Conference to Promote Safe and Secure Science in the Middle East/North Africa & South/Southeast Asia

The Conference to Promote Safe and Secure Science in the Middle East/North Africa & South/Southeast Asia was organised from 5 to 9 February 2018. This regional conference was organised to facilitate collaboration by bringing together experts to convey their experiences, lessons learned, and visions for advancing safe and secure conduct of biological sciences research in their home institutions.

The Conference was participated by 98 participants, with 78 participants hailing from the Middle East and South Asian region, plus 20 Malaysians participants.

The Conference featured a panel of local and international speakers that delivered lectures from various scientific fields: Dr Halima Benbouza (Algeria), Professor Dr Mohd Hair Bejo FASc (Malaysia), Professor Mustafa Ali Mohd (Malaysia), Dr Herawati Sudoyo (Indonesia), Dr Azham Zulkarnanin (Malaysia) and Dr Ami Fazlin (Malaysia).

In addition to the lectures by the invited speakers above, selected scientists were given the opportunity to deliver topical lectures that set the theme for the day’s breakout session.

Participants of the Conference presented their academic posters throughout the programme’s duration. A total of 58 posters and 40 oral presentations were featured throughout the programme. The top 12 posters have been awarded as Best Posters; Malaysian participants presented four of these. The winning participants were announced during the Gala Dinner on 8 February 2018.

The Conference’s Opening Ceremony was held in conjunction with the Launching of the Malaysian Educational Module on Responsible Conduct of Research. The opening ceremony was officiated by YB Datuk Dr Mary Yap Kain Ching, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Malaysia, on behalf of the Minister of Higher Education Malaysia.