Latest news with #RavigadeviSambanthamurthi
Barnama
21-05-2025
- Science
- Barnama
Dr Ravigadevi Becomes First Malaysian Elected To Royal Society
A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi - Credit: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, making her the first Malaysian scientist at the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific academy. It also marks a historic milestone for the country. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), in a statement today, said Ravigadevi will be officially inducted into the Society in London on July 11, 2025, where she will sign the Royal Society's historic Charter Book, a record that bears the signatures of scientific luminaries spanning more than three centuries. A pioneering biotechnologist, Ravigadevi was appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in 2010 and is currently the Chair of the Biological, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Discipline. She is also a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences and a former Director of the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), where she led transformative research in oil palm biochemistry and genomics. 'Her innovations have had a global impact, particularly in improving yield, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. 'One of her most significant achievements was leading the team that decoded the oil palm genome, a major scientific breakthrough published in the prestigious journal Nature. This led to the discovery of the SHELL gene, which plays a key role in determining oil yield,' the statement read. The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang, lauded the achievement, saying that Ravigadevi's election as the first Malaysian Fellow of the Royal Society marks a proud moment for the nation. 'This recognition is not only a personal triumph but also a symbol of what Malaysia stands for under the Malaysia MADANI framework, a nation that uplifts prosperity through knowledge and champions sustainability through innovation.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Dr Ravigadevi becomes first Malaysian elected to Royal Society
KUALA LUMPUR: A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, making her the first Malaysian scientist at the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific academy. It also marks a historic milestone for the country. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), in a statement today, said Ravigadevi will be officially inducted into the Society in London on July 11, 2025, where she will sign the Royal Society's historic Charter Book, a record that bears the signatures of scientific luminaries spanning more than three centuries. A pioneering biotechnologist, Ravigadevi was appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in 2010 and is currently the Chair of the Biological, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Discipline. She is also a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences and a former Director of the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), where she led transformative research in oil palm biochemistry and genomics. 'Her innovations have had a global impact, particularly in improving yield, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. 'One of her most significant achievements was leading the team that decoded the oil palm genome, a major scientific breakthrough published in the prestigious journal Nature. This led to the discovery of the SHELL gene, which plays a key role in determining oil yield,' the statement read. The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang, lauded the achievement, saying that Ravigadevi's election as the first Malaysian Fellow of the Royal Society marks a proud moment for the nation. 'This recognition is not only a personal triumph but also a symbol of what Malaysia stands for under the Malaysia MADANI framework, a nation that uplifts prosperity through knowledge and champions sustainability through innovation. 'MOSTI will continue to build an ecosystem that nurtures excellence, accelerates impact and positions Malaysia as a respected contributor to global science,' he said. In response to the honour, Ravigadevi said the recognition was not a personal achievement, but a tribute to the exceptional teams she had the privilege of working with. 'Scientific progress is never the work of one individual. It is the product of shared vision, dedication, and collaboration. The vibrant research ecosystem at MPOB and our committed collaborators made all of this possible,' she said. Meanwhile, ASM President Academician Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen FASc said the inclusion of a Malaysian in the prestigious fellowship signals the increasing impact of Malaysia's scientific contributions globally. 'More importantly, Dr Ravigadevi's research has advanced scientific understanding and brought tangible societal benefits,' he said. Founded in 1660, the Royal Society counts among its Fellows many of history's most influential scientists, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking. For 2025, more than 90 individuals from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, China and Switzerland have been selected as Fellows of the Royal Society.
The Star
21-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
Dr Ravigadevi becomes first Malaysian elected to Royal Society
KUALA LUMPUR: A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, making her the first Malaysian scientist at the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific academy. It also marks a historic milestone for the country. The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti), in a statement on Wednesday (May 21), said Ravigadevi will be officially inducted into the Society in London on July 11, 2025, where she will sign the Royal Society's historic Charter Book, a record that bears the signatures of scientific luminaries spanning more than three centuries. A pioneering biotechnologist, Ravigadevi was appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in 2010 and is currently the Chair of the Biological, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Discipline. She is also a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences and a former Director of the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), where she led transformative research in oil palm biochemistry and genomics. "Her innovations have had a global impact, particularly in improving yield, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. "One of her most significant achievements was leading the team that decoded the oil palm genome, a major scientific breakthrough published in the prestigious journal Nature. This led to the discovery of the SHELL gene, which plays a key role in determining oil yield,' the statement read. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Chang Lih Kang, lauded the achievement, saying that Ravigadevi's election as the first Malaysian Fellow of the Royal Society marks a proud moment for the nation. "This recognition is not only a personal triumph but also a symbol of what Malaysia stands for under the Malaysia Madani framework, a nation that uplifts prosperity through knowledge and champions sustainability through innovation. "Mosti will continue to build an ecosystem that nurtures excellence, accelerates impact and positions Malaysia as a respected contributor to global science,' he said. In response to the honour, Ravigadevi said the recognition was not a personal achievement, but a tribute to the exceptional teams she had the privilege of working with. "Scientific progress is never the work of one individual. It is the product of shared vision, dedication, and collaboration. The vibrant research ecosystem at MPOB and our committed collaborators made all of this possible,' she said. Meanwhile, ASM President Academician Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen FASc said the inclusion of a Malaysian in the prestigious fellowship signals the increasing impact of Malaysia's scientific contributions globally. "More importantly, Dr Ravigadevi's research has advanced scientific understanding and brought tangible societal benefits,' he said. Founded in 1660, the Royal Society counts among its Fellows many of history's most influential scientists, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking. For 2025, more than 90 individuals from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, China and Switzerland have been selected as Fellows of the Royal Society. - Bernama
New Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Science
- New Straits Times
Malaysian scientist elected to prestigious Royal Society in UK
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian scientist Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi has made history as the first researcher based in the country to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, one of the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific institutions, according to reports. In a report published by FMT, the UK-based academy said in a statement that this year's cohort includes trailblazers across diverse fields, ranging from artificial intelligence and electron microscopy to global health and neuroscience. Among them are a Nobel laureate whose team developed the transformative AI model AlphaFold, and a public health expert working to prevent HIV among young women. Royal Society president Adrian Smith said the honourees represent the very best of scientific endeavour, from fundamental discoveries to research with real-world impact across health, technology and policy. Ravigadevi, who was born in Johor Baru in 1955 and now resides in Petaling Jaya, will be formally inducted into the academy in London on July 11, just two days before her 70th birthday. "I will have the distinct honour of signing the Royal Society Charter Book, a historic ledger bearing the signatures of scientific giants over the past three centuries, including Isaac Newton," she told FMT. A scientific consultant at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Ravigadevi obtained her Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and microbiology from Universiti Malaya in 1979, followed by a PhD in biochemistry from University College London in 1983. She currently heads the biological, agricultural and environmental sciences division at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and serves on the board of trustees of the Malaysian Invention and Design Foundation, among other roles. Despite the individual recognition, Ravigadevi said the honour belonged to the wider scientific community with which she has worked throughout her career. "True scientific advancement rarely happens in isolation. Our breakthroughs resulted from seamless collaboration with international partners and a shared commitment to ensuring science serves humanity and the planet," she said. The Royal Society said this year's elected Fellows and Foreign Members hail from countries including Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, China and Switzerland. "They now join the ranks of renowned figures such as Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and Dorothy Hodgkin," the academy said.
Free Malaysia Today
20-05-2025
- Science
- Free Malaysia Today
UK's Royal Society welcomes first Malaysian-based scientist
Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and microbiology from Universiti Malaya in 1979, and a PhD in biochemistry from University College London in 1983. (Akademi Sains pic) PETALING JAYA : The Royal Society, the UK's national academy of sciences, has welcomed Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi – its first Malaysian-based scientist – to its ranks. In a statement today, the academy said this year's cohort of researchers includes trailblazers across a wide range of fields, from artificial intelligence and electron microscopy to global health and neuroscience. They include a public health expert working to prevent HIV in young women, and a Nobel Prize winner whose team created the transformative AI model AlphaFold. Royal Society president Adrian Smith said their achievements 'represent the very best of scientific endeavour, from basic discovery to research with real-world impact across health, technology and policy'. A Petaling Jaya resident born in Johor Bahru in 1955, Ravigadevi will celebrate her 70th birthday in London this year, just two days after her induction into the Royal Society on July 11. 'I will have the distinct honour of signing the Royal Society Charter Book, a historic ledger bearing the signatures of scientific giants over the past three centuries, including Isaac Newton,' she told FMT. Now a scientific consultant at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Ravigadevi obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and microbiology from Universiti Malaya in 1979, and a PhD in biochemistry from University College London in 1983. Besides her role with MPOB, she is the head of the biological, agricultural and environmental sciences at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and a member of the Malaysian Invention and Design Foundation's board of trustees, among others. Ravigadevi refused to take the full credit for her recognition, calling it a 'shared honour with the exceptional team I had the privilege of leading at MPOB'. 'True scientific advancement rarely happens in isolation; our breakthroughs were a product of seamless collaboration with international partners and a profound, shared commitment to ensuring scientific discovery serves humanity and the planet,' she said. The academy said those in this year's intake have been elected from countries including Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, China and Switzerland. 'The fellows and foreign members join the ranks of Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Lise Meitner, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and Dorothy Hodgkin,' it said.
