November & December 2020

ASM is back with another installment of the FAScinate™ Series on 3 November 2020. This time around, it featured three immensely brilliant ASM Fellows to showcase their expertise in three interesting and captivating presentations. Previously known as the ASM Fellows’ Lecture Series, this new branding evokes a more casual vibe that aims to increase public engagement and fascinate them with science. Featuring the tagline “Open Minds, Spark Ideas”the FAScinate™ Series is a platform for ASM Fellows to share their thoughts and knowledge that will open the minds of people and spark new ideas. Featured ASM Fellows in this FAScinate™ Series are Professor Dato’ Dr Tengku Aizan Tengku Abdul Hamid FASc, Professor Dr Vikineswary Subaratnam FASc & Professor Dr Nik Meriam Nik Sulaiman FASc.

The Academy of Sciences Malaysia organised a Memorial Lecture in conjunction with the announcement of the Dr Ranjeet Bhagwan Singh (RBS) Medical Research Grant recipients for 2019 and 2020. The online session was broadcasted via Zoom, Facebook Live and ASM’s YouTube Channel. In attendance during the event was Professor Datin Paduka Dr Teoo Soo Hwang FASc, Chair of the RBS Medical Trust Fund Selection Committee. Together with her was the guest of honour Dato’ Parang Abai @ Thomas, Deputy Secretary General (STI Planning and Culture) from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia.

This session of Science Café KL featured YSN-ASM member Associate Professor Dr Razinah Sharif. Dr Razinah is a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Director of the Biocompatibility Laboratory at UKM. She is also a researcher the Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences (H-Care) UKM. Have You Ever Wonder Why You Cannot Gain Weight? Have You Ever Wondered Why You Can Gain Weight Easily? Can Knowing More About Your Genes Help You to Eat Move and Live Better? In this Science Café session, Dr Razinah shares how nutrition affects your DNA and how your genes respond to what you eat.

For the first time, the National Science Challenge is held entirely online, thus named Virtual National Science Challenge. It also carries the theme “Towards a Pandemic-resilient Community Through Science”. On 9 November 2020, the Academy of Sciences Malaysia broadcasted the Grand Final of the 2020 VNSC via Zoom, Facebook Live, and the Ministry of Education’s Youtube Channel, EduWebTV.

Like clockwork, the YSN-ASM Colloquium is here again. This annual programme is organised by the Young Scientists Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia. This year, the Colloquium was held virtually from 4 to 5 December 2020 in view of the current pandemic situation, keeping everyone safe and sound in the comfort of their homes or office. Boasting the highest attendance to date, the 2020 YSN-ASM Colloquium continues its role as an avenue for the YSN-ASM members and affiliates to gather, get acquainted, build network, and formulate programmes to advance the nation’s science, technology, and innovation.

The Forum and Workshop on Zoonoses in Malaysia took place on 20 November 2020 in two parts: the Forum in the morning took place on Zoom, while the Workshop in the afternoon was conducted on the Microsoft Teams platform. The forum aims to provide an overview on the current policies, landscape and initiatives, issues, and challenges as well as effective strategies towards ensuring Malaysia’s resilience against zoonotic diseases.