Mehzeb Chowdhury

Dr. Mehzeb Rahman Chowdhury (born 31 January 1987) is a Bangladeshi-born interdisciplinary academic, inventor, criminologist, criminal law barrister, filmmaker, and musician based in the United Kingdom. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Policing at the Department of Social Sciences, Northumbria University.

Chowdhury is recognized for his contributions to forensic science, crime scene investigation, and emerging technologies. He is the original inventor of the MABMAT, a 360-degree robotic crime scene imaging rover that has been acknowledged by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the American Bar Association (ABA). His expertise extends into specialized academic disciplines; he researches human taphonomy and the evolving field of astrocriminology and astroforensics. His interdisciplinary approach linking science, law, and creative arts has been the subject of features in publications such as TBS News[1], and led to his inclusion in Asian Standard's Most Influential List North East 2025.[2]

Beyond academia and scientific invention, Chowdhury is a filmmaker[3] and an active member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Crew and Connect programmes. He serves as a founding director of the South Asian Film Television and Arts Collective (SAFTAC) and is a term-completed member of the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) for Newcastle United. Furthermore, he is the creator of The Solivaga, a scientifically rigorous digital simulation and interactive memorial bridging astrophysics and human resilience.

1. Early Life, Inspirations, and Education

1.1 Media Lineage and Early Career

Mehzeb Rahman Chowdhury was born in Bangladesh into a media-centric household. He is the son of Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, a journalist, political talk-show host, and the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Manab Zamin (the world's largest circulated Bengali tabloid). His father is historically noted for his frontline war correspondence during the Gulf War and his extensive coverage of multiple FIFA World Cups. His mother, Mahbuba Chowdhury, is a distinguished poet, broadcast journalist, news presenter, and the publisher of Manab Zamin.

Growing up immersed in newsrooms and media production inspired Chowdhury's early career. Emulating his parents' journalistic background, he began his professional life directly out of high school as a sports correspondent. By 2006, he was a prolific writer for Goal.com, eventually expanding his portfolio to recognized platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and DAZN.

1.2 Early Tech Innovations and Software Engineering

Prior to his formal academic career, Chowdhury's early understanding of 3D spatial environments, virtual reality, and digital architecture was influenced by the 1990s video game modding community. As a teenager, he spent time creating custom levels and intricate maps for the first-person shooter game Doom. His technical expertise evolved beyond BSP (Binary Space Partitioning) tree logic and sector-based lighting; in 2003, he developed his first standalone 3D level using Visual Basic and DirectX 9, utilizing software-based raycasting. Throughout the mid-2000s, he continued to refine his digital spatial design skills by creating small independent game projects using FPS Creator. Demonstrating an ongoing interest in this modding community, he recently contributed levels to collaborative *Doom* mapping projects such as RAMP (Rabbit's All-comers Mapping Project) 2025.[4]

His self-taught background in software engineering later expanded into hardware prototyping and educational technology. In 2010, Chowdhury designed and prototyped "The ExoTab," a tablet computer conceptualized as a low-cost alternative to traditional computing systems, aimed at bridging the digital divide in developing countries. The following year, in 2011, he engineered an alternative to the Blackboard learning management system. Utilizing a Moodle backend paired with a fully-custom front-end designed specifically for modern South Asian universities, the platform featured built-in dictation and advanced voice recognition capabilities. These early hardware and software projects served as a practical foundation for his later creation of 360-degree forensic imaging systems (MABMAT) and WebGL environments (The Solivaga).

1.3 Legal Training and Pivot to Criminology

Initially charting a path in the legal profession, Chowdhury obtained his LLB (Hons) and Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL). He passed his Bar exam in London in 2010. Following his qualification, he returned to Bangladesh to complete a two-year apprenticeship at Huq and Company, working under the tutelage of the late Barrister Rafiqul Haq. Following his work in law, Chowdhury's interest in forensic science and the mechanics of crime scene investigation led him to alter his career trajectory.

In 2013, he relocated to the United Kingdom to attend Durham University, earning his MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice. He subsequently pursued a PhD in Forensic Science and Criminal Investigations within Durham's Department of Sociology, completing it in 2020. His doctoral thesis, titled An overview of crime scene practice and its practitioners in the United Kingdom, examined and challenged traditional "bagging and tagging" methodologies, focusing on modernizing physical evidence collection.

2. Academic Career and Specializations

Chowdhury began his higher education teaching tenure in Bangladesh with the London College of Legal Studies, serving as a lecturer of law and legal practice in 2010 upon his return from the United Kingdom. He subsequently worked as a Teaching Associate at Durham University in 2013. He currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Policing at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne.

As an interdisciplinary academic, he frequently writes on complex legal and criminal issues for international publications. In addition to contributing to The Independent[5] and The Conversation[6], he recently authored an analysis regarding the structural recovery of the Bangladesh Police forces for The Diplomat.[7]

2.1 Human Taphonomy and Body Recovery

Within forensic science, Chowdhury is a researcher in the specialized fields of human taphonomy and post-mortem body identification. He has undergone specialist training regarding body location and recovery in complex forensic contexts. His understanding of the biological and environmental complexities of post-mortem decomposition—knowledge frequently applied and tested at taphonomic research facilities (colloquially known as "body farms")—has garnered media attention.

2.2 Astrocriminology and Astroforensics

As commercial spaceflight expands, Chowdhury has emerged as an early contributor to the nascent fields of astrocriminology and astroforensics. His research explores the scientific and logistical challenges of conducting crime scene investigations in outer space.

He systematically investigates how microgravity environments—such as those on the International Space Station (ISS) or future off-world colonies—alter traditional forensic constants. His research covers the unpredictable trajectories of blood spatter in zero-g, the physics of ballistics evidence without atmospheric resistance, and the challenge of trace DNA collection in highly filtered, enclosed spacecraft environments. He was one of the first scholars to write formally about crime scene work in outer space, publishing early articles on the subject in 2016. His forward-looking work in this domain continues to be analyzed by science media, including a dedicated feature by BBC Science Focus.[8]

2.3 Cyberpunk, AI, and Automation

Operating at the intersection of policing, technology, and futuristic frameworks, Chowdhury's peer-reviewed work assesses the trajectories of automation in law enforcement. His core research themes include science and technology studies, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), cyberpunk aesthetics, and modern dystopias. He has published extensively on the ethical implications of "smart" and AI-enabled firearms, warning against techno-solutionism in policing.

3. Technological Innovations

3.1 MABMAT Rover

In 2016, while conducting his PhD research in his garage, Chowdhury engineered the MABMAT, a fully autonomous robotic imaging system designed to capture 360-degree, high-definition video and photography of crime scenes. The rover was created to address two systemic issues in the criminal justice system: scene degradation (the irreversible physical alteration of a crime scene over time) and the inherent psychological biases of user-created 3D courtroom animations. The project has its own dedicated Wikipedia page detailing its development.[9]

Inspired by NASA's "Curiosity" Mars rover, Chowdhury designed the MABMAT to be highly affordable. Built using off-the-shelf metal pieces, an Arduino microcontroller, a Raspberry Pi board, and open-source software, the entire system cost only £299 (approximately $374 USD) to develop. Unlike green screens or high-end VR rigs used in some forensic experiments, the MABMAT's output can be viewed by juries in a courtroom using a low-cost, $10 Google Cardboard headset attached to a standard smartphone. The potential for this technology to revolutionize how juries "visit" crime scenes via virtual reality was praised by tech and legal observers, including The Fanatical Futurist[10] and Peter Diamandis' Abundance Insider.[11]

The innovation quickly garnered attention. NASA's Mars Outreach team sent a kind letter of recognition praising the rover's design and utility. The system was subsequently adopted or tested by police forces across the UK and the US, a transition covered by media and publications such as Wired magazine[27], eForensics Magazine[12], and the EyeSpy360 blog.[13] It was showcased by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Scientific Program Committee at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)[25][26], and the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSoFS). Furthermore, Chowdhury headlined a talk on the future of policing at the World Police Summit 2022.[28][29] In legal academia, the rover's implications for demonstrative facts versus destructive rights were debated in the Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts.[14]

4. The Solivaga

One of Chowdhury's technical creations is The Solivaga (hosted at thesolivaga.com), an interactive digital memorial and scientifically rigorous web simulation. The single-page web application utilizes the Three.js 3D engine to render a scale-accurate solar system relying strictly on NASA's DE-440 ephemeris data.

The project was born from an exploration of human physical limitations and the desire for continuity. Acknowledging the reality that he, like most of humanity, will never physically leave Earth or travel the cosmos, The Solivaga frames a philosophical narrative. In the simulation, his "digital avatar" acts as an autonomous probe traveling past the outer planets and crossing the heliopause into interstellar space, exploring the cosmos on his behalf.

Far from a simple animation, the back-end functions as a validated mission simulation. The software continuously runs complex, real-time mathematical calculations: the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator's (RTG) power output strictly follows the Plutonium-238 half-life formula; the ship's Delta-V budget utilizes the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation; and the time-dilation metrics are derived precisely from Einstein's special-relativity equations (the Lorentz factor). Accompanied by a low-frequency "space hum" generated natively by the Web Audio API, the project serves as a visual essay on resilience, bridging physics and the concept of consciousness or legacy persisting when the physical body cannot.

5. Art, Filmmaking, and Creative Writing

5.1 Museum Exhibits and Interactive Art

Chowdhury's technological inventions frequently cross over into the realm of interactive art and public science communication. In 2016, his MABMAT project and its associated virtual reality environments were adapted into museum installations. He developed an interactive exhibit titled "CSI: VR" for the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford. That same year, his work was featured as a headlining interactive exhibit at the Manchester Science Festival, hosted by the Museum of Science and Industry. These exhibits allowed the general public to step inside digitally reconstructed crime scenes using low-cost VR headsets, effectively bridging the gap between rigorous forensic science and immersive digital art.

Furthermore, his interdisciplinary art extends into sports and social issues. In 2024, six of his works were exhibited at the National Football Museum in Manchester as part of the "For the Love of the Game? Football and Hate Crime" exhibition.[15]

5.2 Filmmaking and SAFTAC

Chowdhury's work in filmmaking began during his time at Durham University's student film society. In 2017, he served as the cinematographer for the feature film Redemption. This success led to his induction into the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Crew and Connect programmes in 2018, where he was mentored by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Linus Sandgren (La La Land, First Man, No Time to Die). His cinematic capabilities were profiled in Ice Today under their "Building Blockbusters" feature.[16]

As a screenwriter, executive producer, and colourist, Chowdhury's films have screened at international festivals. His credits include short films such as Remind Me Yesterday (2021), Downtime (2021), Spycraft, Missed Call, and Selvedge (2024), the latter of which was an official selection at the 225 Film Club.[17] He also frequently brings his cinematography skills to the independent music scene; for instance, directing or lensing music videos for UK acts like the Durham-based rock band Martha.[18]

Driven by experiences with systemic racial stereotyping and a lack of opportunities in casting and production, Chowdhury became a Founding Director of the South Asian Film Television and Arts Collective (SAFTAC), alongside fellow BAFTA members Haresh Patel and Shawn Basheer. The charitable organization advocates for equality, diversity, and authentic, non-stereotypical representation of South Asian talent across global media.

5.3 Creative Writing

In addition to screenwriting, Chowdhury is an author of science fiction and horror short stories. His literary works, which often explore themes of isolation and technological dystopia, are frequently featured on reading lists for science fiction awards, including the ACWise Award Eligibility lists (2022)[19], and notably earning finalist/shortlist nominations at the British Fantasy Awards in 2023.[20][21]

6. Music: Megalithic

In the summer of 2014, while undertaking his PhD at Durham, Chowdhury co-founded the independent rock band Megalithic with fellow Irish PhD researcher Alex McDonnell. Supported by labels like Ghost Label Record,[22] and serving as the band's primary songwriter, lyricist, and lead guitarist, Chowdhury sought to blend hard-hitting riffs with cerebral, science-driven lyrics, capturing the essence of 1980s and 1990s indie and hard metal.

The duo released their debut album, The Unnamed, in February 2018, blending academic concepts with alternative rock.[23] Tracks like "Stars" (a love ballad utilizing astrophysics lexemes) and "Chemistry 101" (a riff-fueled track written entirely in biochemistry locution) showcased this crossover. The band later followed up with Serenade EP in 2024, earning reviews in digital zines such as Sounds Good Webzine.[24] The EP further showcased his ability to weave atmospheric storytelling with layered instrumentation.

7. Sports Journalism and Newcastle United

Maintaining a lifelong passion for football—influenced by his father's sports coverage—Chowdhury's early career involved analytical sports journalism. He reported for outlets including ESPN, DAZN, Bleacher Report, and served as the editor for Vital Football Newcastle.

His ties to the sport and his work in EDI leadership culminated in executive appointments aimed at championing diversity in football governance. He was appointed to the Northumberland FA's Inclusion Advisory Board, and subsequently, English Premier League club Newcastle United appointed him as a member of their Independent Advisory Group (IAG), where he completed his term, marking a milestone for South Asian representation in UK football administration.

8. Upcoming Works and Ongoing Projects

As an active academic and creator, Chowdhury maintains a pipeline of upcoming projects rooted in his interdisciplinary expertise. Based on his competencies in curriculum design and futures studies, his primary ongoing academic research—focused on modern dystopias and cyberpunk aesthetics—investigates the socio-legal frameworks surrounding emerging technologies deployed in public spaces.

Creatively, Chowdhury continues to develop new science fiction and horror short fiction, building upon his presence on the BSFA Awards reading lists. He is also planning further musical endeavors following the release of Megalithic's Serenade EP. Academically, he is currently supervising a doctoral project investigating advanced police decision-making models. Furthermore, he is accepting students targeting research in crime scene investigation, forensic science, astroforensics, AI in law enforcement, VR/AR, and futures studies.

9. Personal Life

Chowdhury currently resides in Durham, United Kingdom, with his spouse, Dr. Orin Zahra. Dr. Zahra, an accomplished professional and academic in her own right, has been a steadfast pillar of support throughout his multifaceted career, and together they navigate the unique challenges of his demanding, interdisciplinary professional life.

Chowdhury openly discusses his experiences navigating life, academia, and the arts while managing chronic physical limitations. His transparency regarding these challenges, and his use of digital avatars and simulation as tools for intellectual freedom and boundless exploration, inspired the emotional and philosophical underpinnings of his digital space project, The Solivaga.

10. Selected Publications

• Going Cyberpunk: Conceptualizing The Smart(Er) Artificially Intelligent Firearm For Policing's Utopian Future, International Journal of Police Science and Management (2023).
• "The house always wins" - Empirical reflections on UK Freedom of Information legislation for policing research, Salus Journal (2022).
• The Risks of Risk Aversion: Trajectories of Automation in Policing, Contemporary Issues in Global Criminal Justice, Rowman & Littlefield (2022).
• A broken system? Examining the perilous state of quality assurance in crime scene practice, Science and Justice (2021).
• Beyond bagging and tagging — An empirical investigation into the roles, designations and responsibilities of crime scene practitioners, Science and Justice (2021).

Forthcoming Publications

• Chowdhury, M. & Stephens-Griffin, N. (Eds.). Exploring Cyberpunk: Criminological, Sociological and Cultural Perspectives. Emerald. [Edited Book]
• Chowdhury, M. "Crime Scene Investigation." In C. McCartney & A. Amankwaa (Eds.), Forensic Justice. Edward Elgar.
• Chowdhury, M. "Quantum Leap: Strategic and Ethical Dimensions of Next-Generation Technologies in Law Enforcement." In L. Huey, L. Ferguson & I. Adams (Eds.), Future Policing. Routledge.

11. References