Activities overview

NO	EVENT/ACTIVITY	DATE	VENUE	COLLABORATOR(S)
1.	AKEPT Young Scholars Program (AYSP)	Session 3: 21-24 Jan 2018   Session 4: May-July 2018 Session 5: 14-15 August 2018	AKEPT	AKEPT
2.	Route to CEng/PEng	3 May 2018	ASM	BEM, IChemE, IMChemE, IET, ICE
3.	TRIZ: The Art of Innovation Workshop	6-7 September 2018	ASM	National TRIZ Association
4.	Young Investigator Award, YSN-ASM, International Conference on Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (ICBMBB2018)	15-16 August 2018	Sheraton Puchong	Malaysia Society for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
5.	Young Investigator Award, YSN-ASM, National Congress on Membrane Technology 2018 (NATCOM 2018)	30 - 31 Oct 2018	Pulai Springs Resort, Johor Bahru, Johor	Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
6.	Young Investigator Award, YSN-ASM, The 10th Medical Undergraduates’ Annual Scientific Research Meeting (MUASRM) 2018	8 November 2018	Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia	Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
7.	Young Investigator Award, YSN-ASM, Engineering, Science & Technology International Conference 2018 (ESTIC'18)	26 – 27 November 2018	MAHSA University, Malaysia	MAHSA University, Malaysia

Activity 1: AKEPT Young Scholars Program (AYSP)

AYSP is a leadership-based program where young, would be academic staff is given an initial training, in relation to ECR needs, RCR and other facets of being an academic. AYSP 2017-18 is running a second batch, with 35 participants chosen from about 500 applications.

The key benefit of the programme include:

• To develop related skills pertaining to future academics especially among postgraduate students across various Malaysian higher education institutions.
• To enhancing their related skills and capabilities as well as encouraging them to consider academia as their career pathways
• To establish partnership with relevant groups of young academics such as the Young Scientists

Activity 2: Route to CEng/PEng

One-day session for coaching young engineers/academicians at local universities in preparation for submission of the application forms to international professional bodies. The objective of the workshop is to provide support to young engineers/academicians to achieve career development and promote collaboration with other professional institutions/societies.

Speakers from various professional bodies, which include Board of Engineer Malaysia (BEM), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) delivered and provided guidelines to the participates to apply for the professional membership. This workshop has attracted 6 participates from different universities participated in the training.

Activity 3: TRIZ: The Art of Innovation Workshop

‘TRIZ’ is the Russian acronym that stands for the “Theory of Inventive Problem Solving”. It is a problem-solving, analysis and forecasting tool derived from the study of invention patterns in the global patent literature. It is recognised as a powerful structured and algorithmic approach for harnessing innovation and has been embraced by many corporations namely Siemens, Samsung, Intel, Whirlpool, LG, Christian Dior, Boeing, Procter & Gamble, L'Oreal, KIA, Hyundai, etc.

This two-day workshop aims to provide participants with High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) to boost their creativity and innovation abilities. Participants will be trained to sharpen their mind and learn how to solve challenging real-world problems. The programme covers the history of TRIZ, shares insights of the profound discovery, provides in-depth knowledge into 6 techniques and imparts the application aspects of the methodology.

Activity 4: Young Investigator Award, YSN-ASM, International Conference on Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (ICBMBB2018)

The Malaysian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MSBMB) and Malaysian Society for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MSMBB) is organised the International Conference on Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology 2018 (ICBMBB2018) at Four Points by Sheraton Puchong on the 15 – 16 August 2018. This is an annual scientific meeting brings together researchers from different disciplines related to biochemistry, molecular biology and biotechnology to deliberate on exciting new research findings and exchange ideas and information with the prospect of new partnerships, collaborations and joint projects.

During the conference, YSN has collaborated with the organiser in hosting the “Meet the Experts” Forum and selection of Young Investigator Award (YIA).

“Meet the Experts” Forum is a networking session for young researchers on the second day of the conference.  The forum was chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr Lionel In with our guests speakers from YSN being Prof Dr. Abhi Veerakumarasivam, Dr. Chai Lay Ching, Assoc. Prof. Dr Normi binti Mohd Yahya and Dr. Mas Jaffri Masarudin.

Other than the forum, six winners of YIA were selected from a total of 20 rapid oral presenters, 10 for concurrent session 1 and 10 for session 2 respectively.

The winners of YIA as below:

Session 1:

• 1^st Sharan Malagobadan (Institute of Biological Sciences, Genetics & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya)

Title: Elucidation of Mirna Regulating Anoikis In Breast Cancer

• 2^nd Nur Athirah Yusof (Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah)

Title: Structure and Function of Cold Shock Protein In An Antarctic Yeast, Glaciozyma Antarctica

• 3^rd Annie Wai Yeeng Chai (Head & Neck Cancer Research Team, Cancer Research Malaysia, Subang Jaya, Malaysia)

Title: Genome-wide CRISPR-CAS9 knockout screen in EBV-positive npc cell line reveals vulnerabilities to members of the nf-κb signalling pathway

Session 2:

• 1^st Tan Ee Wern (Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University)

Title of Talk: Formulation of A Double Coated Mucoadhesive Film Containing Live Lactococcal Vaccine for Oral Administration

• 2^nd Fei-Kean Loh (Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty Of Science, The University Of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Malaysia)

Title: Development of Enhanced Fitness Salmonella Live Vector Bivalent Vaccines Against Toxoplasma Gondii

• 3^rd Bee Koon Gan (Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia)

Title: Skin Cancer Cell-Penetrating Peptide: Selection and Targeted Delivery of Virus-Like Nanoparticle

Activity 5: National Congress on Membrane Technology 2018 (NATCOM 2018)

Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC) of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia jointly organised 2nd National Congress on Membrane Technology (NATCOM) 2018 with YSN-ASM.  The conference, with the theme, “Membrane Technology for Efficient Separation, Energy Generation and Biomedical Applications” which held at Pulai Spring Resort, Johor Bahru on 30 – 31 October 2018.

Conference topics includes:

• Advanced Materials for Membrane Technology
• Bio-membrane and Biotechnology
• Membrane for Energy Applications
• Membrane for Gas Separation
• Membrane for Organic Liquid Separation
• Membrane for Pharmaceuticals & Medicine Applications
• Membrane for Water & Wastewater Applications
• Membrane Technology for Food & Industrial Applications

Dr Jaysuman Pusppanathan delivered a talk during the sharing session with YSN-ASM members on 31 October 2018.  Three Young Investigator Awards (YIA) were given out during the conference.  Below is the list of winners:

• Norhashimah Alias (UiTM)
• Charlene Sharmini Fernandes (UTP)
• Mohd Ridhwan Adam (UTM)

Members of YSN-ASM (Dr Jaysuman Pusppanathan, Ir Dr Mimi Haryani Hassim and Dr Mohd Firdaus Abdul Wahab) served as juries for YIA.

Activity 6: The 10th Medical Undergraduates’ Annual Scientific Research Meeting (MUASRM) 2018

The Medical Undergraduates’ Annual Scientific Research Meeting (MUARSM) is an annual research conference organized by The National University of Malaysia (UKM) Faculty of Medicine, which will gather all the medical students from UKM and some other local universities to discuss regarding their scientific researches. This year, a total of 45 groups of fifth year medical students of UKM under Special Study Module (SSM) will be presenting their research during the conference together with some undergraduate medical students from other universities.

Three Young Investigator Awards were awarded in the conference.

• Dennis Kheng Zhou

Title: “The Effect of Type, Duration and Intensity of Exercise on Inflammatory Markers C-Reactive Protein, Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-18 in Metabolic Syndrome Patients: A Systemic Review”

• Eunice Ng Soo Khian

Title: “Level of Physical Fitness Among Pre-clinical Medical Students of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia”

• Mohammad Nazri Zulkafli

Title: “Take Your Meds! : A Prototype Medication Reminder Mobile Phone Application”

Activity 7: Engineering, Science & Technology International Conference 2018 (ESTIC'18)

The Young Scientists Network – Academy Sciences Malaysia in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering & IT, MAHSA University, has successfully organised the Engineering, Science & Technology International Conference 2018 (ESTIC'18) , from 26 – 27 November 2018 at MAHSA University, Selangor. The aim of ESTIC'18 is to provide a platform for academicians, researchers, industry players and postgraduates from Malaysia and all over the world to present their research highlights and technical activities in Engineering, Science and Technology. This conference has attracted more than 100 paper submissions and provided opportunities for the delegates to exchange new ideas and practical experiences, to establish networking and to explore global partners for future collaborations. The delegates are from Nigeria, Algeria, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, UTM, UTHM, UM, UKM, SEGI, INTI, UITM, Talyors and Quest University.

The Guest of Honour is YB Tuan Haji Mohd Anuar bin Mohd Tahir (Deputy Minister of Works), Indivated guests are Ir Ong Ching Loon (Deputy President of The Institution of Engineers Malaysia), Ir Yam Teong Sian (President of Technological Association Malaysia), Ir Ellias Saidin (Immediate Past President, Environmental Management and Research Association of Malaysia), Ir David Chuah (The Institution of Engineering and Technology). More than 20 sponsors and supporting agencies took part in the exhibitions.

The highlights of the event was the MoU signing with GENETech, the sub-company of Mann Seng Metal International Limited, where the RM140000 new wielding robot will be donated to Faculty of Engineering and IT for research and teaching purposes. The committees have presented  5 best presentation awards, ESTIC ICON Award, Young Scientists Network – Academy Sciences Malaysia Awards and ESTIC Chairman awards to the outstanding researchers.

Prof. Ir. Dr. Denny K. S. Ng, the chair for Science Policy of YSN-ASM, presented a keynote on the Route to Top Research Scientist Malaysia (TRSM). He also presented the three Young Investigator Award of YSN-ASM to the following winners:

• Nazriah Mahmud (UTM)

Title paper: Swiftlet Vocalization in Echolocation

• Hilton Ahmad (UTHM)

Title paper: Three-dimensional Stress Analysis Study on Multi-Bolted Joints of Composite Plates

• Sin Nie Lim (SEGI University),

Title paper: Performance of Mulberry Leaves Mediated Green Synthesis Iron Nanoparticles In Dye Removal

Members:

• Professor Dr Lee Yeong Yeh
• Dr Abdul Rahim bin Othman
• Ir Dr Jerry Ng Poh Kiat
• Lee Khai Ern
• Dr Ahmad Taufek Abdul Rahman