By: Azman Zakaria
Photo by: Marina Ismail

SERDANG, Dec 19 - All researchers from within and outside the country must continue to carry out close cooperation in order to be a catalyst for the advancement of mankind, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini Ideris said.

“They should create strong networks of like-minded academics and friends to make the whole globalization process we are living in, an inevitably positive one,” she said.

She was speaking when opening a Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Development Forum held in collaboration with Mustafa Science and Technology (MSTF) under the Science and Technology Exchange Program (STEP) in Islamic Countries, here. The program was jointly organized by UPM and Mustafa Prize Secretariat.

Also present were Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Malaysia, Marzieh Afkhamzadeh; Director Institutions of Higher Education Excellence Planning Division, Ministry of Higher Education, Prof Dr. Raha Abdul Rahim; Secretary Generalof  Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC) who is also Mustafa Prize representative, Prof. Sarkar Saeed; and UPM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Azmi Mohd Lila.

More than 200 participants from 11 countries and some 30 international renowned   scientists from Islamic countries in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology, including Professor Omar Yaghi from Jordan and Professor Jackie Ying from Singapore who were the laureates of the first edition of the Mustafa Prize held last year, attended the five-day program which started today.

The forum will discuss the global science and its emergence as the universal language of peace and welfare, the challenges faced by Muslim countries in nanoscience and nanotechnology fields, and ways to boost scientific cooperation among Muslim nations.  

Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini said STEP focused on the presence of Laureate of the Mustafa Prize, with the aim to promote science and technology and foster greater cooperation with leading scientists in the Islamic World.

“We hope the delegates will have the opportunity to discuss strategies to enhance scientific cooperation, particularly among universities in Islamic countries and, hopefully, the outcome of the program will give impact to Malaysian researchers in the form of an increase in high-quality research articles in reputable international journals.

“I really hope that this effort of sharing research findings does not stop here,” she said. 

She also said that she was confident that the collaboration between UPM and Mustafa Prize Secretariat in organizing the program would benefit not only scientists from the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology but also enhance scientific synergy in the Islamic countries. – UPM

Date of Input: | Updated: | eszereen