Putting humanity into science
TWO-time Nobel laureate Marie Curie once said at the Vassar College in New York: "We must not forget that when radium was discovered no one knew that it would prove useful in hospitals. The work was one of pure science.
"It must be done for itself, for the beauty of science, and then there is always the chance that a scientific discovery may become like the radium a benefit for humanity."
In a similar vein, this is exactly what UMT is trying to achieve as an institution through the individuals it produces.
The responsibility now lies with vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Sulaiman Md Yassin, who continues to inject humanity into science.
Previously, scientific projects were carried out for the benefit of the environment.
These included a joint effort with Aquaria KLCC to showcase efforts in saving the green and hawksbill turtles on Pulau Redang. The project also saw the university buying river terrapin eggs from collectors around the Sungai Setiu as well as monitoring the nesting sites of river terrapins in Sungai Dungun.
In 2001, their turtle conservation project was recognised by the United Nations Environment Programme, while last year, project leader Prof Chan Eng Heng was listed in UNEP's "Who's Who of Women and the Environment".
Apart from environmental projects, the former Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia (KUSTEM) has also won accolades for its inventions.
Last year, giving science a human face took on a somewhat literal meaning.
Developed by computer science student, Ibrahim Venkat, "Intelliface" or "An Intelligent Face Recognition System to Recognise Highly Occluded Face" identifies a person who was sheltered from a high angle.
The system works by using clues from the original picture and matching them with a digital picture which is stored in the system. The invention won a gold medal and a special award from the Korean Association School of Invention in Seoul at the International Invention Fair in December.
"One cannot neglect arts and humanities. Science without humanity is nothing. The human element is very important."
For Sulaiman, combining science and technology with humanity is also the Eastern way of life. Intuition is a vital key in the East, while Western teachings tend to lean on logic.
But a point will come when logic will not be able to explain certain things.
"Yet, the answer may lie in an indigenous culture which we have overlooked," he said.
Using nuclear technology as an example, Sulaiman says humanising science will ensure that it is used for the greater good and in this case, to create energy and not bombs.
This is why he is not discounting the possibility of introducing a social science course in future.
Taking cue from another Nobel prize winner, Dr Abdus Salam of Pakistan, Dr Sulaiman says: "We have to ensure that science does not fall into irresponsible hands.
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