) Viquarunnesa Noon School and College, Dhaka. Marks: 82.1%

SSc (1997) Engineering University School, Dhaka. Marks: 87.9%

Employment June, 2014 to date Assistant Professor, Institute of Water and Flood Management,
Record Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

March, 2011 to June 2014 Lecturer, Institute of Water and Flood Management, Bangladesh
University of Engineering and Technology.

August 2010 to March 2011 Research Associate, Crossing Boundaries Project, IWFM, BUET.

Research Ongoing Projects

Experience
 Co-modeller, “Developing Flash Flood Early Warning System (FFEWAS)” funded by
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Role: Hydrodynamic modelling of
North-East Region using HEC-RAS 1D-2D model (Since December, 2017- June 2019).

Past Projects

 Principal Investigator, “Assessment of River Water Availability in Bangladesh for Off-

stream Uses” funded by International Foundation for Science (IFS) Research Grant W5582
(October, 2015 - December, 2017).

 Co-convener, “Food, water, policy and people: evaluating the impacts of climate change
and groundwater limitation on food security in NW Bangladesh, to guide policy for
adaptation” supported by the Research Catalyst Grants at University College London, UK as
part of 2015 BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities/UCL Grand Challenges Symposium
Series (May, 2015 - April, 2017).

 Co-ordinator & researcher, “DEltas, vulnerability and Climate Change: Migration and
Adaptation (DECCMA)” project under “Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa
and Asia (CARIAA)” program by University of Southampton (UK), IWFM (BUET), Jadavpur
University (India), National Authority of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (Egypt),
University of Ghana (Ghana) and 31 other university or institutions with jointly funded by
DFID and IDRC (February – October, 2014).

 Co-investigator, “An assessment of present and future changes of hydrological cycle of

haor basin area – a case study” under the DFID research contract of "High-resolution
Regional Climate Change Information for Bangladesh to inform Impacts Assessments,
Vulnerability indicators and Adaptation Policies" - Akm Saiful Islam, M. Asad Hussain, Sonia
Binte Murshed, Sara Nowreen by IWFM, BUET and Met Office, UK (June 2011 - February
2013).

Academic Visits

 3 September–6 November, 2016 & 9–28 January, 2017: University College London, UK
Worked on groundwater recharge processes in an Asian Mega-Delta: evidence from high-
frequency monitoring in the Bengal Basin

 01 February – 15 March, 2013: University College London (UCL), UK

Worked on the analysis of projected changes in rainfall intensity within Bangladesh under
the DFID research contract of “Groundwater resources in the Indo-Gangetic Basin:
resilience to climate change and pumping”. Work Plan

 2 July - 20 September, 2012: Met Office Hadley Centre, UK

Worked on the assessment of present and future changes of hydrological cycle of haor
basin area Work plan Achievement
 Teaching  Groundwater Resources Assessment, October Session-2017, IWFM, BUET
/Examining  External Foreign Examiner, TERI University, India: Sourabh Shrivastava, PhD student,
Department of Natural Resources
Charles Wallace Trust Professional Visit Grant 2016/17 (BC 2016/0484) for 3 months
Award and (September-October, 2016 & January, 2017) to University College London (UCL), UK.
Scholarship
Commonwealth Split Site Scholarship (BDCN-2014-4) at University College London (UCL),
(after college) UK (20 October, 2014 – 19 October, 2015).

The International Foundation for Science (IFS) Research Grant (W5582) of USD 12,000
to carry out the project entitled "Assessment of River Water Availability in Bangladesh for Off-
stream Uses" (15 October, 2015 - 31 December, 2017).

Bangabandhu Fellowship on Science & ICT awarded by the Ministry of Science and
Information and Communication Technology, GoB for Ph.D. at BUET (July, 2011- June, 2014).

RGCH Conference 2016 Grant supported by The British Council and the Thailand Research
Fund for oral presentation during 8-11 February, 2016 at Bangkok, Thailand.

Graduate Scholar Award, Fourth International Conference on Climate Change, University of

Washington, Seattle, USA for 12-13 July 2012 (Not Availed).

Adaptation Futures - 2012 Conference Grant for poster presentation during 29-31 May,
2012 at the University of Arizona, Tuscan, USA.

SAWA (South Asian Water) Fellowship awarded by the Crossing Boundaries Project, IWFM,
BUET for M.Sc. (WRD) Program.

Deans’s List (2002), University Merit Scholarship (2000-2004), Technical Scholarship

(1999 – 2004) awarded by BUET.

Publication International Journals

 Nowreen, S.; Taylor, R. G.; M. Shamsudduha; K. Ahmed; A. Zahid. (under review)

“Groundwater recharge processes in an Asian Mega-Delta: hydrometric evidence from
Bangladesh.” Hydrological Processes.

 Mondal MS; Sakib MN; Nowreen, S. (under review) “Scale-dependent reliability of the
PRECIS model in rainfall projection of Bangladesh.” Theoretical and Applied Climatology

 Nowreen, S.; Haque P., Mondal MS. (under review) “Hydrological assessment for off-stream
uses of Karatoa-Atrai River in Bangladesh”. Hydrological Sciences Journal

 Arifin, S. M.N.; Arifin, Rumana R.; Pitts, Dilkushi A.; Rahman, M. S.; Nowreen, S.; Madey,
Gregory R.; Collins, Frank H. 2015. “Landscape Epidemiology Modeling Using an Agent-Based
Model and a Geographic Information System.” Land 4, no. 2: 378-412. MDPI Publisher.
Special Issue Agent-Based Modelling and Landscape Change. doi:10.3390/land4020378

 Nowreen, S.; Murshed, S.B.; Islam, A.K.M.S.; Bhaskaran, B.; Hasan, M.A. 2015. “Changes
of Rainfall Extremes around the Haor Basin Areas of Bangladesh using Multi-member
Ensemble RCM.” Theoretical and Applied Climatology 119, no. 1-2: 363-377. Springer.
doi:10.1007/s00704-014-1101-7 Abstract Download Impact Factor: 1.742 (2013).

 Nowreen, S.; Jalal, M.R.; Khan, M.S.A. 2014. “Historical Analysis of Rationalizing South-
West Coastal Polders of Bangladesh.” Water Policy 16, no.2: 264-279. IWA Publishing.
doi:10.2166/wp.2013.172 Abstract Download Impact Factor: 1.603(2012).

 Nowreen, S.; Murshed, S.B.; Islam, A.K.M.S.; Hasan, M.A.; Sarker, T.K. 2012. “An Indicator
of Climate Change in the South West Region of Bangladesh.” The International Journal of
Climate Change: Impacts and Responses 4, no. 3: 47-60. Abstract Download

 Nowreen, S.; Khan, M.S.A.; Huq, H. 2011. “Development of an Operational IWRM

Framework in a selected SSWRDSP of Bangladesh.” SAWAS Journal 2, no. 2: 5-26. Download

International Conferences

 Nowreen, S.; Mondal MS, Haque P. 2017. “Flow characteristics and environmental flow
requirements for the Dharla River, Bangladesh.” Proceedings of the 6th International
Conference on Water and Flood Management (ICWFM 2017), 105-114, BUET. Dhaka.
Bangladesh. Abstract

 Nowreen, S.; Jalal, M.R.; Khan, M.S.A. 2013. “Chronological Analysis of Water Management
Practices in The South-West Coastal Polders of Bangladesh.” Proceedings of the 4th ICWFM
2013, Volume 2: 379-388. BUET. Dhaka. Bangladesh. Abstract
  Nowreen, S.; Murshed, S.B.; Islam, A.K.M.S.; Bhaskaran, B. 2013. “Change of Future
Climate Extremes for the Haor Basin Area of Bangladesh.” Proceedings of the 4th ICWFM
2013, Volume 2: 545-556, BUET. Dhaka. Bangladesh. Abstract Download Link2

 Murshed, S.B.; Nowreen, S.; Islam, A.K.M.S.; Hasan, M.A.; Sarker, T.K. 2013. “Change of
Extreme Precipitation Indices for the Eight Hydrological Regions of Bangladesh.” International
Conference on Climate Change Impact and Adaptation (I3CIA-2013), 461-471. Center for
Climate Change and Sustainability Research (3CSR). DUET. Gazipur. Bangladesh. Abstract

 Nowreen, S.; Khan, M.S.A.; Huq, H. 2011. “Constraints and potentials in practising IWRM in
the selected small scale water resources development sector projects of Bangladesh.”
Proceedings of 3rd ICWFM 2011, Volume 2: 713 -723. BUET. Dhaka. Bangladesh. Abstract

Research Report

 Nowreen, S. 2018. “Assessment of River Water Availability in Bangladesh for Off-stream

Uses.” International Foundation for Science (IFS) Report, W5582. Download

 Taylor, R. G., W. G. Burgess, M. Shamsudduha, A. Zahid, Dan Lapworth, K. Ahmed, A.

Mukherjee, and S. Nowreen. 2014. “Deep Groundwater in the Bengal Mega-Delta: New
Evidence of Aquifer Hydraulics and the Influence of Intensive Abstraction.” British Geological
Survey Open Report, OR/14/070. 24pp. Download

 Islam, A.K.M.S., M.A. Hussain, S.B. Murshed, S. Nowreen, and M.A. Hasan. 2013. “High-
resolution Regional Climate Change Information for Bangladesh to inform Impacts
assessments, Vulnerability indicators and Adaptation policies”. IWFM Report. Download Link2

Book/Book Chapter

 Salehin, M., Chowdhury, M. M. A., Clarke, D., Mondal, M. S., Nowreen, S., Jahiruddin, M., &
Haque, A. (In press). Mechanisms and drivers of soil salinity in coastal Bangladesh. In R. J.
Nicholls, C. W. Hutton, N. W. Adger, S. E. Hanson, M. Rahman, & M. Salehin (Eds.),
Ecosystem Services for Well-Being in Deltas. Palgrave Macmillan Publisher.

 Nowreen, S.; Khan, M.S.A. 2012. “Development of an Operational IWRM Framework in a

Selected Small Scale Water Resources Development Sector Project.” LAP LAMBERT Academic
Publishing. Germany.

Poster Nowreen, S.; Jalal, R.; Salehin, M.; Islam, R. “Estimating Relationship between Groundwater
Presentation Level Recovery and Rainfall for Shallow Unconfined Aquifers in North West Region of
Bangladesh.” International Conference on Water Resources Assessment and Seasonal
Prediction. 13 – 16 October, 2015. Koblenz, Germany funded by Commonwealth Split-site
Scholarship. Abstract

Nowreen, S.; Halder, P.K. 2012. “Response From The South West Coastal Region Of
Bangladesh With The Changing Climatic Variability.” Adaptation Futures 2012: International
Conference on Climate Adaptation. 28 May - 31 May. Tuscon. Arizona. U.S.A. with full
conference funding. Abstract

Oral Nowreen, S. 2016. “Groundwater responses to intensive rainfall in an Asian Mega-Delta:

Presentation evidence from high-frequency monitoring in the Bengal Basin" Proceedings of the International
Conference on “Resilience of Groundwater Systems to Climate Change and Human
Development”, 8-11 February, Bangkok, Thailand. Abstract Download

Other Posters Ahmed, K.M.; Jahan, C.S.; Zahid, A.; Burgess, W. G.; Shamsudduha, M; Nowreen, S;
/Abstracts Osborn, D. 2015. “Water, climate and policy for food production in the Barind, NW Bangladesh”
BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities/UCL Grand Challenges Symposium Series on Global Food
Security: Adaptation, Resilience and Risk, 9-10 November, UCL, UK. Abstract Download

Salehin, M.; Mondal, M.S.; Clarke, D.; Lazar, A.; Chowdhury, M.A.; Nowreen, S. 2014. “Spatial
Variation in Soil Salinity in Relation to Hydro-Climatic Factors In Southwest Coastal
Bangladesh.” Proceedings of the Deltas in Times of Climate Change II, International
Conference, Opportunities For People, Science, Cities And Business, 94 (DD 4.6-4). 24 – 26
September. Rotterdam. The Netherlands. Abstract Download Poster

Theses Titles PhD: Nowreen, S. 2017. “Mechanism of groundwater response to recharge and its
quantification for shallow aquifers in Bangladesh.” IWFM. BUET. Bangladesh. Abstract

MSc: Nowreen, S. 2010. “Development of an Operational IWRM Framework in a Selected Small

Scale Water Resources Development Sector Project.” IWFM. BUET. Bangladesh. Download

BSc Engg. (WRE): Nowreen, S. 2005. “Stability and Damage Study of Wave Protection
Embankment at Mithamain.” DWRE. BUET. Bangladesh.
Resource Person  11th Community Law Reform (CLR) Workshop on CLR Research and Research Methodology
in Training Presentation Title: Environmental Issues/Concerns relating to Water Salinity in the
/Workshop Coastal Area of Bangladesh
Organized by: Empowerment through Law of the Common People (ELCOP)Climate on 11
December, 2017

 Groundwater and Agricultural Production: Barind area, NW Bangladesh

Presentation Title: Situation Analysis-The climate Context
Organized by Rajshahi University, Dhaka University, University College London (UK) on 9
November, 2016

 High-resolution Regional Climate Change Information for Bangladesh to inform Impacts

Assessments, Vulnerability indicators and Adaptation Policies
Presentation Title: Case Study in the Haor Basin Area: An Assessment of Present
and Future Condition of Hydrological Cycle
Organized by IWFM, BUET on 27 January, 2013

 Climate Modelling and Downscaling Techniques

Presentation Title: Hands on Exercise using Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM)
Organized by IWFM, BUET on 18 – 22 February, 2012
Professional Outside Bangladesh
Training
 'Regressions with R' at University College London, UK (11th – 12th May, 2015)
 ‘Introduction to Logistic Regression Analysis’ at University College London, UK (23rd April,
2015)
 ‘2015 NGWA Groundwater Summit’ cum short course on ‘Estimating Rates of Groundwater
Recharge’ organised by National Ground Water Association at San Antonio, TX, USA (16th -
20th March, 2015)
 ‘Introduction to Statistics with R’ at University College London, UK (27th Feb, 2nd -3rd March,
2015)
 ‘Introduction to SPSS’ at University College London, UK (29th January, 2015)
 ‘Practical SPSS’ at University College London, UK (19th January, 2015)
 ‘HighNoon Spring School’ programme under EU funded project “Adaptation to Changing
Water Resources Availability in Northern India with Himalayan Glacier Retreat and
Changing Monsoon pattern” at IIT, Delhi, India (2nd - 6th April, 2012).
 South Asia Water (SAWA) Fellows Training on ‘Participatory Field Research Methodology’
Organized by SaciWATERs-India and Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of
Peradeniya, Sri Lanka , held in Kandy, Sri Lanka (1st -13th September, 2009).

Within Bangladesh

 A training course on "Introduction to Remote Sensing and its Application in Natural Hazard"
at BUET-JIDPUS (13-15 December, 2017).
 "Training of Trainers Workshop on Adaptive Delta Management" at ITN Centre, BUET (16-
19 September, 2017).
 Stakeholder Workshops of High End Climate Impact and Extremes (HELIX): Regional Focus
on South Asia at IWFM, BUET (12th September, 2017 and 20th August, 2014).
 An Expert Group Workshop on Aquifer poroelasticity in Bangladesh: observations,
modelling and the implications for groundwater resources monitoring (23rd February,
2017).
 A discussion of policy for groundwater in the Barind at Barind Multipurpose Development
Authority, Rajshahi (10th November, 2016).
 Bangladesh-India Joint Dialogue Meeting (20th March, 2014) at RIGS INN, Gulshan, Dhaka
and Bangladesh country level dialogue meeting on “Transnational Policy Dialogue for
Improved Water Governance of Brahmaputra River” at IWFM, BUET (21 st August, 2013).
 Workshop on "Establishment of Monitoring Network and Mathematical Model Study to
Assess Salinity Intrusion in Groundwater in Coastal Area of Bangladesh due to Climate
Change" jointly organised by BWDB and IWM at BIAM auditorium, Dhaka (8th October,
2013) and at Ban Bhaban, Dhaka (24th January, 2016).
 Seminar on “Challenges for Engineers to Combat Future Coastal Vulnerabilities:
Bangladesh Context” organised by the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) at IEB
Seminar room, Dhaka Centre (21st September, 2013).
 Seminar on “Water and Waste: Excreta Does Matter” organised by Centre for Science and
Environment and Bangladesh Institute of Planners at Planners’ Tower, Dhaka (4th
September, 2013).
  Final Workshop on Institutional Strengthening of Climate Change Study Cell at BUET at
IWFM, BUET (26th August, 2013).
 Training Workshop on Urban Drainage Modeling for Coastal Towns of Bangladesh
Considering Climate Change at IWFM, Dhaka (19th – 21st April, 2013).
 Seminar cum Workshop on “The security of deep groundwater in Bangladesh: observations
and modeling in support of policy development” at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, Dhaka (15th -16th
January 2013).
 Delta Lessons Seminar on ‘Turning Tides’ at IWFM, BUET (2nd December, 2012).
 1st Half Yearly Workshop on “Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) Consortium
Grant Project” at IWFM, BUET (27th – 29th November, 2012).
 Worked as a member in the organising committee and attended the “Stakeholder’s
workshop on High-resolution Regional Climate Change Information for Bangladesh to
inform Impacts Assessments, Vulnerability indicators and Adaptation Policies" at IWFM,
BUET (8th March, 2012).
 Training cum Workshop on South Asian Disaster Knowledge Network (SADKN) as a nodal
officer held at Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Agargaon (7th March, 2012).
 Workshop on “Environmentally-friendly Natural Resource Management” organised by
CEGIS (12th February, 2012).
 Worked as a member in the organising committee and attended the Workshop on “Dutch-
Bangla Research Initiative on Morpho Flood” at IWFM, BUET (30th January, 2012).
 Training Workshop on “Climate Change Adaptation” organized by Comprehensive Disaster
Management Programme (CDMP-II) at Mohakhali, Dhaka (24th - 25th October, 2011).
 Workshop on “Academic Innovation Fund (AIF)”, Higher Education Quality Enhancement
Project (HEQEP), University Grants Commission of Bangladesh at BUET (19th June, 2011).
 Teachers Appreciation Workshop at BUET (11th – 14th April, 2011).
 Short Course on "Conservation of Riverine Ecosystems under Changing Environment" at
DCE, BUET (2nd April – 6th April, 2011).
 Training on Gender and Water at IWFM, BUET (11th - 13th July, 2009).
 Training on Water and Equity at IWFM, BUET (3rd and 4th August, 2008).
 Training on Arc View software at WRE, BUET (Grade Earned: Excellent).

Other  Member secretary, BRTC (October, 2017 – up to date)

Institutional
Responsibilities  Tabulator (October, 2017 – up to date)
 Procurement (February, 2018 – up to date)
 Library and Database Management (February, 2018 – up to date)
 Coordinating Postgraduate Seminar Series (2011 – 2014; 2017 – up to date).
 Mentoring South Asian Water (SAWA) Fellows (2013 – 2014).
 Coordinating institutional courses evaluation from students (October, 2012- 2014).
 Bi-annual Newsletters, Brochures and Annual Reports (2011 - 2014).
 Inaugural Session Conduction of ICWFM (2009-2013).Worked as an organizer of various
institutional training programs, workshops, seminars etc.

Professional  Nodal Officer from IWFM, BUET for the South Asia Disaster Knowledge Network (SADKN)
Affiliations since August 2, 2011.
 Base Member (2013), the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and
Research (IAHR).
 Member, ELLA (Evidence and Lessons from Latin America) Learning Alliance on Climate
Resilient Cities (Since 2012).
 Associate Editor (2012), The International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts and
Responses - Volume 4.
 Reviewer (2017) Land Use Policy, Climate Risk Management of Elsevier and International
Journal of Global Warming of Inderscience publishers.
 Other  Member, BoG, Engineering University High school and College (2017 – to date)
Activities
 Worked as a part-time employee for Barnet Overseas Students Association Ltd.
(B.O.S.H.A), London, UK.
 Worked as a Part-time teacher in Viquarunnesa Noon School, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
 Taught ‘O’ Level and ‘A’ Level Mathematics Courses in Bangladesh.
 Active member of the ‘Parents and Toddler’ group and Organizer of the international
Cookery demonstration events in Nansen Village, London.
 Was an active member, WRESA (Water Resource Engineering Student Association) in
university years; Actively took part in Science Fairs during college years, Girl’s guide,
Handball and Athletics during the School years.
 An Origami Workshop for graduate students (25th September, 2013).

Computer Skill Operating System: MS Windows, Linux.

Package Software: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CorelDraw, Photoshop.

Computer Language: R, C/C++.

Specialized Software: SPSS (Statistical analysis), SDSM (Statistical Downscaling Model),

RClimDex (Climate indices calculation Model), ArcGIS 10.2 (GIS mapping), HEC-RAS (River
Analysis), PRECIS (Regional Climate Model), CROPWAT (irrigation planning and management),
ILWIS (GIS and remote sensing), IHA (Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration).
Reference Dr. Mashfiqus Salehin, Professor, IWFM, B.U.E.T. Dhaka. mashfiqussalehin@iwfm.buet.ac.bd

Dr. Richard Taylor, Professor, University College London, UK. richard.taylor@ucl.ac.uk

Dr. M. Shah Alam Khan, Professor, IWFM, B.U.E.T. Dhaka. msalamkhan@iwfm.buet.ac.bd

Dr. AKM Saiful Islam, Professor, IWFM, B.U.E.T. Dhaka. akmsaifulislam@iwfm.buet.ac.bd