This year, Mashiat Lamisa will be the first graduate of the new BSc in Integrative Systems and Design (ISD). Hailing from Bangladesh, the fourth-year student has made the most of her time at HKUST, undertaking two exchange programs and establishing a number of initiatives that led to her being awarded the Tin Ka Ping Scholarship (Changemaker) in honor of her work in design thinking and social innovation.
Why did you choose to study at HKUST and what attracted you to the new ISD program?
I’ve always wanted to build stuff. I used to break into telephones and take the magnets out to see how I could reuse them. When I came to the University, I found many of the majors were very theory-based. I wanted something more practical, so I was looking at studying Computer Engineering or Physics, but when the new ISD program came up I felt it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I had never been to Hong Kong before but I chose HKUST because of its great resources and the beauty of the campus.
How have you found the program?
It has been intense, as the professors were developing a brand-new curriculum and designing the courses and taking our input on them all the time. It was intimidating, but fun, because we were so involved in the process. One of the things that the program really focuses on is understanding users. Last year, most of my courses included field trips where we actually interacted with users. For example, we went to oyster farms to develop a solution for local oyster farmers in Hong Kong, and visited nursing homes and elderly care facilities because I was developing products for dementia patients. We were able to really understand users’ problems and to be put ourselves in their shoes.
What area of ISD interests you most and why?
Global health and sustainability are the main movements I want to involve myself in. Growing up in Bangladesh, I have seen people suffering from inequality, a fundamental lack of rights and health issues, but coming here, when I see that I have the opportunity to use engineering and technology to solve some of these issues, at least in a small way, it inspires me to be more involved to create some kind of change.
Why did you apply for the Tin Ka Ping Scholarship?
I had developed various projects that qualified me to apply. These included MedEasy, which is a medical records system I designed for use in the under-resourced slums in Cambodia; and Soft Keyboard, a circular mathematical keyboard created for students with cognitive disabilities. I also established Remake Repair Parties, the first community in Asia promoting a repair culture. I never expected to receive the award. For me, doing these things is normal because I really enjoy doing them.
What have been some of the other highlights of your time at HKUST?
I have completed two exchange programs. In January 2020 I did a semester at the University of British Columbia. One of the highlights was taking part in an all-female hackathon, where I also won an award. The summer before that I went to the University of Vienna to learn German for one month. It was my first travel outside Asia and my first time in Europe. I think it was the most cultural exposure I’ve ever had. I traveled a lot on my own to see things at the weekends. One day I walked 30km to see the Alps because I can’t cycle and I can’t drive. I didn’t know I had the courage to do that, but exploring alone increased my self-confidence and courage and made me aware that I’m capable of doing a lot more than I thought possible.
Learn more about the ISD programs
