Promotion of Science Education: The Role of Academy of Sciences Malaysia

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Promotion of Science Education The Role of
Academy of Sciences Malaysia
AASA FASAS WORKHOP ON SCIENCE EDUCATION, 10
OCTOBER 2009, DHAKA, BANGLADESH

• Ahmad Zaidee Laidin
• Academy of Sciences Malaysia
• 902-4, Jalan Tun Ismail
• 50480 Kuala Lumpur

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Academy of Sciences Malaysia

• Established in February 1995 under the Academy of
  Sciences Malaysia (ASM) Act 1994
• Statutory body under Ministry of Science,
  Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)
• Inaugurated by YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
  (former Prime Minister of Malaysia) on 8
  September 1995
• Launching Grant of USD 4.2 million (1995-2004)
• From 2005 (Operational expenditure Development
  budget) from Government of Malaysia

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Distribution of ASM Fellows
Total no. of Fellows 189
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Vision To be the Scientific Thought Leader in
Advancing Science for Malaysia to Become a
Contributor to Science
Mission .. to pursue, encourage and enhance
excellence in the fields of science, engineering
and technology for the development of the nation
and benefit of mankind.
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ASM Existing Task Force Committees

• Science Education
• Energy
• Natural Hazards
• Biotechnology Agriculture
• Climate Change
• Sustainable Water Management Programme
• etc.

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ASM Existing Standing Committees

• International Affairs Committee
• International Science Frontiers in Research
  Organising Committee
• ASM Science Journal Editorial Board
• Culture of Excellence Committee
• Technical Committee on Seismic Hazard Risk
  Study in Malaysia
• etc.

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Thrusts

• Development for Science
• (accelerating STI for knowledge generation, new
  discoveries creating new value-added
  opportunities for future development)
• Science for Development
• (utilization of science for development, wealth
  creation and societal well-being)
• Mega Science Framework Study for Sustained
  National Development (2011-2050)
• (develop such a framework as an over-arching
  basis for Government to mainstream innovative
  scientific, engineering and technological inputs
  into national development strategies plans)

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National Level

1. Provide Advice to Government on STI
2. Fostering Culture of Excellence in STI
3. Upgrading Technological Capability in Malaysian
   Industry
4. Promoting Public Awareness and Understanding of
   STI
5. Enhancing International Collaboration
6. Scientific Publications

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Promotion of Science Education School Level

• Nobel Laureate Outreach Programme
• - Training Camp for Students Teachers on
  Scientific Research Skills
• - Science Motivation Session with Nobel Laureate
• Public Lectures by Nobel Laureates
• National Science Challenge
• La main á la páte
• Back to School Lectures
• Innovation Awards (School category)

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Training Camps for Students Teachers on
Scientific Research Skills

• Jointly organised by ASM, MOSTI, MOE, and
  University
• An intensive 7-day residential programme
• to introduce students to the process of
  scientific research to inspire them to explore
  understand the exciting world of STI
• to train students to conduct research through a
  step by step hands-on learning module with
  facilitation by a group of young scientists as
  their mentors
• Creative modules, instruction modules, research
  modules, other modules (group dynamic, report
  writing presentation of research project)
  separate programmes for teachers
• 4 best teams will progress to the final round of
  National Science Challenge

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• Students discussing their
• research findings

• Students being briefed by
• their Mentors

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• Students presenting their
• research findings in front of
• the judge

• During the Closing
• Ceremony

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Science Motivation Sessions with Nobel Laureate

• Special session just for school children
• Science motivation talk by Nobel Laureate- the
  importance of science, -exploring the unknown
  and -there is nothing impossible in science
  (inculcated in the young)

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• Nobel Laureate Dr. Richard Roberts session with
  students

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Public Lectures by Nobel Laureates
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• Public Lecture by Nobel
• Laureate Prof Sherwood
• Rowland

Audience including school children at Nobel
Laureate Prof Sherwood Rowland Public Lecture
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Audience including school children at Noble
Laureate Prof Ahmed Zewail Public Lecture
Public Lecture by Noble Laureate Prof Ahmed Zewail
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National Science Challenge

• Started in 1983 and now in its 22nd Year
• Involving about 1000-1500 secondary schools
• Supported by Ministry of Education, Ministry of
  Science, Technology and Innovation, Novozymes
  Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. ASTRO Discovery Channel and
  Animal Planet
• Grand Prize include the Prime Ministers
  Challenge Trophy, RM 2000 for the school,
  certificate
• Since 1999 - study visit to Stockholm, Sweden and
  Copenhagen, Denmark and special arrangement with
  Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences enable
  champions witness the prestigious Nobel Prize
  Ceremony

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The Champions of the 2009 National Science
Challenge receiving their awards
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The winners of NSC 2008 at the Nobel Prize
Ceremony, Stockholm
Nobel Prize Ceremony
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La main á la páte

• La main á la páte is a national French program
  aiming at revamping and developing science and
  technology at elementary school
• ASM in collaboration with SEAMEO RECSAM and
  Academy of Sciences of the Institute of French
  organised three regional training sessions in
  2004, 2005 and 2006
• La main á la páte module in English version
  Teaching Science in Schools-distributed in the
  experimental classes in Malaysia by ASM

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La main á la páteRegional Training Sessions
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Back to School Lectures

• ASM Fellows and scientists gives lectures and
  motivate secondary schools students
• To harness the vast experience of ASM Fellows to
  motivate students to embark on science based
  careers

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BACK TO SCHOOL LECTURES
Lectures by ASM Fellows Scientists
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National Innovation Award (School Category)

• ASM manages and coordinate National Innovation
  Award
• The Award is given to recognize innovative and
  creative efforts towards generating simple new
  ideas, simple new innovations and products by
  harnessing ST towards impacting wealth creation
  and societal well being
• Open to all Government schools
• Innovation must consist element of originality,
  creativity, applicability functionality
• Prize include National Innovation Award Trophy,
• USD 6,000 and certificate
• In 2008- 53 schools participated in the
  competition

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Promotion of Science EducationUniversity Level
Q A Session during MASTEC
Participants Training Course for Young
Scientists 2008
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Science Grants
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Brain Gain Programme

• Mission Accelerate scientific discovery and
  transforming innovation through Malaysian
  Diaspora
• Prioritized areas ICT, Biotechnology, Industry,
  Sea to Space, ST Core and Innovation
• Total projects 20 (as for October 2009) in
  various areas
• Allocation for Brain Gain Programme is amounting
• USD 10 million

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SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT FUND ALLOCATION (SAGA)
Mission to build scientific knowledge and
achieve excellence in science, generate discovery
of new knowledge and become producers of
technology rather than merely consumers Major
research funded in the fields of physiology/
medicine, chemistry and physics, respectively are
dengue, cancer, malaria, stem cell, novel
bioactive products, novel nanostructures/nanotubes
, superconductivity and liquid crystals, etc.88
projects funded under SAGA amounting to USD 5.8
million until December 2008
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Community Innovation Fund

• To assist community groups to convert knowledge
  and ideas into products, processes or services
  that improves the quality of life of communities.
• ASM fellows with expertise in relevant fields are
  called upon to evaluate the CIF
• Evaluation results at ASM level of CIF Projects
  (June 2007-July 2009) 9 projects approved
• Allocation for CIF Projects is amounting
• USD 1 million

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ASM Publications
ASM Publishes books, monographs, proceedings and
a science magazine (Esti dot my) as well as
attempts to document and publish all research
reports and studies.
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At International Level

• Member to IAC, AASA, ICSU, IAMP, SCA, FASAS, etc.
• Executive Committee Member to IAP
• Hosting ICSU Regional Office for Asia and the
  Pacific (www.icsu-asia-pacific.org)
• Hosting International Science, Technology and
  Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation
  (ISTIC) under the Auspices of UNESCO
  (www.istic-unesco.org)

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ST Management Training Course for Researchers in
OIC Countries

• ST Management Training Course for Researchers in
  OIC Countries from 2005 until now
• Provided participants with additional theoretical
  insight on current trends in STI management
• Total participants (2005 2008) 78 researchers
  from 30 OIC Countries

Participants were briefed on NanoCen Lab by Prof.
Sharifah Bee Abdul Hamid (University of Malaya)
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• INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS

• 1. Scientific Excellence In Islamic Civilisation
• Islamic Science Ahead of Its Time Catalogue (8
  Jan. 14 Feb. 2007) in collaboration with the
  Institute for the History of Arab-Islamic
  Sciences, Frankfurt, Germany
• 2. Nobel Prize Centennial Exhibition "Cultures
  of Creativity Individuals and Milieus (20 March
  27 June 2004) in collaboration with Nobel
  Museum, Stockholm, Sweden

Participants at Islamic Civilisation Exhibition
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International Awards Mahathir Science Awards

• In pursuit of promotion of good science, ASM has
  established Mahathir Science Award as Malaysias
  most International prestigious Science Award for
  tropical sciences -Tun Dr Mahathir launched the
  Award on 17 August 2004
• Mahathir Science Award Winners

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Conclusion

• ASM strives to promote science education at all
  levels (primary and secondary schools,
  universities, research institutions and public)
  and will continue to foster a culture of
  excellence in STI
• Existing programmes will continue and new
  programmes will be developed (including possible
  collaboration with other Academies worldwide)

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Thank You
www.akademisains.gov.my