The Academy of Sciences Malaysia in its
53rd Council Meeting decided to establish the ASM Award for Scientific
Excellence in Honour of Tun Dr Mahathir Award in conjunction to the
Academy’s 10th Anniversary Celebration on
17 August 2004. The Inaugural Award was awarded to 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 at a dinner in Kuala
Lumpur.
This award is positioned as Malaysia’s most prestigious Science Award for tropical sciences, and 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 categories for the award are
Tropical Agriculture, Tropical Architecture and Engineering,Tropical
Medicine, as well as Tropical Natural Resources. In 2005, the ASM Award
for Scientific Excellence in Honour of Tun Dr Mahathir Award was renamed
as Mahathir Science Award.
In 2010, the Mahathir Science Award
Foundation was set up to manage and oversee this prestigious award.
Remaining a key activity of the Academy, it is hoped 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
Mahathir Science Award is bestowed on any scientists, institutions or
organisation 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.
NOMINATIONS
This award will be given to researchers who have made internationally recognised breakthroughs in pioneering tropical research in the following fields:
NOMINATIONS
This award will be given to researchers who have made internationally recognised breakthroughs in pioneering tropical research in the following fields:
- Tropical Agriculture
- Tropical Architecture and Engineering
- Tropical Medicine
- Tropical Natural Resources
One award will be conferred each year
covering any of the four fields. The award carries a cash prize of USD
100,000.00, a gold medal and a certificate.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The Mahathir Science Award accepts nominations from four main categories of tropical sciences, namely:
- Tropical Agriculture
- Tropical Architecture and Engineering
- Tropical Medicine
- Tropical Natural Resources
The Mahathir Science Awardee is
selected by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia through an exhaustive
vetting exercise. The selection of candidates is based on the
candidate’s scientific breakthroughs, the originality of each
candidate’s achievements, the impact of candidate’s achievements,
including future impact and its significance in solving the problems of
the tropics by improving the quality of life and contributing to the
region’s prosperity.
Selection Criteria (as of 19 July 2016):
- Significant research & studies contributing to new knowledge in solving problems in the tropics
- Demonstrable evidence of significant socio and societal impact
- Contribution to policy and governance leading to sustainable improvement to quality of life
- National, regional and international recognition (to consider whether same work nominated has previously been recognised)
- H-index or equivalent
Moreinfo: http://www.msa-foundation.org
