USM, PENANG, 13 August 2016 – The ‘Thinkers’ Talk’ Programme organised by the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Idea Bank is hoped to become a platform for the USM community in spurring constructive ideas for the development of the university, as well as in being one of the channels to assist the university in facing 2016.

Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Wan Ahmad Kamil Wan Mahmood said that, the programme which is held for the first time has the potential to benefit the university community as well as in providing additional knowledge from the various topics presented by the speakers.

“Viewpoints presented by the USM academicians are solely their own, and with no involvement of the university whatsoever,” he said.

He hoped that with such a programme, the USM community could share their opinions, to be able to think and express ideas to mutually assist the university in its development.

“I am hoping that the USM community could utilise the platform not to discuss trivial matters, but instead to bring about constructive ideas, alternatives and improvements to bring about continued excellence to the university,” said Wan Ahmad Kamil.

In this first series of the ‘Thinkers’ Talk’ programme, four academicians shared their viewpoints, each one within 15 minutes, on a topic of their own choice.

The Director of the USM Centre for Instructional Technology and Multimedia (PTPM), Professor Dr. Merza Abbas presented a talk on the topic ‘Can Women Think’ which looked at the issue of gender from various perspectives in the Malaysian society, and to see how other countries look at the capabilities of women.

Next, the Dean of USM Graduate School of Business (GSB), Professor Dr. Azlan Amran discussed on the issue of the current global financial situation, as well as the solutions with his topic ‘Profit is Not Always the Point’.

Meanwhile, the lecturer from the USM School of Industrial Technology, Professor Dr. Liong Min Tze presented on the topic ‘We Own Trillions of Slaves, Why Need a Maid?’ which touched on the well-being of the human body and the importance of probiotics and bacteria, seen as important agents in the human body in maintaining health.

The final speaker, former Dean, USM School of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Dr. Zaidi Mohd Ripin then presented on his research, which could assist in reducing the vibrations to the body after using the lawnmower for lengthy periods of time, thus leading to an onset of Parkinson’s Disease through his talk entitled ‘Why I Come to Work’.

Close to 50 people attended the programme held here recently, including USM academicians and students.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text: Syuhada Abd. Aziz