DIRECTOR OF IBNU SINA INSTITUTE SINCE 1997
Prof.Dr.Mohamad Rashidi Md Razali (1997 – 1990) | Prof.Dr.Halimaton Hamdan (2000 – 2006) | Prof.Dr.Mohd Marsin Sanagi (2007 – 2011) | Prof.Dr.Mustaffa Shamsuddin (2011 – 2015) | Prof.Dr.Mohd Marsin Sanagi (2015 – 2016) | Prof.Dr.Abdull Rahim Mohd Yusoff (2016 – 2018) | Prof.Dr.Hadi Nur (2018 – 2022) | Assoc.Prof.ChM.Ts.Dr.Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek (2022 – Present)
IBNU SINA INSTITUTE SINCE 1997
Since our institute was founded in 1997, we have made history. Our history is rich and inspiring. Immerse yourself in our past and see into our future. You can see our memories and progress through this old website.
Ibnu Sina Institute 1997 – present: Chronicle
bnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (ISI-SIR) was founded in 1997, and we have made history. At ISI-SIR, expanding the boundaries of knowledge through a genuinely multidisciplinary endeavour across the mathematical, phisical, and social sciences to technologies and the humanities is a noble task to contribute to society on a national and global scale, thus creating the future. The staff and student of ISI-SIR look forward to seeing how things work and inspired to make them work better. Our philosophy and strategic planning are to encourage real-world engagement and appreciation for the ISI-SIR entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Chronicle
24 APRIL 1997
Beginnings
A beginnings working paper was submitted to the Executive Committee, UTM by the Office of Corporate Affairs to establish an interdisciplinary research institute in fundamental sciences. Ten potential research areas have been listed in working paper ranging from Astronomical Science, Theoretical and Condensed Matter Physics, Catalyst Study, Nuclear Physics, Acoustic and Optical Physics, Solid State Physics, Genetic & Molecular Biology, Materials Science, Computational Mathematics & Statistics. However, there was one research area added to it handwritten (most possibility during the meeting) which was History and Philosophy of Science. In the end of the working paper, it was suggested that naming the institute as “Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies (IIS)” in honor of Abu Ali Al Huysayn Ibn Abd Allah Ibnu Sina (Avicenna) (980-1037), one of the foremost philosophers and scientists in the Medieval Hellenistic Islamic tradition. Ibnu Sina’s achievements as a scientist and philosopher are without parallel. He wrote two most famous works, the Kitab ash-shifa (“Book of Healing”) and the al-Qanun fi at-tibb (“Canon of Medicine”). It is also proposed that the Institute will be put under management of Faculty of Science. Faculty also plays a role to coordinate human resource development and scientific instruments at university level so that the institute can be act as interfaculty and interdisciplinary center. Subsequently, a proposal for organization structure and activities at Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies (IIS) was drafted. It first revealed that meeting of Executive Committee of the university which took place on 24 April 1997 was agreed to approve the establishment of Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies. Furthermore, the institute was responsible to coordinate and facilitate all fundamental science researches at UTM. It also suggested that the organizational structure consists of Director, Deputy Director and four laboratories coordinators.
7 MAY 1997
First Meeting
First letter issued calling for the first meeting of the committee to establish Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies (IIS) chaired by the Deputy Dean of Faculty of Science, Prof. Dr. Mohamad Rashidi Md. Razali. It really shows that our IIS ‘forefather’ always feels the importance of the element of ‘philosophy of science’ for the institute by inviting staff from Centre for Islamic Studies and Social Development for its first meeting.
20 MAY 1997
A Memo
A memo was received from Centre for Islamic Studies and Social Development which listed seven of their staff who supposed to work in History, Philosophical Science and Technology at Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies.
1 JUNE 1997
First Meeting
Prof. Dr. Mohamad Rashidi Md Razali was appointed as the first Director of Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies (IIS).
11 JUNE 1997
Einstein Laboratory
Einstein Gravitational-Wave Laboratory meeting on Einstein Laboratory and research on gravitational wave took place at Vice-Chancellor Office. The Chairman of the meeting (Datuk Dr. Ahmad Zaharudin Idrus, Vice-Chancellor of UTM) asked IIS to appoint internationally renowned visiting scientists, visiting professors and contract professors. Einstein Laboratory and gravitational wave research was the backbone of IIS.
14 JUNE 1997
Laser Interferometer
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) received 100-m DL laser interferometer (TENKO-100) for gravitational wave detection which worth RM 16 million from Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciences (ISAS), Japan.
19 JUNE 1997
Contract Professors
UTM appointed three contract professors under three different faculties to work with IIS. Prof. Nizar M. Sharif (Faculty of Computer Science and Information System), Prof. Liping Xu (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering) and Prof. Sergei Tochitsky Yakovlevich (Faculty of Science). Following the meeting on the 11 June 2007 grand support from the University to IIS was in place.
20 JUNE 1997
Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak
The Einstein Laboratory was officially inaugurated at Dewan Sultan Iskandar by Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Minister of Education of Malaysia. In the speech, UTM was challenged by the minister to develop progressive scientific society, the society which not only able to use technology but also to the advancement of scientific culture and advanced technology.
9 JULY 1997
Approval
A letter from Registrar Office to Dean of Faculty of Science, UTM, Prof. Dr. Azhari Salleh informed that the Board of Directors of UTM approved the establishment of Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies (IIS).
23 JULY 1997
Prof.Dr Nobuki Kawashima
Appointment of Prof. Dr. Nobuki Kawashima from Kinki University as a Visiting Professor at IIS from 7-19 August 1997. Prof. Dr. Kawashima was the first visiting professor at IIS.
12 SEPTEMBER 1997
Block P02
IIS temporarily operated at Level 3, Block P02 (Block G), Faculty of Electrical Engineering, UTM.
1998
Prof.Dr Karsono Ahmad Dasuki
Appointment of Prof. Dr. Nobuki Kawashima from Kinki University as a Visiting Professor at IIS from 7-19 August 1997. Prof. Dr. Kawashima was the first visiting professor at IIS.
2000
Prof.Dr.Halimaton Hamdan
Prof. Dr. Halimaton Hamdan was appointed as the third Director of Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies (IIS). Prof. Norddin Ibrahim, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustaffa Shamsuddin, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zuhaimy Ismail, and Prof. Dr. Samsudi Sakrani were appointed as Deputy Director, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics Program Chairmen, respectively.
2002
Equipments and Excellent Scientists Program
IIS received scientific instruments purchased worth RM 12 million under Islamic Development Bank loan. These pieces of equipment were located temporally at the Department of Chemistry and Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) at Technovation Park, UTM. First intake of the undergraduate program for Excellent Scientists Program (ESP) was in the Second Year, Semester 1 for 2002/2003 session. Research project Zeolites and Derivatives as Catalyst in the Synthesis of Specialty Fine Chemicals led by Prof. Dr. Halimaton Hamdan has been selected as one of the projects under Top-Down Intensified Research in Priority Area (IRPA) research grant. The project received an allocation of RM 11.5 million.
20 MAY 2003
The First Annual Fundamental Science Seminar
The First Annual Fundamental Science Seminar (AFSS) 2003 was held at The Puteri Pan Pacific Hotel, Johor Bahru. This year’s theme was “Towards the Enhancement of Fundamental Science Research”. The AFSS 2003 was dedicated to all aspects of fundamental science research, namely in the field of physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology.
August 2003
Hokkaido University
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Catalytis Research Centre, Hokkaido University. As part of an effort to bring research under Chemistry Program to the global scale, a Memorandum of Understanding with Catalytis Research Centre (CRC), Hokkaido University was formally signed in August 2003 to establish collaborative research in several areas of catalysis and solid state chemistry. The signing of the MoU followed the successful research visit to Hokkaido University in March 2002. The MoU covers the exchange of staff, researchers and graduate students working in the field of zeolite and derivatives as catalyst. The coordinator for CRC is Prof. Bunsho Ohtani, Head of the Laboratory of Catalytic Reaction Chemistry.
October 2003
New Building
IIS moved to a newly built building located on one of the hills surrounding the UTM campus in Skudai. IIS is a building of a central laboratory and administrative complex (approximately 4000 square meters). The complex of chemistry, physics, mathematics and biology laboratories, and administrative areas.
April 2004
Capital Instruments
The transfer of capital analytical instruments of Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies (IIS), such as solid-state and liquid NMR instruments, from the laboratory at Technovation Park, to the new IIS building in UTM main campus. Other physics and mathematics equipment were also successfully moved to the new IIS building.
14 JUNE 2004
Prof.Dr.Carl E.Wieman
The Annual Fundamental Science Seminar 2004 (AFSS 2004) was held at IIS building, in conjunction with the public lecture given by Prof. Carl E. Wieman (2001 Physics Nobel Laureate).
11 – 15 JUNE 2004
Annual Fundamental Science Seminar 2004
IIS successfully conducted two parallel events; the Annual Fundamental Science Seminar 2004 (AFSS 2004) and the first Youth Science Camp 2004 during IIS Science Week on 11-15 June 2004.
23 JULY 2004
Prof.Dr.Richard R.Ernst
Nobel Laureate Prof. Dr. Richard R. Ernst gave a public lecture entitled “NMR and its Nobel Glory” and afterward visited the Solid State Chemistry Laboratory. Prof. Dr. Richard R. Ernst visit is a part of his travel plan to Malaysia for the celebration of the Nobel Prize Centennial Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2004.
2004
Research Grant
Single Electron Transistors’ research program is one of the recent research proposals approved by The Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation under the Intensification Research Program Area (IRPA), 8th Malaysia Plan of strategic research category, with allocation of about RM 11.4 million. Basically the research comprises of a series of 6 projects incorporated into a big program according to an umbrella concept and aimed to produce a typical Single Electron Transistors. This program involves collaborations with Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Perlis.
2005
Appoinments
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wan Muhamad Saridan Wan Hassan, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdul Rahim Yacob were appointed as Physics and Chemistry Program Chairmen, respectively. Dr. Sugeng Triwahyono joined IIS as a lecturer under the chemistry program.
2005
Research Grant
Due to our excellent and efficient work during phase I, IIS was allocated another RM 6 million to purchase more research equipment under the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) loan.
17 -21 JUNE 2005
Youth Science Camp
IIS successfully organized the Youth Science Camp (YSC) 2005. The emphasis of the program for this year was on the importance of social values through scientific leadership and career.
4-5 JULY 2005
YA Dato’Sri Mohd Najb Tun Abdul Razak
Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies (IIS), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia conducted the Annual Fundamental Science Seminar 2005 (AFSS 2005), the third in a series of seminars which explore specific areas of fundamental science in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biosciences. The theme of AFSS 2005, “Nurturing Nanotechnology through fundamental science research” is in line with the current national activities on forming the National Nanotechnology Initiatives. In conjunction with AFSS 2005, IIS is hosting the Malaysian Nanotechnology Forum 2005 (MNF 2005) and the Asian Nano Forum 2005 (ANF 2005) Steering Committee Meeting. (MNF 2005) and the Asian Nano Forum 2005 (ANF 2005) Steering Committee Meeting. The IIS building and all these important events were officiated by YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. The presence of YAB Dato’ Sri indicates a strong supports of the Malaysian Government towards the development of scientific research in Malaysia.
8-7 JUNE 2006
Annual Fundamental Science Seminar 2006
Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies successfully conducted the Annual Fundamental Science Seminar 2006 (AFSS 2006). The seminar, as usual, dealt with very varied subjects of fundamental sciences but more towards advance and complementary scopes presented by the distinguished scientists and experts as they will share their vast experiences and possible interest during discussions.
16-20 JUNE 2006
Youth Science Camp
IIS successfully organized the Youth Science Camp (YSC) 2006.
16 AUGUST 2006
Prof.Dr.Samsudi Sakrani
Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies (IIS) announced the appointment of Prof. Dr. Samsudi Sakrani as the new Director of IIS. He succeeded the former Director, Prof. Dr. Halimaton Hamdan who reached the end of her term of appointment on 31 July 2006.
2007
Appointments
Prof. Dr. Mohd Marsin Sanagi was appointed as the Director of Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies, UTM to succeed Prof. Dr. Samsudi Sakrani who was promoted as Dean, Faculty of Science. Prof. Dr. Yussof Wahab, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tahir Ahmad and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Radzi Mat Isa were appointed as Deputy Director, Mathematics Program Chairman and Physics Program Chairman, respectively.
28-30 MAY 2007
Regional Fundamental Science Seminar 2007
Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies successfully conducted the Regional Fundamental Science Seminar 2007 (RAFSS 2007) 2nd and 2 International Conference on Mathematical Sciences 2007 (ICOMs 2007) on 28-29 May 2007. This joint seminar was attended by about 400 participants. There were more than 40 participants from abroad.
19 JUNE 2007
Youth Science Camp
IIS successfully organized the 4th Youth Science Camp (YSC) 2007.
15 MARCH 2011
Prof.Dr.Mustaffa Shamsuddin
Prof. Dr. Mustaffa Shamsuddin was appointed as the Director of Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies, UTM to succeed Prof. Dr. Mohd Marsin Sanagi.
20-21 DECEMBER 2011
Regional Annual Fundamental Science Symposium 2011
Regional Annual Fundamental Science Symposium 2011 (RAFSS 2011) – 20 to 21 December 2011 – is the ninth in a series of interdisciplinary symposia devoted to all aspects of fundamental science research in the field of physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology organized by the Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Lectures will be given by invited eminent specialists. Prof. Norikazu Nishiyama (Osaka University) and Prof. Andrivo Rusydi (National University of Singapore) were invited to deliver the lectures. Prof. Nishiyama also gave scientific talks at our institute.
10-12 DECEMBER 2012
Regional Annual Fundamental Science Symposium 2012
The Regional Annual Fundamental Science Symposium 2012 (RAFSS 2012) has been successfully held in Persada Johor International Convention Centre, Johor Bahru, and is also due to the support of Profs. Yasuhiro Shiraishi, Tadao Nagatsuma and Massaki Ashida from Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, and Prof. Hisao Yoshida from Nagoya University. These professors also gave scientific talks at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
3 – 5 SEPTEMBER 2013
International Conference and Workshop on Basic and Applied Sciences
IIS successfully organised 4th International Conference and Workshop on Basic and Applied Sciences (4th ICOWOBAS) and Regional Annual Fundamental Science Symposium 2013 (RAFSS 2013). 4th ICOWOBAS and RAFSS 2013 were a series of interdisciplinary conferences and workshops devoted to all aspects of science and mathematics, namely the field of physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology. It is jointly organized by the Faculty of Science (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia), Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia), Universitas Airlangga (Surabaya, Indonesia) and Salahaddin University (Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan).
8-11 SEPTEMBER 2014
Regional Annual Fundamental Science Symposium 2014
IIS successfully organized the Regional Annual Fundamental Science Symposium 2014 (RAFSS 2014).
15 FEBRUARY 2015
Restructuring of the Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies
In 2015, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) radically restructured its research centres organisations with the aim of its further development in the response to changing university needs. To facilitate research and operational activities, the Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies (IIS) was renamed to Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (ISI-SIR). Prof. Dr. Mohd Marsin Sanagi was appointed as the Senior Director of ISI-SIR.
Prof.Dr.Hadi Nur
Prof. Dr. Hadi Nur has been appointed by the university as Director of Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials, Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research.
23 FEBRUARY 2016
Prof.Dr. Abdull Rahim Mohd Yusoff
Prof. Dr. Abdull Rahim Mohd Yusoff was appointed as the Senior Director of ISI-SIR to succeed Prof. Dr. Mohd Marsin Sanagi.
18 MAY 2016
Indonesia-Malaysia Research Consortium (I’MRC)
Ibnu Sina Institute is the secretariat for I’M Research Consortium (Indonesia-Malaysia Research Consortium). I’M Research Consortium is the Indonesia-Malaysia network of research-intensive universities and institution, working together to foster institutional innovation through research-inspired teaching and learning, student mobility, connecting our students and staff, and wider advocacy for internationalisation.
I OCTOBER 2018
Prof.Dr. Hadi Nur
Prof. Dr. Hadi Nur was appointed as the Institute Director of ISI-SIR to succeed Prof. Dr. Abdull Rahim Mohd Yusoff who was promoted as Dean, Faculty of Science. Building on an excellent foundation, Ibnu Sina Institute is now driven by six Research Centres that merged to capitalise expertise that will substantially influence the society in the coming years.
25 OCTOBER 2018
CREAM 2018 Awards
The Malaysian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences (MJFAS), an official journal of ISI-SIR, is the recipient of Current Research in Malaysia (CREAM 2018) Awards by the Ministry of Education Malaysia. CREAM Awards are accorded to scholarly journals published by Malaysian academic publishers showing high performance on publications based on identified criteria outlined by the Malaysian Citation Centre.
JANUARY 2020
Temporary Office
The office of Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (ISI-SIR) and Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials (CSNano) temporarily moved to Block T02 building.
11 MARCH 2020
2020 Strategic Planning
Strategic planning is an organisation’s process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy. Based on this definition, ISI-SIR has released 2020 strategic planning based on six founding principles.