Malaysian Young Scientists to meet with Nobel Laureates

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Prof Datuk Dr Asma Ismail (centre) having a chat with the scientists going to the 68th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting.

SIX Malaysian young scientists will be joining the annual Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau, Germany and three Malaysian undergraduate students will participate in the CERN Summer Student Programme (CSSP) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The six young scientists heading to Lindau from June 24 to 29, 2018 are Tan Suat Cheng, Chan Siok Yee, Nur Aizati Athirah Daud, Mohd Ghows Mohd Azzam and Yap Beow Keat, all from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Shahidee Zainal Abidin from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting is a globally recognised forum for young scientists to engage with Nobel Laureates allowing the transfer of knowledge between the two generations of scientists, listening to Nobel Laureates’ Lectures, participating in panel discussions, and having personal interaction with Nobel Laureates.

The three students who will be participating in the CERN Summer Student Program from 25 June to 17 August 2018 are Fahmi Ibrahim from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Yohashama P. Sivagnana Kumaran from Universiti Malaya (UM), and Mirza Basyir Rodhuan from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)

CERN, the largest particle physics laboratory in the world, offers undergraduate students of physics, computing and engineering from around the world an opportunity to join the research teams and participate in experiments at CERN’s facilities in Geneva, Switzerland through this programme.

Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) is responsible for the national level vetting and selection of nominees for Malaysia, while the final selection is by the respective review panels from Lindau and CERN.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, President of ASM, Professor Datuk Dr Asma Ismail says ASM’s connections as a knowledge partner with several international organisations has enabled it to nominate Malaysian young scientists to participate in various international research programmes.

“ASM emphasises the need to invest in young, early-career scientists and researchers by providing avenues and opportunities for them to gain experience and expertise, in order to be able to solve pressing global issues,” she said.

Since 2004, 63 young Malaysian scientists have participated in the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, while 18 students have participated in the CERN Summer Student Programme since 2012.

The ASM President also called upon Malaysian Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs), Research Institutes and relevant Government ministries or agencies to collaborate with ASM in providing requisite financial support for the participation of young scientists in such development programmes to enrich their work and study experience, and to build collaborative network with international organisations.

She further thanked Universiti Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn for their support and funding for this year’s participants to both Lindau and CERN.