USM PENANG, 11 March 2023 – The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM) and USM-RIKEN Interdisciplinary Collaboration on Advanced Sciences (URICAS) held the USM-RIKEN International Conference on Advanced Sciences on 26-27 February 2024.

The two-day conference continues from the last year’s theme (link: https://news.usm.my/index.php/english-news/8626-usm-riken-uricas-symposium-returns-dwells-on-advanced-science-research) on ‘Advancing Science for a Sustainable Future: Bridging Physics and Life Science’.

The conference brought together four keynote and 24 invited speakers from Japan (Sophia University, Kitasato University, and Shibaura Institute of Technology), RIKEN and USM.

Attending the programme was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, Professor Dr. Habibah A Wahab, who represented the USM Vice-Chancellor to officiate the conference as well as being the main keynote speaker.

In her opening remarks, Habibah highlighted that the USM-RIKEN relationship had passed the 30^th year mark, and had benefited USM students immensely as the collaboration had graduated 30 full long-term IPA (International Programme Associate) PhD students and 23 short-term IPA students in various disciplines, since the programme began in 2002.

“The new challenges facing all of us – climate change, pandemics, resource scarcity – demand solutions bigger than any one nation or discipline can offer. And by working together, we can achieve even more,” said Habibah.

RIKEN Executive Director for International Affairs, Dr. Makiko Naka conveyed her message through a recorded video. She emphasised the long-term collaborations that had benefited both USM and RIKEN.

Meanwhile, RIKEN URICAS Coordinator, Dr Hiroshi Ohno said that he was very pleased USM hosted the conference again this year and he hoped that the meeting will provide a new boost for the renewed URICAS in the coming years.

The conference was attended by more than one hundred participants on site and on Webex online, which is an indication of the growing demand for an interdisciplinary themed conference.

This year’s conference also saw the participation of academicians and researchers from other local universities.

Presenters shared various aspects of the latest research from their groups, and a few speakers also highlighted the applications of machine learning (artificial intelligence) in fundamental research, such as for studying particle physics and cellular morphology.

Also present at the conference were the Deputy Director of INFORMM, Assoc. Professor Dr. Tye Gee Jun; URICAS Advisor, Professor Dr. Sudesh Kumar, FASc; Chairperson of the URICAS Conference, Dr. Eugene Ong Boon Beng; Co-Chairperson of the URICAS Conference, Assoc. Professor Dr. Badrul Hisham Yahaya; academicians, research officers and university officials.

The URICAS programmes have continued to benefit both institutions through the exchange of talent, expertise, knowledge through student attachments and annual meetings.

For details visit the conference website: uricas.usm.my/conference.

Text & Photo: INFORMM, USM/Editing: Tan Ewe Hoe