Kuala lumpur: The Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), which has served as a think tank for the past 30 years by bringing together experts from various fields to mainstream science, technology, innovation and the economy (STIE), is now set to evolve into a 'think and do tank' to help drive national progress.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, ASM's president, Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen, stated that this transformation aligns with ASM's role as both a thinker and changemaker. He emphasized the development of a mission-oriented national STIE system, which aims to unify STIE projects across sectors, involving researchers, public agencies, industry players, and the community. This collaborative platform is expected to produce greater outcomes and impact for STIE initiatives.
During ASM's 30th Anniversary and the 2024/2025 Fellowship Conferment Ceremony, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Chang Lih Kang, Tengku Mohd Azzman also highlighted the importance of expanding the number of Senior Fellows and new Fellows to enhance the Academy's collective intelligence and expertise network. He expressed hope that both existing and new Fellows would act as agents of change for the nation.
Additionally, Universiti Tenaga Nasional Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ir Dr Khairul Salleh Mohamed Sahari, shared his vision for Malaysia to become a regional robotics hub by 2030. To achieve this, he emphasized the need to train educators to ensure future talent meets industry demands, aligning with the National Robotics Roadmap to reduce dependence on foreign labor.
ASM 2025 Senior Fellow, Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Ibrahim, underscored the critical role of science in addressing emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, sustainability, and the rare earth economy, while Prof Dr Fatin Aliah Phang Abdullah from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia stressed the need to improve STEM teaching methods to boost student confidence in understanding these subjects.
At the event, ASM Fellowship awards were presented to three individuals as Senior Fellows and 63 new Fellows for 2024 and 2025. These Fellows, selected from eight core disciplines, represent the nation's highest recognition in science, with ASM currently having 535 Fellows in total.