Pusat Promosi Sains dan Inovasi Negara

Malaysia sudah ada Pusat Sains Negara, Petrosains dan beberapa agensi yang berperanan dalam mempromosi sains, kreativiti dan inovasi dikalangan generasi muda sejak tadika, sekolah dan universiti. Adakah agensi-agensi ini sudah mencukupi, mampu dan menjanjikan hasrat kerajaan menjadikan sebahagian besar rakyat Malaysia selepas 2020 berlatarbelakangkan sains, jurutera, ahli sains dan doktor pakar. Rakyat Malaysia masa hadapan adalah rakyat yang maju, moden dan hidup dalam persekitaran yang selesa dan selamat. Di Jepun di setiap daerah mempunyai pusat sains dan kreativiti sendiri yang ditadbir oleh kerajaan tempatan. Ahli penasihat adalah terdiri dari sukarelawan profesional termasuk profesor. Tidak hairanlah rakyatnya mempunyai kekuatan dalam sains dan teknologi. Selepas 30 tahun dasar poandang ke timur mungkin sudah sampai masanya Malaysia mempunyai pusat kreativiti dan inovasi sains di setiap negeri kalaupun tidak di setiap daerah. Dalam 10 tahun akan datang kita akan melahirkan genearsi yang meminati bidang sains dan teknologi.

water is life: many can participate to conserve and save water; ideas and implementattion

Wednesday July 14, 2010
Minister warns of water supply crisis
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my

Minister: Delay in Langat 2 project may lead to rationing by 2014

PETALING JAYA: The water restructuring issue in Selangor should be not be muddled with the Langat 2 water treatment plant project as any delay in implementing the latter will result in a 13%-14% water deficit in three areas by 2014, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui.

He said the estimates were based on the current level of water consumption in Selangor, Wilayah Persekutan and Putrajaya. Should consumption levels rise by 2014, the deficit could widen.

He warned that any delay in the implementation of the Langat 2 water treatment plant could lead to water rationing in the areas by 2014.
Education on river and source of water
Conservation of specific areas for water resources and maintaining of the river water quality.
NGOs are among the agents to participate actively in water conservation strategies and water saving campaign.

7th Annual Scientific Meeting & International Seminar Marine Resources for National Prosperity

Poster ini sekarang berada di seluruh dunia. Dari Amerika Syarikat ke China, Dari Jepun ke Malaysia dan Indonesia setengah dunia. Paling kurang di seluruh Indonesia yang mengambil masa 10 jam dengan kapal terbang untuk sebarkannya, di NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, USA, First Institute of Ocean PR China dan di The Univ. of Tokyo, Japan. Termasuk juga di Fakulti Sains, Universiti Putra Malaysia, universiti no. 1 di Malaysia. Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara maritim sepatutnya juga ke hadapan dan Stesen Marin di Port Dickson itu menjadi Juaranya. Sudah sampai masanya peneraju bidang ini atau juara sebenarnya diberikan pengiktirafan dan seluruh pemimpin universiti dan institusi penyelidikan belajar menghargai sumbangan sebenar kepakaran seseorang. Kita telah banyak mengamalkan memberi anugerah kepada pelakon yang dilihat di depan mata. Bukan sahaja kita perlu berfikir di luar kotak tetapi juga keluar dari kepompong setelah dewasa.

Where has all the Gulf oil gone?

Mighty oil-eating microbes help clean up the Gulf.

Where is all the oil? Nearly two weeks after BP finally capped the biggest oil spill in U.S. history, the oil slicks that once spread across thousands of miles of the Gulf of Mexico have largely disappeared.

So where did the oil go?

Some of the oil evaporates. The more toxic components of oil, which tend to be very volatile and evaporate. As much as 40 percent of the oil might have evaporated when it reached the surface. High winds from two recent storms may have speeded the evaporation process.

Then where did evaporated toxic components of oil go?

Now we know that monitoring is very important. We need a special laboratory to monitor hazardous chemicals in soil, water, air and biological samples. We need to train more experts in this field.

What we need for our develop nation is comfortable life. Free from hazardous chemical.

Mengapa kita gelisah dengan kualiti graduan tempatan?

Kebanyakan mereka tidak jelas dengan program yang diikuti dan tidak nampak masa hadapan mereka, di mana mereka akan berkerjaya, apakah kursus yang akan mereka pilih dan bidang apa yang mereka akan mengkhususkan. Kebanyakan hanya mengikut tren senior. Profesor di universiti perlu membantu pelajar tentang ilmu, kemahiran dan cabaran masa hadapan. Pembelajaran di universiti bukan sekadar mendapat ijazah dan bekerja. Universiti membina intelek negara yang kreatif, berilmu, bekemahiran, memimpin dan berdaya saing.

Not Too Late to Develop Port Dickson Marine Station into World Class Marine Reseach Centre

Its location, basic fascilities and existing skill workers/experts/professors are able to make PD Station belong to UPM into Worlds Class Marine Research Centre. Its location near the Straits of Malacca and Port Dickson will attract world class scientists to come and collaborate with the local scientists.

Lagi Kerjasama UPM dengan The University of Tokyo

Miss Chino (pelajar PhD Profesor Otake)datang ke UPM untuk kerjalapangan kerjasama kajian ekologi ikan. Mereka akan berada di Malaysia (UPM) selama 21 hari. Kerjasama ini hasil MoU UPM-AORI The Univ of Tokyo 2009-2014. Kajian terperinci tentang ekologi belut berhijrah akan dilakukan oleh pasukan penyelidik yang terdiri dari Dr. Arai, Dr. Syaizwan dan Prof Ahmad Ismail. Kajian biodiversiti dan ekologi ini merupakan kajian asas biologi yang kurang diberi perhatian oleh kerajaan dan Profesor Malaysia tetapi menjadi tumpuan ramai profesor di Jepun, Amerika, U.K. dan Eropah. Apakah kita terlalu maju kehadapan dalam bidang biologi dan ekologi tropika?

ITB Diminta Buka Kampus di Malaysia

Senin, 28 Juni 2010 | 13:16 WIB
Kampus ITB/TEMPO/ Budi Yanto
TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta -Wakil Perdana Menteri Malaysia Tan Sri Dato Haji Muhyidin Mohd Yassin menawarkan ke Institut Teknologi Bandung untuk membuka kampus di Malaysia. "Skimnya terbuka bisa joint venture dengan swasta Malaysia, atau dimiliki ITB," kata juru bicara Wakil Presiden Yopie Hidayat usai pertemuan Wakil Presiden Boediono dengan Wakil Perdana Menteri Malaysia Tan Sri Dato Haji Muhyidin Mohd Yassin di Kantor Wakil Presiden, Senin (28/6).

Tawaran ini, kata Yopie, disampaikan Wakil Perdana Menteri Malaysia dalam jamuan makan pagi dengan tim dari ITB. Menurut Yopie, ini dalam upaya meningkatkan kualitas sumber daya manusia. "Mereka ingin hubungan dengan kampus-kampus terkemuka, ini investasi serius dan mereka menghargai ITB sebagai salah satu pencetak mahasiswa terbaik," ujarnya.

Soal rencana itu, kata Yopie, masih akan dibahas lagi Deputi Perdana Menteri Malaysia dengan Menteri Pendidikan Muhammad Nuh siang ini. "Deputi PM ingin menawar yang reasonable lah. Kalau detil teknis tunggu tim yang bernegosiasi," ujarnya.


EKO ARI WIBOWO
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PENDIDIKAN TINGGI
ITB Diundang Bangun Kampus di Malaysia
Selasa, 29 Juni 2010 | 04:41 WIB
Jakarta, Kompas - Wakil Perdana Menteri Malaysia Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mengundang Institut Teknologi Bandung untuk mendirikan kampus di pusat pendidikan internasional di Malaysia.......... .
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Mengikut pihak ITB, semasa perbincangan 22 Julai lepas, mereka sedang membuat persediaan bagi menyambut undangan TPM Malaysia. Apakah kita juga sedang membuat persiapan? Saya baru mendapat e-mail dari profesor ITB mengharapkan kerjasama yang segera antara Malaysia (UPM) dan Indonesia (ITB) dalam pembangunan akademik.

Mungkin Kerjasama Akademik Dengan Negara Jiran Lebih Berkesan

Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) di Indonesia misalnya telah lama terkenal di rantau ini dan menghasilkan graduan yang berjaya bukan sahaja untuk Indonesia tetapi juga dimenafaatkan oleh Malaysia. Mungkin universiti di Malaysia boleh mengaturkan kerjasama melalui alumni ITB yang kebanyakkannya sudah senior dan bersara di Malaysia. Kerjasama ini boleh menyambung kerjasama dan perhubungan yang sedia ada.
Joko, Ahmad, Jambari dan Intan berbincang dan merumuskan untuk mengembangkan hubungan peribadi sedia ada kepada tahap institusi seperti yang telah disarankan oleh pemimpin tertinggi kedua negara berjiran ini berkongsi air laut, burung, ikan dan kekayaan biodiversiti flora dan fauna.
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Kerjasama yang telah lama dijalankan oleh individu tertentu boleh dikembangkan untuk di lakukan antara universiti di Malaysia dengan ITB yang bukan sahaja melibatkan kakitangan akademik tetapi juga pelajar. Pertukaran pelajar antara dua agensi ITB dengan IPT di Malaysia akan mendatangkan banyak kebaikan dan pengalaman kerana bukan sahaja kemudahan berbahasa tetapi juga dekat dan lebih murah berbanding dengan negara lain. Ada antara profesor di ITB juga menjadi rujukan kepada ahli sains antarabangsa terutama dalam hal biodiversiti dan ekologi tropika. Antara mereka yang telah lama bekerjasama dengan saintis Malaysia juga bekerjasama dengan saintis dari Jepun, Australia, Eropah dan Amerika. Ada antara aktiviti penyelidikan tentang biodiversiti dan ekologi di Malaysia dan Indonesia diselaraskan oleh orang Malaysia dan melibatkan ahli sains Jepun dan Eropah. Malaysia dan Indonesia antara negara yang teratas dalam biodiversiti dunia. Apa tindakan kita? Lebih banyak gran penyelidikan tentang biodiversiti?

Yang Cemerlang Menjadi Contoh dan Ikutan

(Seksyen Media, Bahagian Komunikasi Korporat UPM)
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Mungkin UPM boleh membuat pembaharuan mendedahkan kecemerlangan yang berjaya kepada seluruh masyarakat UPM agar dicontohi ketokohan, kejayaan dan kecemerlangan mereka. Ini sangat penting, terutama bagi kakitangan yang muda yang boleh membantu UPM terus memacu kejayaan. Mereka boleh diajak memberi ceramah secara berkala bagi berkongsi pengalaman dengan semua ahli UPM mengikut jabatan atau fakulti atau pusat.Mereka juga boleh memaparkan kecemerlangan mereka dalam sesawang fakulti atau UPM sebagai contoh untuk staf lain menjadi lebih berdayasaing dan cemerlang.

Should Straits of Malacca have one Research Centre or Institute?

Malacca Straits is a golden heritage of the littoral states such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. It is not only rich in marine resources but is one of the oldest and busiest shipping lanes in the world. By using the Malacca Straits, the Eastern countries petroleum Industry saves billions of ringgit annually. The Straits contribute half million tonnes of fish (more than 60% of the total fish caught per year) per year. In Indonesia, The Straits of Malacca contributes the second highest fish production after the Java Sea. High quality and safe fish harvest is extremely important to ensure sustainable socio-economic development and health of the people. Other economic activities such as mariculture, tourism, recreation and maritime industry are dependent on the viability and pristine conditions of the Straits. The Straits is also an important site for archaeological resources.Today, the increase of shipping activities along the 1,000 km shipping lane and the rapid development in the coastal areas threaten the environment of the Straits. To ensure navigational safety in the narrow and shallow Straits, safe from different types of pollutants from industries, agriculture, land-used activities and domestic wastes discharged into the Straits and protect natural habitat such as mangroves swamps and coral reef, a specific concern is required. The Littoral states should coordinate and enhance regulation and reduction of pollution inputs, coordinate the establishment and enforcement of uniform standards for pollutants and environmental impact assessments, establish effective international marine pollution monitoring mechanism, develop a Straits Action Plan and jointly prepare a dynamic atlas for policy making.The formation of MASDEC in UPM was a strategic action to tackle the issues related to the Straits of Malacca. MASDEC can be reactivate or redevelop towards an international standard of marine research centre or institute since the Straits of Malacca is internationally recognized as an important waterways and ecosystem. Malaysia and UPM in particular should take this opportunity and leading in the Straits of Malacca scientific research activities.

Aktiviti Pendidikan Alam Sekitar Berterusan

Atas: Guru Pengiring, Pegawai Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia, Wakil Peserta, Ybhg Dato' Hashim Wahab dan Prof Dr. Ahmad Ismail Penasihat Environmental Education MNS.
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Malayan Nature Society bersama Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia serta beberapa agensi yang menaja dan menyumbang kepakaran telah bersama-sama menganjurkan Bengkel Pendidikan Alam Sekitar Sekolah Menengah Peringkat Kebangsaan di Bukit Lagong Selangor 15-18 Julai 2010.Seramai hampir 300 peserta dari seluruh negara telah mengikuti bengkel ini. Aktiviti ini sangat penting bagi generasi akan datang bagi menjaga kepelbagaian biodiversiti negara. Dasar Kepelbagaian Biodiversiti Kebangsaan menekankan aktiviti pendidikan alam sekitar dan pengetahuan umum tentang kepelbagaian biologi dan konservasi. Para peserta diberi latihan dalam bentuk permainan, penghayatan alam sekitar, pengetahuan tentang flora dan fauna, lawatan ke FRIM dan Zoo Negara termasuk aktiviti malam dan siang hari.Semua peserta diberikan sijil penyertaan dan manual pendidikan alam sekitar.
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Inisiatif Malayan Nature Society, Malaysian Zoological Society, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Universiti Putra malaysia, Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia dan agensi lain menganjurkan aktiviti, menaja dan menyediakan kepakaran merupakan sumbangan besar kepada negara dan generasi akan datang. Sumbangan kewangan terutamanya sangat terus diperlukan bagi memastikan kesinambungan program seperti ini.Tahun ini adalah tahun biodiversiti dunia. Apakah sumbangan kita dan sejauh manakah kita telah menghargai orang yang telah dan sedang aktif menyumbang.

BIODIVERSITY is OUR LIFE

The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity.What are we suppose to do to participate biodiversity campaign by the United Nation.
MALAYSIA’S NATIONAL POLICY
ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
(Official declaration: Thursday, April 16 1998, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
Ministry of Science, Environment and Technology)
Document downloadable at ARBEC’s website: http://www.arbec.com.my
For more information, contact ARBEC at: Tel: 603-788 21158, Fax: 603-706 5966, Email: limster@pop.jaring.my
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Strategy 7: ENHANCE SKILL, CAPABILITIES AND COMPETENCE
Action Plan:
1. Identify critical skill requirements and undertake programmes to develop the
human resource base in the appropriate areas.
2. Utilise research institutes and universities to build up competence in relevant
areas.
3. Enhance research, planning and management capabilities through collaborative
programmes amongst local organisations and between local organisations and
established foreign institutions.
4. Provide reward structures and design reward mechanisms to strengthen
appropriate fields for education to achieve conservation and sustainable use of
biological diversity.
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For those studying in UPM do not miss BGY3102 and BGY4402 in order to support NBP

PARTIAL LIST OF LEGISLATION RELEVANT TO BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY
Federal Environmental Quality Act 1974
Fisheries Act 1985
Pesticides Act 1974
Plant Quarantine Act 1976
Customs (Prohibition of Exports)(Amendment) (No.4) Order 1993
Peninsular
Malaysia
Waters Act 1920
Taman Negara (Kelantan) Enactment 1938
Taman Negara (Pahang) Enactment 1939
Taman Negara (Terengganu) Enactment 1939
(The State Parks from the above three
Enactments constitute Taman Negara)
Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954
Land Conservation Act 1960
National Land Code 1965
Protection of Wildlife Act 1972
National Parks Act 1980
National Forestry Act 1984
Sabah Parks Enactment 1984
Forest Enactment 1968
Fauna Conservation Ordinance 1963
Sarawak National Parks Ordinance 1956
Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1958
Forests Ordinance 1954
Natural Resources Ordinance 1949 as amended by Natural Resources and
Environment (Amendment) Ordinance 1993
Public Parks and Greens Ordinance 1993
Water Ordinance 1994

EPA OKs more hazardous waste for Calif. toxic dump

Thu Jul 15, 11:01 am ET

KETTLEMAN CITY, Calif. – The Environmental Protection Agency says a central California landfill that local residents blame for birth defects can continue accepting hazardous waste. The EPA says it decided to allow more hazardous waste after an area where cancer-causing PCBs or polychlorinated biphenylswere found was cleaned up. Kettleman City residents have blamed the toxic waste dump for at least 11 birth defects since 2007. State waste management officials say no evidence links the landfill to the deformities.

Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are now-banned transformer-oil fluids widely used up to the early 1970s. They have a similar molecular shape to flame retardants and reduce thyroid hormone levels. Research has linked low PCB exposures to reduced impulse control and lower intellectual capacity in children. The most recent study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives in May, found that a mere one-part-per-billion increase in PCB concentration in a baby's placenta was associated with a three-point IQ drop at the age of 9.


Another news!

Studies find heart deformities, higher mortality rates in PCB-affected wildlife.

April 3, 2006

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Recent studies of wildlife in the Bloomington area have found serious health problems with embryonic development in animals exposed to PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) released from local PCB-contaminated sites. These problems include heart deformities in birds and reproductive problems in fish. The studies were conducted by researchers in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University and other institutions (http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/3224.html).

Apakah Kesan Korek Pasir Keatas Ekologi, Politik dan Ekonomi Jangka Panjang

Sangat hangat perbincangan tentang aktiviti korek pasir yang sedang berlaku di Negeri Selangor sekarang ini. Perbincangan hangat di kaki lima, surat khabar, dewan undangan negeri dan parlimen. Apakah isu ini isu politik, isu alam sekitar atau isu ekonomi? Rakyat sepatutnya boleh menilai atau sekiranya tidak mampu rujuklah kepada pakar. Mungkin tidak ada orang yang boleh menyelesaikan masalah sebenar kepada isu korek pasir ini kerana kita tidak mempunyai data asas yang lengkap.Mungkin mulai sekarang kita perlu mempunyai data lengkap tentang sumber asli negeri dan perancangan pembangunan, penggunaan dan konservasinya.

Guru-guru SKSS USJ Subang Jaya menjalankan aktiviti latihan dalam perkhidmatan di Hutan Simpan Air Hitam Puchong

Seramai 35 orang guru-guru muda termasuk Guru Besar dan Penolong Kanan dari Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Selangor menjalankan latihan dalam perkhidmatan di Hutan Simpan Air Hitam Puchong. Antara aktiviti ialah Penghayatan Alam Sekitar, penggunaan hutan sebagai makmal pengajaran di luar bilik darjah, bukan sahaja terhad kepada mata pelajaran biologi atau sains tetapi juga geografi, bahasa, pengetahuan agama Islam dan lain-lain. Kesemua peserta telah dipandu oleh Prof Dr. Ahmad Ismail dari UPM.

Frogs hunting in UPM Campus continue for ecology and biodiversity studies

Faid, Siti, Shahrizad, Jim and Rosy explore more about frogs on campus.

Ecotourism: Conflict between conservation, recreation and tourism business

1. Ecotourism in one of important business for the country.
2. Specific locations need to be identified.
3. The areas need to be protected and conserved.
4. A complete information on flora & fauna needed.
5. Ecotourism is an expensive business for educated and rich society who know how to appreciate nature and willing to contribute for conservation.
6. All tourists need to be guided and all guides must be well trained and equip with knowledge on flora, fauna and ecology.
7. All facilities and systems must be well organise for its sustainability.

Masa Hadapan Negara Bermula Dari Sekolah - Guru Mendahului Zaman

Sebahagian daripada Guru-guru muda dari Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Selangor, USJ Subang Jaya menjalani latihan di Hutan Simpan Air Hitam, Puchong sebagai makmal luar bilik darjah dalam P&P berkesan, menghayati alam sekitar dan biodiversity flora dan fauna.
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Bagaimana cara melaksanakannya?
1. Sediakan kurikulum mantap untuk masa hadapan dan dikemaskini dari masa kesemasa; apakah keperluan mereka semasa berumur 19-25 tahun bagi membina kerjaya dan menyumbang kepada keperluan negara.
2. Sediakan kemudahan lengkap mengikut kesesuaian dan keperluan masyarakat setempat mengikut peredaran masa.
3. Mempunyai guru-guru yang sesuai dengan kehendak kurikulum yang dibina bagi memenuhi keperluan masa hadapan negara. Perlaksanaan kurikulum mendahului keperluan semasa(sekiranya perlaksanaan mengikut keperluan semasa pelajar yang tamat belajar akan ketinggalan zaman)
4. Amalan di sekolah selama 11 tahun mampu membentuk keperibadian, personaliti, pendekatan dan cara berfikir, disiplin, budaya ilmu, budaya berfikir, budaya kreativiti dan innovatif dan lain-lain nilai baik rakyat masa hadapan yang mampu berdikari serta bersaing di peringkat dunia.
5.Bagi memenuhi keperluan negara masa hadapan dan memastikan segala perancangan kerajaan terlaksana program khas untuk guru-guru sangat diperlukan; misalnya, program latihan berterusan bagi memantapkan kualiti P&P (asas ilmu yang kuat, teknik, teknologi, ilmu khusus dan kepakaran), sistem pemantauan yang cekap, ganjaran yang setimpal, menghargai dan menghormati pada ilmuan.
6. Kumpulan pakar kurikulum yang berkualiti, dinamik dan berterusan meneliti, menganalisis dan memantau kesesuaian dan keberkesanan dalam perlaksanaan.
7. Kumpulan jurulatih perlaksanan kurikulum yang mantap dan setanding dengan kehebatan antarabangsa.
8. Kumpulan pakar dihormati dengan ganjaran dan kemudahan bekerja yang setimpal dengan kepakaran dan bidang mereka. Ini akan menggalakkan pembangunan sumber manusia mengikut kehendak dan keperluan negara.
9. Penyelidikan oleh profesor di universiti di hargai (dalam bentuk gran penyelidikan dan ganjaran).
10.Pembangunan sumber manusia berlaku apabila budaya menghargai ilmuan wujud dalam masyarakat.

Why soccer’s biggest stars failed to shine

Soccer’s superstar players never materialized here at the World Cup. The game’s best – Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Wayne Rooney, etc. – often failed to lift their play and, in turn, their teams, to a level this grand stage demands.
The conventional wisdom on why: They were too selfish, unable to adapt to the team concept of a national squad. Unlike the past, the stars weren’t selfish enough.
Time changes in life. In this time, the star player must be humble and supportive. And not just on the field, but in all parts of team life. Obviously all players know they need others to make them better in the game. Someone has to pass them the ball. Or receive a pass. But off the field, is one for all, all for one really the best concept?

HOW ABOUT US? INDIVIDUAL SKILLS OR TEAM WORK?

Frogs Ecology and Biodiversity Studies on UPM campus

(Jim and Rosy from Reading University England and Iman from Subang Jaya cathing frogs in UPM campus)
Even frogs can attract young scientists from Reading University to come to UPM. In UPM campus there were a secondary forest, oil palm, coconuts and rubber plantations, paddy field and open grass land before and support many species of frogs. Until now we still can observe many common frogs species. We are now searching them in case we can find a unique one. Frogs, birds and some mammals on campus might develop a new attraction to foreign students especially from England to do their final year project on tropical animals. Management of the university (UPM) should consider this as an important attraction or destination for Foreign students such as European and Japan or Korea for their summer programme or short research attachment programme related to tropical ecology.

Local universities, research culture and start-up activities still weak

Malaysia lacks innovation hotspots to propel the development of homegrown technology, despite huge investments over the years to create such centres like Cyberjaya and Iskandar

How to start-up:
1. require strong political commitment from the Government
2. raising the quality of education and continuously developed
3. a generous research funding policy
4. a key ingredient to have centres of basic and applied research that could generate surplus ideas and entrepreneurial talents to commercialise them
5. involvement of top-class universities, research institutes or firms with major and diversified research activities
6. concept of open, amenity-rich, affordable and with high connectivity
7. innovation hotspot grew from “the bottom up” without too much direct involvement from the government
8. new culture of open to new ideas and highly supportive of technological changes,
9. develop leaderships by strengthening the seniours and generate new one
10. globalisation in thinking, culture, leadership and governence for research and innovation
11. have a rich source of technological findings and entrepreneurship to convert some of these findings into commercial innovations

Even we have all above, an innovation hotspot can be created and probably will take five to 10 years to achieve. Good planning and strategies needed.

Russian mathematician rejects $1 million prize

This undated file photo released by the International Mathematician Congress shows Grigory Perelman. On March 18, 2010, the Clay Mathematics Institute AP
By MALCOLM RITTER, AP Science Writer Thu Jul 1, 12:13 pm ET

NEW YORK – He said nyet to $1 million.

Grigory Perelman, a reclusive Russian mathematics genius who made headlines earlier this year for not immediately embracing a lucrative math prize, has decided to decline the cash.

Perelman's decision was announced Thursday by the Clay Mathematics Institute in Cambridge, Mass., which had awarded Perelman its Millennium Prize.

The award honors his solving of the Poincare (pwan-kah-RAY) conjecture, which deals with shapes that exist in four or more dimensions.

Jim Carlson, institute president, said Perelman's decision was not a complete surprise, since he had declined some previous math prizes.

Carlson said Perelman had told him by telephone last week of his decision and gave no reason. But the Interfax news agency quoted Perelman as saying he believed the prize was unfair. Perelman told Interfax he considered his contribution to solving the Poincare conjecture no greater than that of Columbia University mathematician Richard Hamilton.

"To put it short, the main reason is my disagreement with the organized mathematical community," Perelman, 43, told Interfax. "I don't like their decisions, I consider them unjust."

Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Perelman, a resident of St. Petersburg, were unsuccessful.

Carlson said institute officials will meet this fall to decide what to do with the prize money. "We have some ideas in mind," he said. "We want to consider that carefully and make the best use possible of the money for the benefit of mathematics."

THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PROFESSORS

Habit 1: Be Proactive
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Habit 4: Think Win/Win
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw