PULAU PINANG, 17 November 2017 – The emerging 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) will see an increase in productivity due to advances in artificial intelligence and hyper-connectivity that demands us to be multidisciplinary as well as trans-disciplinary.

The Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail said, the academia should be prepared to embrace the challenges and work together in the wake of 4IR, and we can no longer work in isolation or ‘silo’ disciplines.

“It is constantly evolving, thus re-tooling and re-skilling is necessary in order to be flexible and adaptable to meet new challenges,” said Asma in her opening speech at the 6th International Conference on Solid State Science and Technology (ICSSST 2017) and Workshop on Advanced Materials Technology: Growth and Characterization here recently.

She added, therefore, ICSSST 2017 which focuses on three key aspects of advanced technologies, namely nanoscience, nanotechnology and material science, will provide the best platform for ideas and intellectual exchanges to catapult trans-disciplinary research, collaborations and networking among experts in the many areas of solid state studies.

ICSSST is held annually in Malaysia with the aim of providing a platform for discussions on solid state science and technology in all aspects of physical and chemical properties, preparation and characterization techniques, optical properties; macro-, micro- and nano-structures.

It was jointly organised by the USM School of Physics and Institute of Nano Optoelectronics Research and Technology (INOR) in cooperation with the Malaysian Solid State Science and Technology Society (MASS).

The four-day conference and workshop was well attended by over 200 participants, comprising mostly of scholars and researchers of solid-state research field from countries such as the USA, UK, Singapore, Japan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Nigeria, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Also present were MASS President, Professor Dr. Abdul Halim Shaari; School of Physics Dean, Professor Dr. Azlan Abdul Aziz; ICSSST 2017 Chairperson, Professor Dr. Abdul Razak Ibrahim; keynote speakers and exhibitors.

Text: Marziana Mohamed Alias