PETALING JAYA: Two Malaysians, who are experts in their respective fields, have been selected as fellows of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).

       A medical physicist from Universiti Malaya, Prof Dr Ng Kwan Hoong, as well as Prof Datuk Dr Wan Ramli Wan Daud, an expert in chemical engineering from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, received the good news on Monday in the form of letters from the Italy-based TWAS. Billed as the voice of science in the South, TWAS was set up for the advancement of science in developing countries, and supports sustainable prosperity through research, education, policy and diplomacy.

       TWAS was founded in 1983 by a group of distinguished scientists from the developing world under the leadership of Prof Mohammad Abdus Salam, a Pakistani physicist and Nobel laureate, with the belief that developing nations can address issues such as hunger, disease and poverty by building upon strengths in science and engineering.The appointments of Prof Ng and Prof Wan Ramli, which takes effect from Jan 1, 2022, were decided earlier this month.

       Prof Wan Ramli is renowned for his work in sustainable hydrogen fuel cell technology. He won the Merdeka Award in 2016 and was recognised last year as an outstanding academician who champions the use of the Malay language in science.In 2018, Prof Ng was honoured with the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Award by the International Organisation for Medical Physics for his work in medical physics.

       Last December, Prof Ng was among four recipients honoured with the Merdeka Award for their contribution towards a more sustainable Malaysia.

       He was also conferred the Outstanding Scholastic Achievement award for his educational and pioneering work towards advancing the fields of medical physics and radiation medicine in Malaysia.

       In the letters addressed to Prof Ng and Prof Wan Ramli, TWAS president Prof Mohamed HA Hassan said: “Your election is a clear indication of your outstanding contribution to science and its promotion in the developing world. We will be honoured to have you among our members.”When contacted, Prof Ng said: “I am delighted and honoured to be elected as a fellow of TWAS. I look forward to contributing more in advancing science for a sustainable, equitable and harmonious world.”

       Originally known as the Third World Academy of Sciences, TWAS had 42 elected fellows, nine of them Nobel laureates. The name was changed in 2004 to “The academy of sciences for the developing world” and then to its current form in 2012.

       TWAS now has 1,296 elected fellows consisting of some of the world’s most accomplished scientists and engineers from over 100 countries, 11 of them Nobel laureates.

       About 84% come from developing nations, while the rest are scientists from the developed world whose work has had a significant impact in the South.