ID :
142516
Fri, 09/17/2010 - 20:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/142516
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M`SIAN, CANADIAN VARSITIES TO FORGE SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION
From Sharifah Nur Shahrizad Syed Mohamed Sharer
MONTREAL, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- The Sultan Mizan Royal Foundation (YDSM) and
three Malaysian universities will explore scientific research in the field of
genomics, agricultural and nutrition sciences in collaboration with two Canadian
universities.
The academic expertise and skills will be harnessed through the "brain gain"
project during the eight-day working visit by Malaysian King Tuanku Mizan
Zainal Abidin to Montreal and Toronto from Saturday.
Three memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed during the
visit between Canada's McGill University and University of Guelph, and
Malaysia's Sultan Zainal Abidin University, Mara Technology University and
Putra University Malaysia.
The memorandums, among others, involve exchange of academic staff as well as
training for master's degree, PhD and post-doctoral students and laboratory
staff from Malaysia at the two Canadian institutions.
The King's special task visit is organised by YDSM.
YDSM, chaired by Tuanku Mizan, is a recipient of grants under the brain gain
project under the auspices of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and the Science,
Technology and Innovation Ministry.
YDSM Board of Trustees member Prof Dr Makhdzir Mardan said among areas
of collaboration with the two Canadian universities were research and innovation
in biosteel silk gene, precision farming and food technology, super hospital
model concept and telemedicine services.
He said the brain gain initiative was to reciprocate visits by scientists
from both universities last year.
He added that the collaboration would help enhance the human capital of
Malaysian universities through programmes such as exchange of academic staff and
students as well as joint research.
"The exposure will open up avenues for bigger networking opportunities in
selected skills in agriculture, medicine and nutrition sciences," he said.
Tuanku Mizan's presence would add stature to the collaboration, he said,
adding that although the visit would not solve the brain drain problem in such
field, the trip could provide a critical mass in the sharing of knowledge
between Malaysian and foreign scientists.
In a statement, Istana Negara (National Palace) said the human resource
training and scientific collaboration in biosteel silk gene research would be
established with McGill University's Research Institute director Dr Costas
Karatzas.
Dr Karatzas was among the top 50 Scientific American Award winners in 2003
with his research on biosteel silk, a super-strong silk which has seven times
the strength of steel.
University of Guelph has been chosen for the collaboration in the biosteel
silk project, precision farming and food technology through NASA Life Support
System.
-- BERNAMA
MONTREAL, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- The Sultan Mizan Royal Foundation (YDSM) and
three Malaysian universities will explore scientific research in the field of
genomics, agricultural and nutrition sciences in collaboration with two Canadian
universities.
The academic expertise and skills will be harnessed through the "brain gain"
project during the eight-day working visit by Malaysian King Tuanku Mizan
Zainal Abidin to Montreal and Toronto from Saturday.
Three memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed during the
visit between Canada's McGill University and University of Guelph, and
Malaysia's Sultan Zainal Abidin University, Mara Technology University and
Putra University Malaysia.
The memorandums, among others, involve exchange of academic staff as well as
training for master's degree, PhD and post-doctoral students and laboratory
staff from Malaysia at the two Canadian institutions.
The King's special task visit is organised by YDSM.
YDSM, chaired by Tuanku Mizan, is a recipient of grants under the brain gain
project under the auspices of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and the Science,
Technology and Innovation Ministry.
YDSM Board of Trustees member Prof Dr Makhdzir Mardan said among areas
of collaboration with the two Canadian universities were research and innovation
in biosteel silk gene, precision farming and food technology, super hospital
model concept and telemedicine services.
He said the brain gain initiative was to reciprocate visits by scientists
from both universities last year.
He added that the collaboration would help enhance the human capital of
Malaysian universities through programmes such as exchange of academic staff and
students as well as joint research.
"The exposure will open up avenues for bigger networking opportunities in
selected skills in agriculture, medicine and nutrition sciences," he said.
Tuanku Mizan's presence would add stature to the collaboration, he said,
adding that although the visit would not solve the brain drain problem in such
field, the trip could provide a critical mass in the sharing of knowledge
between Malaysian and foreign scientists.
In a statement, Istana Negara (National Palace) said the human resource
training and scientific collaboration in biosteel silk gene research would be
established with McGill University's Research Institute director Dr Costas
Karatzas.
Dr Karatzas was among the top 50 Scientific American Award winners in 2003
with his research on biosteel silk, a super-strong silk which has seven times
the strength of steel.
University of Guelph has been chosen for the collaboration in the biosteel
silk project, precision farming and food technology through NASA Life Support
System.
-- BERNAMA
