Dr. Mohd Sukor Su’ait has been nominated by The Young Scientist Network – Academy of Science Malaysia (YSN-ASM) to attend Science at the Shine Dome with the theme “Power Up Australia, the sustainable way” by The Australian Academy of Science and EMRC workshop by The Australian Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Forum (EMCR FORUM), The Australian Academy of Science on 28th to 30th May 2019. Dr. Mohd Sukor Su’ait is currently a Research Fellow at Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and chair for science communication working group of YSN-ASM.
Science at the Shine Dome is an important Academy’s flagship event by The Australian Academy of Science to reward top Australian researchers. The young researchers were selected by The Australian Academy of Science to represent ASEAN countries for attending the program. As research environment in Australia had diverse culture and came from various ethnic backgrounds, it’s provides a global platform especially for early and mid-career researchers like me. The event brought hundreds of scientists and experts from all over Australia to meet, network and most importantly to highlight the most recent findings in energy research and as an appreciation event to the most significant figure in their scientific career. It is not too much to say that this is a Noble Laureates event of Australian. The sustainable energy topics had been comprehensively covered in three days event, including my scientific interests related to the energy conversion and storage application. I found that the theme of this event is very much correlated and most benefited to current research in Malaysia. Most importantly to the development of the scientific knowledge as well as soft-skills of the attendees.
Science at the Shine Dome by The Australian Academy of Science
From the beginning of the program, we were exposes to the future research trends by the invited talks and keynote Addresses. As for myself, I am able to meet the experts and had extended discussion in order to exchange the knowledge and opinions. Thus, Science at the Shine Dome had given me with invaluable experiences and open a wide opportunities to be linked with global researchers. The event helps me to meet and linked to various researchers in Australia. I know Dr. Tim Doherty, a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Deakin University in Melbourne since day one of the event. Surprisingly, on the third day I just known that he is one of the recipient of Environmental Science Fellowship. He work in the fields of disturbance ecology and ecosystem management, specifically on the impact of invasive predators on biodiversity in Australia especially on the behavioural and population-level of native species. During gala dinner, I seat next to Ms. Anita Perkins, as well a recipient of Environmental Science Fellowship. She told me that it’s not easy to convince the experts on the new ideas and finding from her work. Thus, this awards is a big recognition for her to pursue and convincing her ideas. She plans to “close the gap” regarding how terrestrial and marine carbon cycles interact and how fungi contribute to this interaction. On the other hands, I shared the same passion with the colleague next to me during gala dinner. Dr. Adam, a biologist loves to travel and fishing. We had exchange our travelling experiences and tips to some remote location like Van Viang in Lao PDR and few places in Italy.
Dr. Mohd Sukor Su’ait together with Professor Elaine Sadler, Foreign Secretary - The Australian Academy of Science and Professor Hadiyanto from Airlangga University, Indonesia
I have an opportunity as well to exchange contact with Dr Alexie Papanicolaou and Dr Irene Suarez-Martinez, executive members of The Australian Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Forum (EMCR FORUM), The Australia Academy of Science. Together with the discussion is Ms. Sandra Gardam, Diversity and Inclusion Project Manager, The Australia Academy of Science whom initiated the meet up and Ms. Laura Navarro, Policy and Projects Coordinator, EMCR unit. I had present and shared the roles, structured and activities played by The Young Scientist Network – Academy of Science Malaysia (YSN-ASM) in Malaysia’s scientific landscape. They have send their interested to work together with YSN-ASM in future events.
Dr Irene Suarez-Martinez (on my right) and Dr Alexie Papanicolaou (on my left), tboth an executive member of The Australian Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Forum (EMCR FORUM), The Australia Academy of Science. Follow by Ms. Sandra Gardam, Diversity and Inclusion Project Manager, The Australia Academy of Science and Ms. Laura Navarro, Policy and Projects Coordinator, EMCR unit.
Our research group have a strong existing collaboration with two distinguished Australian Laureates, Professor Douglas MacFarlane, of Monash University and Professor Maria Forsyth of Deakin University. Anyhow, I don’t have that opportunity yet to be personally linked with these outstanding scientists in our field. At the events, I had a chance to meet and greet Associate Professor Dr. Jennifer Pringle, one of the team member within Professor Maria Forsyth’s group in Institute of Frontiers Materials, Deakin University. I believed that we had meet before in Geelong, Australia when both Australian fellows hosted polymer electrolytes symposium in 2014 and she became one of the co-chair for the conferences. On the other hands, I have found that the research area of Professor Kylie Catchpole is closely relevant to me and my colleagues interest in SERI on the topics of Silicon-Perovskite Tandem Solar Cell. Therefore, I would like to introduce them for future collaboration. I personally think that based on this mutual contact, personal network and recommendation will help the visibilities of our countryman especially the openness and opportunities given by the Australia to women young scientists. This including well-known fund for endeavour scholarship, APEC Women in Research Fellowship etc.
Science at the Shine Dome’s speaker, Associate Professor Dr. Jennifer Pringle, Institute of Frontiers Materials, Deakin University
A short discussion with Professor Kylie Catchpole during Q&A session after her speech on the first day of Science at the Shine Dome
A day visit to Energy Change Institute, Australia National University had opened my eye on how advanced research leads to high impact and industrial driven technology. With sophisticated instrument in Professor Kylie Catchpole’s Perovskite-Silicon Laboratory, I have no doubt that the quality and ground breakthrough research has done in her established facilities. More importantly, the facilities have been obtained by her outstanding grant’s proposal to various sources. Laboratory visit to Energy Change Institute, ANU as well has brought me to meet Dr. Hongjun Chen, Postdoctoral Fellow in Nanomaterials and Energy Storage. His research areas and expertise are more likely similar to me and we had shared a lot of common interest in materials for batteries, sensors and solar cells. I might say it’s not too much to say that our research areas complement each other’s since we focus on the energy security sector especially energy conversion and storage materials. We had exchanged our follow up emails and thoughts immediately right after the meet up in ANU.
A day visit to Energy Change Institute, Australia National University
Visit to Professor Kylie Catchpole’s Perovskite-Silicon Laboratory, Energy Change Institute,
Australia National University
I have found as well, Energy Change Institute, ANU are very closely relevant to my department, SERI. The following meeting with Dr. Joe Coventry has leads to very interesting discussion on solar thermal research. In SERI, one of the leading research group after photovoltaics research are solar thermal group. I have found Dr. Coventry expertise in high temperature solar thermal are crucial to be complemented with current solar thermal group in SERI. This opportunity given by Science at the Shine Dome has provide further platform and scientific statement to Australian Scientists that there is a rising young scientists in ASEAN that should not be eyes off. Therefore, this opportunity provided by Science at the Shine Dome is a dream came true for me to be able to personally introduce and network with among the most well-renowned scientists in Australia.
Dr. Hongjun Chen, Postdoctoral Fellow in Nanomaterials and Energy Storage, Energy Change Institute, Australia National University
High temperature solar thermal concentrator in Dr. Coventry’s Laboratory, Energy Change Institute, Australia National University
As a young scientist who is currently involve in the areas of renewable resources and energy materials, I am got inspired and amazed by the Fellows in their scientific findings and the appreciation given by The Academy. I am very glad that I had been chosen as one of selected participants for this prestigious event. This has motivated me more to work harder and pursue the academic excellent not only within academia, but extending the benefits to the communities, industries and finally contributes to the nation development. The joy of attending Science at the Shine Dome brings with it improvement and incremental growth in my approach to do things, in the broader manner to see things, and the beauty to witness research diversity.
Photograph session with Nancy, Director of International Programs and Awards, Australian Academy of Science
I would say that the event is alive and impactful because of the peoples whom contributed equally to the success of the events. No matter whom you are; the people of the academy, the awardees, the invitees, all have made this event alive with indescribable high communication, and interaction level between the attendees. As an invitee to this prestigious event organized by reputable organization like The Australian Academy of Science had influenced my scientific thinking, personal values, affects my academic merits and raise my profile. I have been seen as important public figure in my areas and my expertise is been acknowledged due to the recognition given by The Academy. Apart from inspiring young scientist, I found that the inclusion of EMCR workshop in Science at the Shine Dome is very beneficial and most benefited to the soft-skills development of young researchers. A big thanks to Nancy, Director of International Programs and Awards, Australian Academy of Science. Special thanks to Farhana, Sandra, Laura, and member of The Academy for your great hospitality and fruitful events. Not to forget, a highly appreciation to Academy of Science Malaysia (ASM) and The Young Scientist Network – Academy of Science Malaysia (YSN-ASM) for the nomination and your trust worth for me to represent our beloved nation.
More about Science at the Shine Dome 2019
https://www.science.org.au/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/academy-celebrates-great-australian-science-shine-dome
The Australian Academy of Science’s Press Release on June 26, 2019: Academy sponsors international EMCRs at Science at the Shine Dome
https://www.science.org.au/academy-newsletter/june-2019-128/academy-sponsors-international-emcrs-science-shine-dome