UK Royal Society's 1st M'sian scientist
The Royal Society, said to have started in 1660, only began admitting women in 1945. Ravigadevi will be officially inducted in London on July 11.
'I am 69 now, and I will be inducted...
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The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
‘Unis must create, shape and support'
Universities, research institutes and non-governmental organisations often play a bigger role than governments in keeping systems running in areas such as environmental protection, sustainability and climate change, says newly appointed Management and Science University (MSU) pro-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang. He shared that during recent visits to the Netherlands and Japan, there had been a change in the government but the countries were still functioning because 'non-state actors' like universities understood their roles and were able to carry out their responsibilities, he said. The higher education sector, said Prof Zaini, who is also the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) chairman, should play a bigger role on the global stage and not just be a receiver of knowledge and influence from other fields. Learning institutions must instead act as a creator that shapes and supports industries, he said, adding that being knowledge-based and having the ability to move past setbacks are core leadership values. 'Be knowledge-based – ground all decisions in facts and research, not hearsay. 'Secondly, move forward and not dwell on the past. 'In any organisation, there will be setbacks, such as being denied promotion or leadership roles. But leaders should focus on creating their own opportunities,' he said. Prof Zaini was speaking at the varsity in Shah Alam, Selangor, on Aug 5 as part of a series of dialogue sessions with public institutions, private sectors and non-governmental organisations nationwide. These sessions, which kicked off this month and will continue through September, are part of his self-funded 100-day lecture tour across 15 countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan and South Korea, from April to July this year, to share ideas, experiences and knowledge, as well as to foster global collaboration. Key topics of discussion include environmental sustainability, post-Covid-19 higher education, climate action before 2050, and leadership in global health. Resilience, Prof Zaini said, is something Malaysia can learn from Scandinavian nations –especially now, in the 'post-normal' era, where traditional rules and expectations no longer fully apply. The resilient Scandinavian mindset, he said, is shaped by centuries of surviving extreme environmental conditions. 'The climate there is harsh – in the northern parts of Norway and Sweden, winter can mean a whole month without sunlight, while summer could be two weeks without night. 'Temperatures swing from 45°C in summer to -20°C in winter. Surviving in such conditions is challenging, but locals are used to it,' he said, sharing how they embrace 'hygge' (pronounced 'hoo-gah'), a concept that centres on accepting and making the best of circumstances that cannot be changed – like the weather. Prof Zaini also called on Malaysian students to embrace differences if they want to thrive in a global environment. Citing Scandinavia as an example, he said formal titles are rarely used in introductions. 'If someone insists on using your title there, it might actually mean they don't see you as part of their group,' he said, adding that perceptions and attitudes differ greatly because of borders and cultures. 'In some countries, 'friendly' means smiling and chatting. In others, it means giving you space and not interfering – such as not asking personal questions. 'So, students need to understand different cultural mindsets instead of assuming their own definition of friendliness or professionalism applies everywhere,' he said. During his visit to MSU, Prof Zaini was appointed the varsity's environmental sustainability professor and its second pro-chancellor. The appointments, which run from 2025 to 2028, took effect on Aug 5. He succeeds the late Tan Sri Dr Wan Muhammad Zahid Muhammad Noordin, who served as MSU's first pro-chancellor for over two decades. Seeking someone to carry forward Zahid's legacy as a visionary leader who greatly complemented the university's mission, MSU president and founder Prof Tan Sri Dr Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid said he sees these same qualities in Prof Zaini. He described Prof Zaini as an 'excellent and outstanding academician', and expressed confidence in the former's ability to take MSU to greater heights. 'With his experiences in public service and in academia, I hope he can bring more value to our university, as we continue to move forward in research, international collaborations, global rankings, and other key areas,' he told a press conference.
Daily Express
5 days ago
- Daily Express
Lesson learnt from heated tobacco test at the Cube
Published on: Saturday, August 16, 2025 Published on: Sat, Aug 16, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: PMI Scientific Engagement Specialist Audrey Jeanneret conducted a test using a science machine to showcase the key differentiation of cigarette smoke and aerosol generated by a heated tobacco product to the visiting Malaysian media delegation on June 17. NEUCHATEL: (Switzerland): At the Philip Morris International (PMI) Neuchâtel Campus, inside the Cube, there is an science machine demonstration to show visitors the fundamental science of a smoke free future. The machine has two glass enclosed sections – one for a cigarette stick, and the other for a tobacco stick to be heated with a PMI tobacco heating system (THS). PMI Scientific Engagement Specialist Audrey Jeanneret conducted a test using a science machine to showcase the key differentiation of cigarette smoke and aerosol generated by a heated tobacco product to the visiting Malaysian media delegation on June 17. It was to show the difference between aerosol from the PMI tobacco heating system (THS) on one section of the machine, and smoke from a burning cigarette stick from the other section of the same machine. The THS demonstration section produced an aerosol which contains significantly less harmful constituents compared with cigarette smoke, making it a better choice for adults who don't quit smoking. This was shown by the changes seen in the filter pads which were intended to capture solid particles. The aerosol generated from THS section showed a white filter pad which confirmed no presence of solid carbon particles, and reduced exposure to harmful constituents up to 95%. Comparatively, in the cigarette section, the filter pad was brownish in color which confirmed the formation of solid carbon particles. This is due to combustion and generation of 6000 chemicals of which 100 of them have been identified as harmful or potentially harmful constituents (HPHC) The demonstration let journalists see the difference between burning the tobacco in a cigarette compared to the tobacco vapour generated when tobacco was heated. The test started by inserting a THS tobacco stick into its section holder and placing a cigarette in its section of the science demo machine. Both the cigarette and tobacco stick contains tobacco. The THS was turned on and the cigarette was lit at the same time with a working pump supplied with air simulating puffing by a smoker contained within the glass enclosed machine. When the cigarette was lit, the tobacco sets on fire and burns, reaching temperatures of above 600 °C. This burning process generated smoke and ash. when a smoker takes a puff, the temperature may rise even higher to 800 °C On the other section, the THS used a heating blade to heat the tobacco stick to no more than 350 °C, during which the tobacco did not burn and no smoke or ash was formed. Heating tobacco generates a tobacco vapour that is not smoke. The generation of the THS vapour generated indicated that oxygen—necessary for combustion to happen—did not play a role in the operation of THS in this test. Looking at the glass tubes, journalists could see smoke from a cigarette in its section and tobacco vapour in the other THS section. As the tobacco vapour and cigarette smoke went through the glass tubes, the tobacco vapour and cigarette smoke were captured on the white coloured laboratory filter pads. Unlike cigarette smoke, there is no formation of solid particles in the tobacco vapour generated by this test since there is no combustion of the tobacco. After the demonstration was finished, comparing the two laboratory filter pads showed that the tobacco vapour did not taint its pad with any brownish residue colour that was seen on the other pad that filtered the cigarette smoke. Unlike cigarettes which burn the tobacco, PMI's tobacco heating system products are designed to heat the tobacco, producing an aerosol which, if scientifically substantiated contains significantly fewer and lower levels of Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents (HPHCs) compared with smoke from cigarettes. Scientific evidence shows that THS aerosol contains significantly lower levels of toxicants compared with cigarette smoke. A growing number of scientific studies indicate that switching completely to THS device has the potential to be significantly less harmful than continuing to smoke. Combustion only occurs when there are three main elements: fuel, heat, and oxygen. When even one element is removed, combustion would not be possible. Most toxicants in cigarette smoke are released through combustion, so by eliminating combustion, it can potentially reduce the level of toxicants in the aerosol compared to cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke has been well characterized, with more than 6,000 chemicals identified, and among those, about 100 have been identified by public health authorities to be associated with smoking-related diseases. Smokeless tobacco and oral nicotine pouch consumption are the less harmful alternatives, and PMI is leading the way with its portfolio of smoke-free products to deliver a smoke-free future.
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
Chinese and Asean experts gather to explore the region's digital future
KUALA LUMPUR (Xinhua): South-East Asian nations are poised to accelerate their adoption of new technologies and the digitalization of their societies, Malaysian Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has said. China's significant advantages in artificial intelligence (AI), cross-border systems, and other emerging high-technology fields will enable members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), including Malaysia, to ensure their efforts reach all levels of society, ensuring inclusive and sustainable development, Gobind said in his remarks at the 2025 China Mobile Southeast Asia Cooperation Conference. "Building a digital future requires deep cooperation with partners such as China. China holds significant advantages in next-generation network deployment, edge intelligence, AI applications, and cross-border digital platforms. Malaysia highly values its cooperation with China in the digital domain, and we welcome further collaboration," he said. For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing said in his remarks that in recent years, digital economy cooperation between China and Asean has entered a new stage of comprehensive depth, with Malaysia and China in particular having signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) to enhance investment and cooperation in the digital economy. "These emphasize the importance of seizing opportunities brought by the digital economy, green development, and AI. This not only brings development benefits to the people of both countries but also sets a new benchmark for regional digital economy development," he said. Meanwhile, China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd. Executive Vice President Li Huidi said that AI is now at the forefront of a new wave of technological and industrial transformation, becoming increasingly user-friendly and widely accessible, and emerging as a new driver of social progress. "Southeast Asia is emerging as a global hub for AI, driven by a young population, strong economic growth, and supportive national strategies. Its rapidly improving computing infrastructure is laying a solid foundation for AI development and deployment," he said, adding that China Mobile is willing to work with partners from all sectors through close collaboration. Under the theme "Envisioning Intelligent Ecosystems, Empowering the Digital Future," the conference, organized by China Mobile, brings together leaders from government, the telecommunications industry, and academia to discuss the region's digital landscape. - Xinhua
