The Academy of Sciences Malaysia in its 53rdCouncil Meeting decided to establish the ASM Award for Scientific Excellence in Honour of TunDr Mahathir Award in conjunction to the Academy’s 10thAnniversary Celebration.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched the award on 17 August 2004. The Inaugural Award was awarded to Professor John Sheppard Professor John Sheppard Mackenzie for his outstanding contribution and breakthroughs in the field of tropical medicine.
The award was presented on 3 September 2005 by Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong withnessed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at a dinner in Kuala Lumpur.
This award is to be Malaysia’s most prestigious Science Award for tropical sciences and therefore it was rightly launched in honour of Tun Dr Mahathir, a man of science whose contributions to science and technology advancement are hailed not only in Malaysia but internationally.
Tun Dr Mahathir’s noble philosophy of prosper–thy–neighbour and win–win solutions toward development of Third World countries as well as his concept of science and technology as keys to global prosperity, set the premise for this award.
This award bestowed on any scientists, institution or organization worldwide in recognition of contributions and innovations towards solving problems in the tropics through science and technology and to be awarded to the most deserving based on merit. As such, this extends beyond the boundaries of Malaysia in order to encourage excellence in tropical science that will accord direct benefits to countries in the tropics and indirectly to the global community. The Academy hopes that through this award, a new benchmark will be set for tropical sciences and the profile of science in Malaysia and the region of the tropics will rise to greater heights.
The categories for the award are Tropical Medicine, Tropical Agriculture, Tropical Architecture and Engineering as well as Tropical Natural Resources.
In 2005, upon receiving the consent and gracing from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the ASM Award for Scientific Excellence in Honour of Tun Dr Mahathir Award was renamed as Mahathir Science Award.
PRIZE
One Award will be conferred each year covering any of the four fields. The prize for the Award will be RM 100,000.00, a gold medal and a certificate.
NOMINATION CRITERIA
Awards will be given to researchers who have made internationally recognised breakthroughs in pioneering tropical research that have brought greater positive impacts on the well-being of society.
Nomination can be made by individuals or institutions.
Recipient can be an individual, a group not more than three individuals or an institution.
Nomination form must reach the Academy of Sciences Malaysia’s secretariat office not later than 31 March 2009 to the below address
Academy of Sciences Malaysia
902-4 Jalan Tun Ismail
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +603-2694 9898
Fax: +603-2694 5858
A complete nomination must have the following:
Nomination Form
Resume
Supporting document such as paper clippings, announcements etc
Supporting letter from the referee
Supporting letter from the nominator
Application form can be downloaded from www.akademisains.gov.my
PAST RECIPENTS
2005-Tropical Medicine
Professor John Sheppard Mackenzie “for his contributions in solving the problems related to Japanese encephalitis virus”
2006-Tropical Medicine
Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya “Outstanding contribution to the understanding and treatment of the Nipah Encephalitis”
2007-Tropical Medicine
Professor Joseph Sriyal Malik Peiris “for his discovery of the aetiologicalagent causing SARS leading to understanding of pathogenesis and epidemilogyof the disease in 2003”
2008-Tropical Agriculture
Professor Dr Gurdev Singh Khush “for his perseverance, leadership, commitment and revolutionary work in systematically directing and developing several rice varieties that have overwhelmingly contributed towards reducing global hunger”
