The Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (MTSF) Roadshow 2023 was held on 16 February 2023 at UTAR Kampar Campus. It attracted scientists, researchers, and postgraduates from UTAR, as well as Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) and Quest International University (QIU).

Present at the roadshow were UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Board Member and Chairman of the Selection Committee of MTSF Academician Tan Sri Prof Emeritus Dr Augustine Ong Soon Hock, Senior Consultant of Toray Group (Malaysia) Dato’ Hun Keng Kuan, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) Deputy Dean for Academic Development and Undergraduate Programmes Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Leong Kah Hon, and Deputy Director of Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research Kampar Prof Dr Sumathi Sethupathi.

Prof Choong thanked MTSF for organising the roadshow and said, “UTAR is indeed proud to collaborate with MTSF to conduct the MTSF Year 2023 ‘Science and Technology Award’ and ‘Science and Technology Research Grant’ Roadshow at UTAR Kampar Campus. Special thanks to the MTSF and the members of the organising committee who have made this roadshow a success today. Contributing to the progress of ‘Science and Technology’ in Malaysia, MTSF has been continuously rewarding Malaysian scientists and researchers, including researchers from UTAR whose outstanding achievements have contributed to the advancement of science and technology; for example, UTAR MK FMHS Dean Academician Emeritus Prof Dr Cheong Soon Keng and his co-researchers were awarded the prestigious MTSF Science and Technology Award 2021. On the same note, in the year 2020 UTAR LKC FES Ir Prof Dr Lim Yun Seng also won the MTSF Science and Technology Award. On top of that, UTAR MK FMHS Department of Pre-clinical Sciences Prof Dr Ngeow Yun Fong won the Science and Technology award based on her lifetime achievement in the field of scientific research at 2019 MTSF.”

He continued, “Apart from MTSF Science and Technology Award, MTSF also awarded Mr Wong Sian Sang and his co-researchers from the UTAR Faculty of Science, Assoc Prof Dr Lim Tuck Meng and Assoc Prof Dr Wong Wey Lim the MTSF Year 2021 Science and Technology Research Grant of RM14,000 which was funded by the Toray Science Foundation. UTAR is indeed thankful to MTSF for all the awards and grants provided to UTAR researchers and academics in the past years. The awards are an honour to the group of UTAR researchers and a recognition for their research studies.”

Meanwhile, Tan Sri Ong said, “We are very honoured to be able to work closely with various universities and institutions for the benefit of the researchers and educational institutions. MTSF is Malaysia’s premium private non-profit science foundation. MTSF, together with its STA and STRG play important roles in helping scientists to push the country forward, as well as to encourage young researchers to carry out their basic research. As we progress further, we will see that deep science wave impacts these four fields, namely Life Sciences and Health; Agri-Food; New Health Innovation Systems; and New Food Production Systems.”

Next, a presentation by MTSF Secretariat Ayano Yamazaki was held. She gave a brief introduction about MTSF and its programmes. She later elaborated on the criteria and application guidelines for the Science & Technology Award (STA), Science & Technology Research Grant (STRG), and Science Education Award.

Participants understood that STA recognises the outstanding achievements of Malaysian scientists and researchers. On the other hand, the Science Education Award recognises outstanding Malaysian teachers and educators in secondary schools and pre-universities colleges, who uses innovative, creative, and effective teaching methods in science education. STRG provides financial assistance to young Malaysian researchers (below 40 years old) to conduct basic research.