The Petri Dish
ABEATS 2023: Humanising technology for resilient and sustainable futures
By author | 22 December 2023

Participants of International Conference on Geophysics 2023 (ICOG 2023) that was organised for the first time.

PENANG: Following the two days of insightful discussions and proactive participation, the 5th ASEAN Business, Engineering, and Technology Symposium (ABEATS 2023) concluded on 2 December 2023, leaving a profound impact on the discourse surrounding “Humanising Technology for Resilient and Sustainable Futures”.

Hosted on 1-2 December 2023, the symposium brought together diverse participants of esteemed scholars and industry experts from around the world, namely Scotland, England, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Abu Dhabi, China, and Indonesia to Malaysia.

The event, held at Sains@USM, served as an avenue to deliberate on the connection between technology and humanity, emphasising the critical role of responsible innovation in shaping resilient and sustainable futures.

USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Industry and Community Network, Professor Dr Azlan Amran, in his welcoming remarks, said “In the face of rapidly advancing technology and its undeniable impact on our world, it is crucial to consider how we can make these advancements more human-centered.”

He added, “I am well pleased that the organisers are fully committed to cross-disciplinary research of new and disruptive technologies across Business, Engineering, and Technology (BET) and beyond that engages with practice and policy, to identify and address opportunities and challenges within the ASEAN region and beyond.”

Drawing on the expertise of renowned keynote speakers such as Professor Dato’ Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah (Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia); Professor Dr Muhammad Ali Imran (University of Glasgow), Professor Dr Arif Imam Suroso (IPB University, Indonesia), and Datuk Dr Anis Yusal Yusoff (University Malaya), the symposium witnessed thought-provoking discussions, insightful presentations, and the sharing of research findings.

According to ABEATS 2023 Chairperson, Associate Professor Dr Salmi Mohd Isa, this symposium was hosted by the USM Graduate School of Business (GSB), with strong support from the two co-organisers, Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow; and Institut Pertanian Bogor University, Indonesia, received an overwhelming response, and in which a total of 64 papers were presented.

“It showcased a wide range of topics and presentations exploring various dimensions of human-centric technological innovation and its implications for sustainability,” she added.

Also present was the USM Dean of the Graduate School of Business, Associate Professor Dr Fathyah Hashim.