BRAC University launches HCCS as a platform where computing meets people, society, and responsibility

BRAC University officially launched the Human-Centered Computing and Society (HCCS) Research Lab under the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) on 04 January, 2026. The lab aims to connect technology research with real-life social needs and everyday human experiences.

The inauguration took place at the BRAC University Auditorium with the presence of faculty members, researchers, and international scholars. The launch is an important step toward strengthening Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) research in Bangladesh, with HCCS working to contribute both nationally and internationally.

The lab focuses on research areas such as HCI, Artificial Intelligence, decentralized systems, XR technologies, and cloud computing. Its work will cover practical sectors including healthcare, social media, agriculture, mental health, and financial services. By studying how people actually use technology, HCCS aims to build systems that are easy to use, secure, and trustworthy, especially for local users.

Dr. Farida Chowdhury, Professor and HCCS Lead, shared the lab’s goal of doing research that truly helps society. She explained that the group will work on design, evaluation, and real-world studies to support responsible and human-centered technology.
Dr. S. M. Taiabul Haque, Associate Professor and Co-Lead, talked about the lab’s main research areas, including ICTD, Usable Security and Privacy, and Human-Centered AI.

The event included talks by Dr. Syed Ishtiaque Ahmed from the University of Toronto, Dr. Hasan Shahid Ferdous from the University of Melbourne, and Dr. Sharifa Sultana from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 

A keynote talk was given by Dr. Jazlin Ebenezer, Distinguished Faculty Fellow at Wayne State University and Fulbright Specialist. A panel discussion was later moderated by Dr. Haque.

Dr. Mahbubul Alam Majumdar, Dean of CSE, and Dr. Sadia Hamid Kazi, Chairperson of CSE, expressed strong support for the lab and highlighted its importance for interdisciplinary research and open-access knowledge at BRAC University.

The event ended with the official launch of the HCCS website, marking the start of the lab’s research activities and future collaborations.