Layout 27032008.indd - Portal Rasmi Akademi Sains Malaysia

LAPORAN PRESIDENPRESIDENT’S REPORTSTI. Akademi, menerusi Kumpulan Disiplin Perubatan,telah menghasilkan Laporan Kajian ASM bertajuk,Perubahan Landskap Perhutanan: Kesan TerhadapKesihatan Luar Bandar yang telah diterbitkan tahun itu.Bagi membolehkan Laporan Kajian/Penasihat kepadaKerajaan untuk menangani isu berkaitan peningkatandalam Sistem Bersepadu Tanaman Sawit-Haiwan Ruminan(ITCRS), satu bengkel dianjurkan dengan kerjasamaMARDI demi mengenal pasti pilihan polisi yang sesuaiuntuk ITCRS dalam membantu agenda pembangunanNegara. Laporan Penasihat untuk Polisi dan PerancanganRespons terhadap Bencana Gempa Bumi dan Tsunamidi Malaysia, Perubahan Iklim, dan Makanan BinatangTernakan: Isu, Strategi dan Peluang, dijangka akandisiapkan sebelum hujung tahun 2008.Kini banyak acara berada dalam perancangan Akademibagi mengenal pasti teknologi yang berwibawabagi menentukan agar Negara terus membangun.Nanoteknologi semakin dinobat sebagai wahanaterkini yang berupaya menjulang pertumbuhanekonomi dunia. Disebabkan tidak mahu terlepaspeluang yang ditawarkan oleh sektor ini, Akademitelah menyediakan satu taklimat mengenai InitiatifNanoteknologi Kebangsaan yang dijangka akan terusdiperkukuh berdasarkan pengetahuan dan pengalamannegara-negara lain. Nanoteknologi Malaysia 2007, iaitusatu acara penting (29 November–1 Disember) yangdianjurkan buat julung kali sebagai acara utama dibawah Initiatif Nanoteknologi Kebangsaan, merupakansebahagian daripada Pameran dan Persidangan InovasiKebangsaan. Prosiding dan laporan Persidangan inisedang disusun. Satu misi ke California NanosystemsInstitute, University of California, Los Angeles juga telahmembantu Akademi memperoleh sokongan dalammenjalin kerjasama yang menguntungkan saintis Malaysiaselain memupuk kenalan penting yang bakal dipelawasebagai penceramah di Nanotech Malaysia 2007.Sebagai sebuah Negara membangun dalam bidangSTI, Malaysia telah menyediakan peruntukan untukmemperkasa keupayaan dan kemampuannya dalambidang P&P. Akademi memainkan peranan pentingdalam menyahut cabaran ini dengan menghayatibudaya kecemerlangan sains melalui program-programyang dirumus bagi pelbagai kelompok sasaran. Menerusiwadah ini, Akademi mempelawa ramai Nobel Laureatedan saintis tersohor dengan hasrat menjalin jaringan dankerjasama dengan pusat-pusat kecemerlangan S&T diserata dunia. Dalam konteks ini, ASM telah menyelaraslawatan YB Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Mohd Jarjis, MenteriSains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, ke California Institute ofTechnology. Kunjungan ini membuka laluan kepadaThe Academy through the Medical Discipline Groupproduced an ASM Study Report entitled ChangingForest Landscape: Impact on Rural Health whichwas published during the year. For a Study/AdvisoryReport to the Government to address issues relatedto improvement in the integrated tree crops-ruminantproduction systems (ITCRS), a workshop was heldwith the collaboration of MARDI to identify policyoptions appropriate to ITCRS to assist the nation’sdevelopment agenda. Advisory Reports on Policyand Planning Responses for Earthquake and TsunamiHazards in Malaysia, Climate Change, and AnimalFeedstuff: Issues, Strategies and Opportunities, arealso expected to be delivered by the end of 2008.Many events are planned by the Academy to identifytechnologies that would allow the nation to progress.Nanotechnology is being increasingly touted as a newengine for world economic growth. Not to miss outon the opportunities that this sector might open up,the Academy has prepared a brief on the NationalNanotechnology Initiative which is expected to be furtherfi rmed up, drawing on the knowledge and experiencesof other countries. Nanotechnology Malaysia 2007 wasa one major event (29 November–1 December) whichwas organised for the fi rst time as the highlight of theNational Nanotechnology Initiative, forming part ofthe National Innovation Conference and Exhibition.Proceedings and reports on the Conference are beingcompiled. A mission to the California NanosystemsInstitute, University of California, Los Angeles also assistedthe Academy in securing support for mutually benefi cialcollaboration with Malaysian scientists and obtaineduseful contacts for invitation as speakers for NanotechMalaysia 2007.Malaysia as a rapid developing nation in STI has madeprovisions to increase its capacity and capability in R&D.The Academy plays a vital role in meeting this demandby fostering a culture of scientifi c excellence throughprogrammes for various target groups. Through thisplatform, the Academy invites many Nobel laureatesand eminent scientists with the aim of building networksand collaboration with many of the world’s centres ofexcellence in S&T. In this context, ASM co-ordinated thevisit of the Hon. Minister of Science, Technology andInnovation, Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Mohd Jarjis, to theCalifornia Institute of Technology. This resulted in the visitIn Pursuit of Excellence in Science 7