Innovation
News
10 Jul 2024
SUTD researchers had set out to test the effect of bilingualism in mitigating cognitive decline in older adults. The team developed and conducted a novel game-based cognitive training programme and found that older adults who played in dual-language mode improved their cognitive skills more than those who played in single-language mode.
08 Jul 2024
Potential benefits of method include subjecting patients to fewer exams and reducing health care costs
28 Jun 2024
To form qubit states in semiconductor materials, it requires tuning for numerous parameters. But as the number of qubits increases, the amount of parameters also increases, thereby complicating this process. Now, Tohoku University researchers have automated this process, overcoming a significant barrier to realizing quantum computers.
12 Jun 2024
The NSF Center for Molecularly Optimized Networks team, of which Professor Jian Ping Gong of the Faculty of Advanced Life Science and the Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD) at Hokkaido University is a member, has won a Horizon Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry.
11 Jun 2024
The selective bond-breaking powers of enzymes bring new versatility for building nanoparticles with a wide range of technical and medical potential.
07 Jun 2024
Blue energy future, Off switch for brain cells, New Japanese lily species, Generative AI in motion, Economies take off with new airports and Braille-shaped electrodes for retinal implants. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice. Plus SciCom Coffee with Catriona Child.
04 Jun 2024
The traditional optimal audio experience depended on the interplay between space, speakers and music carriers, such as CDs or vinyl records. Invisible Tech, a local start-up specialising in acoustic design, uses recycled wine crates, wood waste and reclaimed furniture to produce a range of speakers. With the support of HK Tech 300 of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), Invisible Tech worked with CityUHK audio technology researchers to develop a sound system tailored for the modern living environment and habits. The system is designed to provide users with immersive surround sound music enjoyment.
24 May 2024
New genetic tool developed by Duke-NUS could help investigate brain function and psychiatric disorders.
23 May 2024
Bicycle sharing has become a green travel option for city dwellers in recent years. However, the initial launch of the service in Hong Kong was met with controversies, such as road obstruction and random parking. Locobike is currently the only bike-sharing brand in Hong Kong, and its success is attributed to the team’s focus on proper fleet management. Through the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), Locobike can accurately locate its bikes and provide the team with real-time instructions on how to deploy and maintain them. This strikes a balance between social responsibility and the public’s need for mobility and helps society reduce carbon emissions in the long term.
22 May 2024
The 2024 Pujiang Innovation Forum, organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, was successfully held in Hong Kong on 27 April 2024. During the Forum, City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) signed a strategic cooperation agreement, announcing their plans to support the development of start-ups of both institutions in Hong Kong and Shanghai. This will be achieved through the provision of space and incubation, as well as developmental and promotional support in the Mainland for start-ups incubated by CityU’s HK Tech 300 programme. The agreement also covers active exchange and collaboration with the Academy of Innovation at CityU and enhancing the effectiveness of scientific research results transformation at both universities.
16 May 2024
ITEX 2024 Sets the Stage for Innovation and Investment
26 Apr 2024
Chemical and heat treatment of sewage sludge can recover phosphorus in a process that could help address the problem of diminishing supplies of phosphorus ores.
25 Apr 2024
Academic, clinical and industry partners signed several MoUs with City University of Hong Kong at a special ceremony on 24 April to mark the establishment of the CityUHK Institute of Digital Medicine (IDM).
16 Apr 2024
Algae, a kind of organism commonly found on the water surface, is a highly efficient carbon absorbent, which can capture more carbon dioxide (CO2) than trees. Alcarbo Technologies Limited (Alcarbo) is a biotechnology company incubated by the Seed Fund and Angel Fund of City University of Hong Kong (CityU)’s HK Tech 300. It cultivates microalgae using genetic mutation technology and uses its self-developed “photobioreactor system” (PBRs) and nanobubble technology to enhance the carbon capture capacity of microalgae. This allows microalgae to capture about 68 times the amount of CO2 of an equivalent area of forest, making them “Super Carbon Capture” species.
21 Mar 2024
Cellulose, abundantly available from plant biomass, can be converted into molecules used to make a new class of recyclable polymers, to sustainably replace some plastics.
19 Mar 2024
The 12th Starch Value Chain ASIA conference was held in Vientiane, at Crowne Plaza Hotel, from February 27 to 29, 2024. The conference encompassed four key themes: Asia’s starch markets, industrial and food-grade tapioca starch in Laos with expansion plans, sustainable climate-smart agri-technology for rice and cassava cultivation, and challenges for future growth in Asia's biogas-to-energy sector.
12 Mar 2024
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) entrepreneurs swept the board at the Hong Kong Techathon+ in January 2024, winning gold, silver and bronze medals in the Digital Economy (Open Group) category.
08 Mar 2024
An international multidisciplinary team of researchers from Singapore, India, Malaysia and Indonesia are breaking boundaries in 3D Printing. They have developed Coir Fiber Polymer Composites with enhanced strength, presenting a new and sustainable way for applications in food and medical packaging.
28 Feb 2024
Molecules that are induced by light to rotate bulky groups around central bonds could be developed into photo-activated bioactive systems, molecular switches, and more.
25 Feb 2024
Fibre-reinforced composites, prone to internal damage, benefit from fibre hybridisation. Using ductile fibre glass mesh (FGM) in ramie/FGM composites, this study shows improved damage resistance, load-bearing, and deformation capacity.
23 Feb 2024
Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are a biosensor to detect meat freshness, a cute and spooky sea creature, and how even shorter amounts of exercise can lead to benefits.
23 Feb 2024
City University of Hong Kong (CityU) shone once again in the 2023 rankings of the top 100 universities granted US utility patents, according to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). CityU was ranked 43rd in the world and for the 8th consecutive year, was ranked first among local institutions.
21 Feb 2024
Metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) single-atom catalysts are a promising type of catalyst that could help provide cost-effective alternatives to platinum-based ones. However, there are still some aspects of their behavior that are misunderstood. To rectify this, a group of researchers delved into the intricacies of M-N-C catalysts, yielding promising results.
19 Feb 2024
Standing at the forefront of technological evolution, the Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2024, taking place from 22-24 February at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, stands out as a crucial hub for innovation, inspiration, and intellect. We extend a warm invitation to everyone, from tech enthusiasts to industry experts, to join this impressive showcase of technological wonders and pioneering breakthroughs.
16 Feb 2024
At Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, four researchers in diverse fields of study – from urban planning to digital architecture – are working hard to reach sustainability goals.
07 Feb 2024
Two start-ups from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) have been honoured at the “2023 Deloitte Hong Kong Technology Fast and Rising Star” awards. The awards aim to identify and recognise fast-growing and innovative local companies that promote the development of innovation and technology ecosystems in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and beyond. One of the the CityU start-ups was recognised for its innovative liquid biopsy technology for accurate cancer diagnosis and disease monitoring, and for its high revenue growth rate. The other start-up was recognised for its expertise in electricity-free cooling technology, which is helping to facilitate the global transition to carbon neutrality.
31 Jan 2024
Carbon nanostructures could become easier to design and synthesize thanks to a machine learning method that predicts how they grow on metal surfaces. The new approach, developed by researchers at Japan’s Tohoku University and China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University, will make it easier to exploit the unique chemical versatility of carbon nanotechnology.
24 Jan 2024
This week sees the launch of the first published content in Sustainable Microbiology, the new open access journal which will apply microbiology to sustainability. The journal is published by Applied Microbiology International.
22 Jan 2024
Researchers from Thailand have pioneered the conversion of waste HDPE milk bottles into high-stiffness composites, utilizing PALF reinforcement for a 162% increase in flexural strength and 204% in modulus. This eco-friendly upcycling boosts mechanical properties while sequestering carbon, presenting a promising path for sustainable materials.
Events
14 Sep 2022
EDUtech Thailand returns for its 2nd edition on 14-15 September to bring together the education community across Thailand.
11 Oct 2022
Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) is the leading invention show in Asia. The physical event will take place from October 13-15, 2022 at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1.
26 May 2022
The International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX) is the leading international exhibition that features new inventions, technologies, and products, targeted at securing investments, manufacturing and commercialisation prospects and partners.
06 Sep 2022
Identity Week Asia is a conference and exhibition bringing together the brightest minds in the identity sector to promote innovation, new thinking, and more effective identity solutions.
21 Mar 2022
The annual Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) is set to return virtually from 21-25 March 2022. 2021 has been an eventful year as we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of MTE amidst a pandemic. Pivoting to the virtual space has not diminished its presence and popularity of MTE’s awards but allowed a global audience to attend which would have been proven more difficult in a physical event.
06 Sep 2022
Themed “Security Transformation for the Next Normal – Evolution of Risk Management and Data Protection in a Post Pandemic World”, the 2-day Summit will focus on how the enterprises can transform their security successfully under the cyber security challenges and the escalating cyber threats for the next normal.
22 Oct 2021
To round off TIE 2021, the TIE Online Forum will be held on October 22nd. Inventors and VIPs from Taiwan, Japan, and Germany will present their recent innovations and breakthroughs.
28 Sep 2021
TECHINNOVATION is a premier technology-to-industry matching event presented by IPI. It brings together international technology providers and enterprises to accelerate the commercialisation of emerging technologies, seed licensing opportunities and foster open innovation collaborations.
14 Jul 2021
Intelligent Mobility 2021 will offer a platform for industry experts, thought leaders, policy makers, city planners and researchers to discuss the future of mobility, growth opportunities emerging as a result of disruptive innovation, and the potential impact of new business models.
07 Oct 2021
The National Healthcare Group (NHG) is proud to present the 19th Edition of the Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC).
14 Oct 2021
Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) is the leading invention show in Asia. The event will take place from October 14-16, 2021 at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1.
25 Oct 2021
First in the region focused on recognizing innovations, initiatives, programmes and ideas which contribute to sustainability, eradicating poverty, improving well-being, protecting our planet, and building peace and prosperity.
14 Jun 2021
Scheduled to return in June 2021, the awards were created to recognize and honour all COVID-19-related inventions.
13 Dec 2021
The internationally renowned exhibition is the region’s professional marketplace for ideas and inventions, and is back to bring together some of the best ideas from around the world.
24 Nov 2020
The two-day strategic summit—”Intelligent Mobility: The Digital Acceleration“—will feature curated webinars, insightful panel discussions, and other online events.
03 Nov 2020
The Singapore Centre for 3D Printing is pleased to share our first online webinar in collaboration with HP-NTU Digital Manufacturing Corporate Lab.
05 Aug 2020
In collaboration with EmTech Asia, SGInnovate is holding a forum for clinicians and scientists residing in Singapore who are looking to commercialise their research in the fields of Human Health, Urban Sustainability and Supply Chain & Logistics.
22 Mar 2021
Rethinking education in the new normal. Future EdTech 2021 brings you this perfect opportunity to meet thousands of educators from primary education to universities.
22 Mar 2021
A strong advocate of creativity and development of innovations, MTE acts as a catalyst to create synergy between entrepreneurs and the science and technology communities to work together towards global partnerships.
The Khwarizmi International Award (KIA) acknowledges the efforts made by researchers, innovators and inventors from across the globe and to appreciate their high quality research work and contributions to different fields of science and technology.
08 Jul 2020
This program has identified many outstanding companies from the Automotive, Energy, Building & Environment industries to the Healthcare, Information Communication Technologies and Logistics sectors in Asia Pacific.
24 Sep 2020
Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) is the biggest invention show in Asia, It will take place in Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 from Sep. 24 to Sep. 26, 2020
09 Mar 2020
Find the right UM startup partner for your next business during UM Startup Co-Founder Search Day 9th March 2020.
03 Jun 2020
An important message from the organisers - due to the escalating situation globally, Innovfest Unbound will no longer be taking place on 3-4 June 2020.
20 Nov 2020
As we continue to confront the challenging conditions that we are facing from the pandemic this year, ITEX remains steadfast and committed to its strength to convene innovators and inventors from Malaysia and around the world, with the new ITEX ONLINE taking centrestage with a convenient borderless invention platform.
03 Jun 2020
New dates and agenda announced.. Distance participation only. Check out latest news at conference website.
14 Oct 2020
Asia Pacific is the fastest growing global region for the identity market. Identity Week Asia is a world-class virtual event, to help create a more secure world, through the implementation of trusted identity solutions. FREE PASS available for Asia Research News readers!
14 Jan 2020
Organised by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore, the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) brings together distinguished scientists, post-graduates and academics for four days of learning and mentoring from 14 to 17 January 2020.
04 Aug 2020
Join the First EmTech Asia Virtual Conference on the Emerging Technologies That Matter
10 Sep 2019
South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology is delighted to announce the HFE Labs’ Demonstration Day is scheduled to be held on September 10, 2019.
Researchers
Dr. Olivia Tan Swee Leng was a Legal Counsel at Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA) and in charge of the Domain Name Dispute Resolution for both .com from Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre and .my cases, as well as Mediation/Arbitration case management. She obtained her Bachelor of Law Degree with honours in 1993 from University of London (UK) and completed her Certificate of Legal Practise (CLP) in 1996. She was the book prize winner for the Civil Procedure Paper and General Paper awarded by the Certificate of Legal Practise Board (Malaysia) in 1996. She practised as an advocate and solicitor in Malaysia in the area of Corporate Litigation, Intellectual Property (Trademark), and Banking and Conveyancing. She continued to pursue her Masters in Law at the National University of Malaysia (UKM) in 2002. Later that year, she ceased legal practise to lecture Company Law, Business Law and Commercial Law at Nilai University in Malaysia as a Senior Lecturer in Law and headed the Department of Admission and Records as a Deputy Registrar. She obtained her PhD in Law at the National University of Malaysia (UKM) in 2014. Presently, she is the Director Technology Transfer Office (TTO) at Multimedia University (MMU). One of her main duties at TTO is to manage the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of the academic researchers as TTO. Dr Olivia Tan is also involved in Erasmus+ Spire, European grant project as Quality Manager in 2018 to 2020. SPIRE’s overall objective is contributing to the effectiveness of Research and Innovation management at HEIs by enhancing IPR capacities at three complementary levels, thereby addressing major difficulties identified in the target ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand). She is also currently a legal consultant for Valiantlytix Sdn Bhd (a Data analytic platfom) .
University of Malaya
Ridha is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and is jointly an associate member of Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Processing (AMMP) Center at the University of Malaya.
Lecturer in Forensic Chemistry field. Actively engaging in agricultural waste upcycling into nanatechnology products.
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
Dr. Syerina Azlin Md Nasir received her Ph.D. in Information Technology from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia and her undergraduate studies at University of Salford, United Kingdom. She is a senior lecturer in Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences at UiTM Cawangan Kelantan, Malaysia where she has been a faculty member since 2004. She has been engaged to research works such as conferences, workshops and become a member of Business Datalytics Research Group. She is a member of Microsoft Certified Professional, International Association of Engineers (IAENG), Certified RapidMiner Analyst and Certified Talend Data Integration. Her earlier publications are on database technology, ontology construction and mapping and actively involves in research, consultations and publications. The author’s current interest is on data mining, data analytics, text and web mining.
Lingnan University (LU)
Professor Leonard K Cheng became President of Lingnan University of Hong Kong in September 2013. Prior to joining Lingnan University, he served as Dean of the School of Business and Management of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST Business School) from 2009 to 2013.
Hadiyanto is a researcher at Universitas Jambi in the area of social science, particularly in education. In 2021, He was invited as a speaker AIbotic Series, European Week, and Edutech.
Experienced Subject Matter Expert and Consultant with Leadership, Management, and Strategic Planning Skills. Proven expertise in course validation, curriculum development, and instructional design, bolstered by extensive experience as a Graduate School and Undergraduate Professor and Program Chairperson. Specializes in teaching and managing professional business subjects, delivering engaging instruction, designing
curriculum, and leading academic programs. Demonstrated proficiency in leadership and staff management, fostering collaboration and excellence among team members. Background in sales, insurance, and marketing brings valuable industry insights to academic settings. Committed to promoting academic excellence, fostering student success, and driving
organizational growth through innovative management methods, effective leadership, and strategic planning aligned with the organization's goals and objectives.
Hupron Fadilah is an educator also a professional trainer that helped teachers to design and run joyful school. Experienced as a school leader for Preschool and High School. He also helps school leaders through mentoring and coaching to develop their leadership skills.
Hupron Fadilah is the founder of School Leaders Talk Indonesia and Komunitas Guru Pembelajar.
I am a faculty and the chair of the Department of Information Technology, College of Computer Studies Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan. I am into security, networking, robotics, authentic assessment, technology and innovation.
The University of Tokyo
Lian is an IT professional with a bachelor's in Computer Science at De La Salle University and a masters in Information Studies at The University of Tokyo. She had previously handled professional projects in culture-based conservation and blended learning. She is currently based in Chiba, Japan as a research student in Sustainability Science at UTokyo's Kashiwa campus. Her research focuses on educational technology for sustainable development (ICT4Ed and ESD). Aside from her day job, Lian enjoys painting and has participated in a number of exhibitions in her hometown, Davao City.
Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST)
Prof. Jeongho Kwak is currently an Assistant Professor at Department of Information and Communication Engineering, DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology),Korea. He is leading the Intelligent Computing & Networking Laboratory (ICNL) at DGIST.
Hiroshima University
Prof. Tomoharu Yasuda's laboratory studies how immune system is regulated through the antigen receptor, intracellular signaling and lymphocyte programming.
Nanyang Technological University
Dr. Arun works as a Research Assistant Professor (RAP) at the Rolls-Royce@NTU Corporate Lab, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Through cutting-edge technology development and commercialization, he contributes to the Singapore 2030 Advanced Manufacturing Hub (AMH) and Jurong Innovation District (JID) initiatives. He also acts as an IPT-Lead of the Manufacturing Technologies programme at Rolls-Royce@NTU and leads several projects, researchers, and students.
Lingnan University (LU)
Mr. Brian Katona is an engineer supporting the technical aspects of the Office of Service-Learning’s initiatives in Humanitarian Technology, Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation. He is interested in sharing his expertise with people to help build meaningful and impactful technological and social solutions.
DOST Advanced Science and Technology Institute
Dr. Franz Asunta de Leon is the Director for the DOST - Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI). With interests in Digital Signal Processing for Audio and Communications, he was the project leader for the Development of a Philippine Indigenous Instrument Sounds Database, also known as KATUNOG (KAlipunan ng KaTUtubong TuNOG).
Lingnan University (LU)
Prof. Albert is an experienced engineer, accomplished entrepreneur, innovative educator and a well-respected humanitarian worker. His research interests include artificial intelligence, robot-assisted search and rescue systems, humanitarian technologies and rural water and sanitation systems.
He is currently an assistant researcher in Jilin University. His research focuses on functional surfaces, bioinspired antifouling coatings, and medical antifouling materials.
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
Dr. Siti Fauziah Toha's main expertise in Artificial Intelligence Modelling and Control optimisation of complex systems and its applications.
Prasanna Lakmal is a lecturer at the Department for Commerce & Financial Management of the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
Dr. Fariha is a Senior Lecturer and a Civil Engineer at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. She is actively conducting research on Kenaf-sorb beads that is potentially for wastewater treatment at the factory’s effluent point.
Frederico Castelo Ferreira's current research interest balances between fundamental and applied research, with potential translation into the market of sustainable products and processes.
Dr. Mohammed N. Abdulrazaq is currently an Assoc. Prof. at Department of Engineering & Technology, Management & Science University (MSU), Malaysia.
Taylors university
Dr Chin Chin Sia is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Business & Law, Taylor's University, Malaysia.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Dr. Connie Cassy Ompok is an early childhood education expert and a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. She Started her career in Early Childhood Education as a preschool teacher (2004-2007), a lecturer in early childhood education at the Malaysian Institute of Teacher Education (2008-2016) before serving as a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at UMS (2016 until now).
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
Senior lecturer at School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. He is also Head of Lab EMZI-UiTM Nanoparticles Colloids
Rabin Mahat is a result-oriented and multifaceted doctoral student in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics at The University of Alabama, USA. He is currently working under the guidance of Dr. Patrick LeClair, and Dr. Arunava Gupta. He received M.Sc. in Physics in 2013 from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He also received his second M.Sc. in experimental Condensed Matter Physics from the University of Alabama in 2019. Rabin's main research is focused on the discovery of novel half-metallic Heusler compounds for potential spintronics device applications. He excels academic and professional expertise in process engineering, research procedures and material science.
Dr. A. Ahmad obtained his BS, MSc, and PhD degrees in Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering, respectively. Dr. Ahmad's areas of expertise include algal engineering for bioenergy production, environmental remediation, dark fermentation, and biochemicals, CO2 mitigation, industrial wastewater treatment, and heavy metals biosorption. Ahmad has worked on several projects using integrated microalgal engineering in industrial wastewater. Dr. Ahmad has published over 35 articles in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings and generated significant research interest. He serves as a reviewer for more than ten scientific journals.
Currently a research assistant in the laboratory of green energy in Zhejiang University of Technology.
Dr. Shreshth Chhabra holds a PhD degree in Labour welfare. He has a teaching experience of almost 21 years and taught at undergraduate, Post graduate, Executive Programme, PhD coursework level and guided research projecs. In his present assignment, he is associated with DCBS, an affiliate college of De Montfort University, UK. He was associated with a Renaissance university as Coordinator Research wing and PhD supervisor. He has published in national and international Journals, Conferences and dailies. He is associated as reviewer in two international prestigious journals – Global Journal of Labour, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa and Journal of HRM, Science publishing group, New York, USA. He has conducted MDPs for MSME , State Electricity Board, Police and other corporate as well. He has been recognized by Rotary Club, Amity Business School and EMG-SSM Trust.
A Tenured Professor at the Institute of Space Technology (Pakistan), Dr. Shabbir is working on Polymer based Nanomaterials for food safety, nano-drug delivery systems, water treatment, solar cells and carbon dioxide capture.
Giants in history
Physicist and statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (29 June 1893– 28 June 1972), who founded the Indian Statistical Institute in 1931, is known for his pioneering application of statistics to practical problems.
Tetsuya Theodore Fujita (23 October 1920 – 19 November 1998) was a Japanese-American meteorologist who created the Fujita scale that classifies the strength of tornadoes based on damage to structures and vegetation.
In 1915, pathologist Katsusaburo Yamagiwa and his research assistant Koichi Ichikawa became the first to prove that chronic exposure to chemicals can cause cancer.
In 1915, Koichi Ichikawa along with pathologist Katsusaburo Yamagiwa became the first to prove that chronic exposure to chemicals can cause cancer.
A pioneer of bio-organic chemistry, Darshan Ranganathan (4 June 1941 – 4 June 2001) is remembered for developing a protocol for synthesising imidazole, a compound used to make antifungal drugs and antibiotics. Widely considered India’s most prolific researcher in chemistry, she also published dozens of papers in renowned journals on protein folding, molecular design, chemical simulation of key biological processes, and the synthesis of functional hybrid peptides and nanotubes.
In his over 30 year career in rice research, Munshi Siddique Ahmad (1924 – 19 October 2011) developed more than 30 varieties of high-yielding rice, including the BRRI Shail strain, which was responsible for increasing the rice production of Bangladesh from 8 million tonnes in 1965 to 20 million tonnes in 1975.
Hideki Yukawa (23 January 1907 – 8 September 1981) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1949 for predicting the existence of the pi meson subatomic particle. Japan’s first Nobel laureate, Yakawa also expressed his support for nuclear disarmament by signing the Russell–Einstein Manifesto in 1955.
Ground-breaking cancer researcher Kamal Jayasing Ranadive (8 November 1917 – 11 April 2001) advanced the understanding of the causes of leukaemia, breast cancer and oesophageal cancer through the use of animal models. She was also among the first to recognise how susceptibility to cancer is linked to tumour-causing interactions between hormones and viruses.
Birbal Sahni (14 November 1891 – 10 April 1949), a pioneer of Indian palaeobotanical research, and founder of what is now the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in Lucknow, made multiple contributions to the study of prehistoric plants. These include the discovery of a new group of fossil gymnosperms (named Pentoxylae), reconstruction of the extinct Williamsonia sewardiana plant, and description of a new type of petrified wood from the Jurassic age.
The research of Filipino pharmaceutical chemist Luz Oliveros-Belardo (3 November 1906 – 12 December 1999) focussed on essential oils and other chemicals derived from native Philippine plants.
Japanese chemist Kenichi Fukui (4 October 1918 – 9 January 1998) was the first Asian scientist to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Together with Roald Hoffman, he received this honour in 1981 for his independent research into the mechanisms of chemical reactions.
Filipina chemist María Orosa (29 November 1892–13 February 1945) fought malnutrition and food insecurity in the Philippines by devising over 700 culinary creations including Soyalac, a nutrient rich drink made from soybeans, and Darak, rice cookies packed with Vitamin B1, which could prevent beriberi disease caused by Vitamin B1 deficiency. She was also a partisan of the guerrilla movement resisting Japanese occupation during World War II, and died after being struck by shrapnel while working in her laboratory during the Battle of Manila.
Research by Filipino plant scientist Benito Vergara (23 June 1934 – 24 October 2015) on the physiology of rice led to the development of deep-water and cold-tolerant rice varieties. Vergara also made several contributions to expanding public awareness of rice science.
Filipino chemist and pharmacist Manuel A. Zamora (29 March 1870 – 9 July 1929) is best remembered for his discovery of the tiki-tiki formula to combat beriberi, a disease caused by Vitamin B1 deficiency.
In 1939, biochemist Kamala Sohonie (18 June 1911 – 28 June 1998) became the first woman to be accepted into the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
Korean parasitologist Seung-Yull Cho (16 November 1943 – 27 January 2019) is remembered largely for his pioneering works to control infections caused by helminthic parasites and his contribution to journal publishing.
Chinese agronomist Yuan Longping (7 September 1930 – 22 May 2021) developed the first varieties of the high-yield, hybrid rice that brought food security to multiple countries including China, which had been ravaged by food shortages as recently as the mid-20th century.
Fe Villanueva del Mundo (27 November 1911 – 6 August 2011) was a Filipina paediatrician who founded the Philippines’ first paediatric hospital.
After witnessing death and suffering as a youth in his home village during World War II, Nguyễn Tài Thu (6 April 1931 – 14 February 2021) set his sights on alleviating pain by becoming a doctor. After studying Traditional Chinese Medicine in China in the 1950s, Thu returned to Vietnam to serve in military hospitals. Eventually, he became the country’s foremost practitioner of acupuncture, a technique he first learned by inserting needles into himself.
Minoru Shirota (April 23, 1899 – March 10, 1982) was a Japanese microbiologist who invented the popular fermented drink Yakult.
Wu Lien-teh (10 March 1879 – 21 January 1960) was a Malaysian-born doctor who invented a mask that effectively suppressed disease transmission. Winning the prestigious Queen’s Scholarship enabled Wu to become the first Chinese student to study medicine at the University of Cambridge.
Physicist Narinder Singh Kapany (31 October 1926 – 4 December 2020) pioneered the use of optical fibres to transmit images, and founded several optical technology companies. Born in Punjab, India, he worked at a local optical instruments factory before moving to London for PhD studies at Imperial College. There, he devised a flexible fibrescope to convey images along bundles of glass fibres.
Japanese physicist Ukichiro Nakaya (1900-1962) made the world’s first artificial snowflakes. He started his research on snow crystals in the early 1930s at Hokkaido University, where there is an unlimited supply of natural snow in winter. By taking over 3,000 photographs, he established a classification of natural snow crystals and described their relationship with weather conditions.
David T. Wong (born 1936) is a Hong Kong-born American neuroscientist who is best known for discovering the antidepressant drug fluoxetine, better known as Prozac.
The techniques that make industrial pearl culturing possible were developed over a century ago at the Misaki Marine Biological Station in Japan. The station’s first director, Professor Kakichi Mitsukuri, emphasized to Kokichi Mikimoto in 1890 that stimulating pearl sac formation was important for pearl growth, and they went on to successfully develop methods for culturing pearls.
The field of solid-state ionics originated in Europe, but Takehiko Takahashi of Nagoya University in Japan was the first to coin the term ‘solid ionics’ in 1967. ‘Solid-state ionics’ first appeared in 1971 in another of his papers, and was likely a play on ‘solid-state electronics’, another rapidly growing field at the time.
Charles Kuen Kao (Nov. 4, 1933 to Sept. 23, 2018) was an engineer who is regarded as the father of fibre optics. His work in the 1960s on long distance signal transmission using very pure glass fibres revolutionized telecommunications, enabling innovations such as the Internet.
Tu Youyou (born 30 December 1930) is a Chinese pharmaceutical scientist who was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her work on extracting artemisin from sweet wormwood to treat malaria.
Cyril Andrew Ponnamperuma (16 October 1923 – 20 December 1994) was a Sri Lankan chemist who was interested in the origins of life on Earth. His research in chemical evolution showed how inanimate molecules may have given rise to the building blocks of life – a process known as abiogenesis.
Motoo Kimura (13 November 1924 – 13 November 1994) was a Japanese theoretical population geneticist who is best remembered for developing the neutral theory of molecular evolution.
Meghnad Saha (6 October 1893 – 16 February 1956) was an Indian astrophysicist best known for formulating the Saha ionization equation which describes the chemical and physical properties of stars.
Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose (30 November 1858 – 23 November 1937) was a scientist and inventor who contributed to a wide range of scientific fields such as physics, botany and biology.
Osamu Shimomura (27 August 1928 – 19 October 2018) was a Japanese organic chemist and marine biologist who dedicated his career to understanding how organisms emitted light.
Woo Jang-choon (8 April 1898 – 10 August 1959) was a Korean-Japanese agricultural scientist and botanist.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (19 October 1910 – 21 August 1995) was an Indian astrophysicist who studied the structure and evolution of stars.
Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani (12 May 1977 – 14 July 2017) was the first and only woman and Iranian to date to win the Fields Medal in 2014 for her work on curved surfaces.
Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (7 November 1888 – 21 November 1970) was an Indian physicist who performed ground-breaking research in the field of light-scattering.
Mohammad Abdus Salam (29 January 1926 – 21 November 1996) was a theoretical physicist and the first Pakistani to receive a Nobel Prize in science.
Srinivasa Ramanujan (22 December 1887 – 26 April 1920) was a math prodigy and widely considered one of India’s greatest mathematicians. Despite having almost no formal training in mathematics, he made substantial contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series and continued fractions.
Gopalasamudram Narayanan Ramachandran (8 October 1922 – 7 April 2001) is best known for developing the Ramachandran plot to understand the structure of short chains of amino acids, known as peptides.
Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie (25 June 1936 – 11 September 2019) was an Indonesian engineer who was President of Indonesia from 1998 to 1999.
Abdus Suttar Khan (c. 1941 – 31 January 2008) was a Bangladeshi engineer who spent a significant part of his career conducting aerospace research with NASA, United Technology and Alstom.
Chien-Shiung Wu (31 May 1912 – 16 February 1997) was an experimental physicist who made several important contributions to nuclear physics. Wu worked on the Manhattan Project – a top-secret program for the production of nuclear weapons during World War II and helped to develop a process for separating uranium into U235 and U238.
Julian Arca Banzon (13 March 1908 – 13 September 1988) was a biochemist from the Philippines who was a pioneer in alternative fuel research. Banzon investigated the use of indigenous crops as sources of renewable fuels and chemicals.
Rajeshwari Chatterjee (24 January 1922 – 3 September 2010) was the first female engineer from Karnataka in India.
Fazlur Rahman Khan (3 April 1929 – 27 March 1982) was a Bangladeshi-American structural engineer and architect who invented the tube principle, which formed the basis for modern skyscraper design.