Executive Director of MABIC; Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Wins the Prestigious TWAS Prizes for Public Understanding and Popularization of Science
Mahaletchumy Arujanan or as she is known for her friends and colleagues “Maha” is executive director of the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC). Maha is recognized for her role in promoting the benefits of the public understanding of science to scientific institutions and social and academic communities in terms of human capital development, public acceptance of biotechnology research and its products, formulation of balanced policies and regulatory frameworks, and balanced media reporting in Malaysia.
Mahaletchumy Arujanan or as she is known for her friends and colleagues "Maha" is executive director of the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC). Maha is recognized for her role in promoting the benefits of the public understanding of science to scientific institutions and social and academic communities in terms of human capital development, public acceptance of biotechnology research and its products, formulation of balanced policies and regulatory frameworks, and balanced media reporting in Malaysia. Most Malaysian institutions have not been aware of how public understanding of science can impact research and development, human capital development, public acceptance of new technology and policy development. With Mahas involvement, more than 50 scientific institutions have been engaged in public understanding of science. These institutions, including universities, research institutes, government agencies, and ministries, have taken a more active role in public understanding of science. The role played by Arujanan also led these institutions to work together to create a bigger impact and reach out to a larger audience. Maha has also single-handedly built MABIC from an unknown centre to a globally renowned biotechnology information. He was the first person to organize hands-on biotechnology workshops for teachers with support from the Ministry of Education and has involved Islamic scholars in discussions regarding new technologies and the central role that social acceptance of these technologies has in advancing their applications. To date, Maha is the only science communicator in Malaysia who conducts media workshop to ensure journalists have some basic understanding of biotechnology. Through her work, Mahaletchumy Arujanan has reached scientists, policy makers, industry, media, students, religious leaders, teachers, investors, and regulators.
Maha has an excellent collaboration with Iran Biotechnology Information Center (IRBIC) and has made a major role in its initiation. IRBIC wishes to congratulate Maha and the Biotechnology Information Center (BIC) family for this achievement.