USM PENANG, 6 May 2026 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is strengthening its international academic network following a visit by delegates from the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), China, to explore potential collaboration in physics research, academic exchange and talent development.

The visit, hosted by the School of Physics at USM, featured an academic talk titled “Exploring the Universe, Engineering the Future: Physics at NUAA”, attended by 15 academic staff members and about 10 students at the school’s conference room.

The session was moderated by Dr. John Soo Yue Han, while leading the NUAA delegation was Assistant Dean of NUAA College of Physics and Head of its Scientific Artificial Intelligence (AI) Team, Associate Professor Dr. Lyu Mengjiao.

In his presentation, Lyu outlined the university’s background, including its history, demographics and academic standing, and then introducing the College of Physics, established in 2022, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in applied physics, optoelectronic information materials and electronic information for local and international students.

He also highlighted the college’s interdisciplinary research in photoelectric information sensing devices and aerospace information material devices and physics, alongside his work in nuclear physics involving deep reinforcement learning, AI agents and swarm intelligence applications across multidisciplinary fields.

Lyu also invited completing PhD students from the School of Physics, USM to apply for postdoctoral researcher and lecturer positions at NUAA under the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Research Fund for International Scientists (RFIS).

Also present was Professor Dr. Ong Yen Chin, a Terengganu-born astrophysicist currently serving as Vice Director of the newly-established Centre for the Cross-disciplinary Research of Space Science and Quantum-technologies (CROSS-Q) at NUAA.

Recognised among the world’s top two per cent most-cited scientists since 2020, Ong shared insights into his research in black hole thermodynamics and quantum gravity, as well as the centre’s focus on quantum-enabled space exploration technologies and quantum phenomena in extreme cosmic environments.

He also encouraged undergraduate students interested in the field to pursue master’s and doctoral studies at CROSS-Q, while responding to questions from PhD students on career preparation in advanced space science and quantum research.

Following the academic session and souvenir presentation ceremony, the NUAA delegates held a business meeting with representatives from the School of Physics led by Deputy Dean for Research, Innovation and Industry-Community Engagement, Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Fairuz Omar.

Discussions centred on potential collaboration in cosmology, nuclear physics, stellar physics, ionospheric space weather and material fabrication, as well as opportunities involving academic visits, summer programmes, teaching exchanges and recruitment initiatives.

Both institutions also explored the possibility of establishing a joint multidisciplinary research centre to enhance international visibility and research funding opportunities, in addition to a future joint undergraduate programme between NUAA and USM.

The delegates later toured the Engineering Lab and the Nano-Optoelectronics Research (NOR) Lab, led by Dr. Afiq Arif Aminuddin Jafry and Dr. Siti Azrah Mohamad Samsuri.

The visit concluded with both parties expressing optimism towards formalising the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the future, aimed at advancing astronomy research and strengthening fundamental physics initiatives in Malaysia.

Text & Photo: Dr. John Y. H. Soo, School of Physics, USM