Soil – the neglected gold
Reading Time: 4 minutes“IT takes close to 200 years to form one cm of soil in the tropics and the process is even slower in the temperate regions,” says Dr Jeyanny Vijayanathan, a soil scientist at Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). Jeyanny who advocates environmental awareness says: “We cannot reverse soil erosion that is happening for centuries now, […]
Biogenes trailblazes digitalisation of biotechnology
Reading Time: 3 minutesPCR or Polymerase Chain Reaction is one major innovation that has transformed the field of molecular biology and now its impact spans other biology disciplines. At the heart of this PCR, which is known as the DNA photocopier are the primers. Primers are short single-stranded DNA fragments that bind to the DNA template that is […]
Microbiologist: Viral mutation keeps Covid-19 in circulation
Reading Time: 4 minutesTHE key point which is the most important factor determining whether COVID-19 is here to stay or whether we can eradicate this “virus”, is a mutation, says Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam from Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia. “The virus continues to evolve through mutation, evading the immunity built by existing vaccines,” […]
Want to be in STEM? Follow the trail set by these three women
Reading Time: 6 minutesTHREE women in Sunway University tell the stories of their postgraduate and postdoctoral journey in renowned institutions that led them to teach, research, and inspire young people. The Petri Dish spoke to these women in STEM; Associate Professor Dr Jactty Chew, Associate Professor Dr Felicia Chung, and Associate Professor Dr Kavita Reginald. They shared what inspired them to pursue […]
Genetically engineered crops: Fake news disappointments
Reading Time: 6 minutesFake news plaguing the progress of genetically engineered (GE) crops is nothing new since their first commercial cultivation 21 years ago. One of the most recent examples of fake news reports was churned out by economist, Jomo Kwame Sundaram and his co-author Tan Zhai Gen, http://ipsnews.net/2017/05/genetically-engineered-disappointments. The article lacks all the criteria of a valid, […]
Rahim’s long and winding road to criminology
Reading Time: 8 minutesDr Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin says it all for criminology. It is a blend of science and the arts. It is multidisciplinary, involving psychology, forensics, pathology, humanities and the social sciences. In this interview with MAHALETCHUMY ARUJANAN, he takes our readers into the how, and why, and what of criminology and speaks of a fruitful and […]
10 SOPs to detect living modified organisms
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Biosafety Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is expected to introduce ten standard operating procedures (SOPs) to detect living modified organisms (LMOs) in the country under its enforcement activities in the next four months. Its minister, Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (pix)announced this during the National Biosafety Seminar which aims […]
Regional platform to share SDG strategies for Southeast Asian nations
Reading Time: 2 minutesSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are based on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals came into effect in January 2016 and are targeted to be achieved by 2030. However, the United Nations and its member countries are aware of the reality that a lot of turbulence and headwinds must be navigated to achieve these […]
MTDC rolls out its training academy
Reading Time: 2 minutesAFTER years of being in the business of nurturing entrepreneurs in all areas of technology and at all growth stages, the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) has rolled out its technopreneur training academy, named Tentra (Technopreneur Training Academy) last month. In the last 25 years, MTDC has successfully carved its name as a prime agency […]
PhD thesis in ‘180 seconds’ by UKM students
Reading Time: 2 minutesBANGI: Just one static slide and three minutes to present a PhD thesis that comprises of minimum four years of research work. That is what a 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) presenter has to do to win this competition. Although the presentation is intended for lay audience, the research work should not be trivialised and should […]