“Were you afraid when you first launched into space? Over.” “Yes I was a little afraid, but I could pay attention to everything carefully. We were very well trained, so I felt well prepared. Over.” This was a correspondence between one of the 13 students with NASA astronaut Colonel Mark T Vanda Hei, who was … Continue reading What are Our Space Aspirations Toward 2050?
MOSTI
Adopt Guidelines for Earthquake-Resistant Buildings
It was devastating yet not too surprising to learn of the two powerful earthquakes that struck Mexico in only two weeks last month. The first occurred on 8th September with a magnitude of 8.1 and the second on 19th of a 7.1-magnitude. After the first quake, the worst-hit states of Tabasco, Oaxaca and Chiapas were left … Continue reading Adopt Guidelines for Earthquake-Resistant Buildings
Work Smart in the Field
We could be tracking the productivity of plantations industries such as palm oil and rubber through as precisely as each plant, rather than by a plot. The “wellbeing” of each tree can be monitored and prescribed interventions – for example to be irrigated, fertilised or applied with pesticide. Ripe commodities could be identified accurately, … Continue reading Work Smart in the Field
Science Diplomacy for Solidarity and Advancement
“My name is Wilfred Madius Tangau, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia. Although I am not a Muslim by religion, I am very proud in taking part in this inaugural Ministerial Meeting of OIC countries for Science and Technology, on behalf of Malaysia. We, the Malaysian people, would like to send this message that … Continue reading Science Diplomacy for Solidarity and Advancement
The End Goal of Sports
The just concluded 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games ended on a high note for Malaysia as we saw our best performance yet. We emerged as the Games’ champion earning 145 Gold and a total of 323 medals. But like in any other games, shiny medals are just a part of the narrative. To understand what … Continue reading The End Goal of Sports
Bernama: Science, Technology And Innovation Literacy Between OIC Countries – Madius
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has called upon the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries to move society from awareness to being literate on science, technology and innovation (STI) and ultimately to become a scientifically engaged society. Addressing at the First OIC Summit on Science and Technology in Astana, Kazakhstan, the Minister … Continue reading Bernama: Science, Technology And Innovation Literacy Between OIC Countries – Madius
The Star: A boost for entrepreneurs in Sabah
THE Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry will be providing assistance to small- and medium-sized entreprises (SMEs) to take part in the Sirim-Fraunhofer programme which provides companies with technological audit services. Under this programme, companies are required to fund 20% of the total cost of the technology uptake while Sirim will bear the remaining 80%. … Continue reading The Star: A boost for entrepreneurs in Sabah
A shot in the arm for the SMEs in Sabah
At a recent dialogue with Perdana Fellows – they are youths from a fellowship programme that allows them to intern with Cabinet ministers – one question I received from my audience was, what would be the biggest challenge for Malaysian businesses to adopt automation, or in general, to brace for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The … Continue reading A shot in the arm for the SMEs in Sabah
Climate change crisis is real
By 2100, coastal cities like Kota Kinabalu might be an underwater ghost town. This might sound like an ending of a disaster movie where metropolitan cities are consumed by a giant tidal wave, and the skyscrapers submerged but for their spires, turning into perch for seagulls. Except that this is not fiction. In a special … Continue reading Climate change crisis is real
Teach Our Kids How to Fish
It has been about a year since I attended the closing and awards ceremony of Sabah Invention and Design Exhibition (SINDEX), where the finalists wowed us with their high standards of entries. It was a proud moment for the educators, parents, policymakers and of course, Sabahans to learn of the hidden potential of our … Continue reading Teach Our Kids How to Fish
