Indonesia, 23 June 2019 – The ASEAN Foundation with support from ASEAN, the U.S. Government through the United StatesAgency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Mission to ASEAN is pleased to announce 17 scientists from the ten ASEAN Member States as 2019/2020 ASEAN Science and Technology (S&T) Fellows. The fellows were selected for their track record of achievements and potential to advance evidence-based policy-making in ASEAN.

The ASEAN S&T Fellowship provides opportunities for early- and mid-career scientists from ASEAN Member States to apply their knowledge and analytical skills to solving public policy challenges. Fellows are embedded in line ministries or other agencies within their home countries for a year to boost these agencies’ technical capacity to make informed, data-driven policy decisions to address intractable issues facing the region. Fellows will devote their time, knowledge and skills to encourage policymakers to use more science-based approaches in their policy- and decision-making. The programme supports the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation 2016-2025 by highlighting its three priorities as programme themes, namely Digital Economy, Innovative Startups and Science, Technology and Innovation for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The 17 fellows were selected after going through a competitive selection process involving experts from the ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Secretariat’s Science and Technology Division, USAID and the U.S. Mission to ASEAN. The fellows will begin their one-year journey from attending an orientation, participation to the ASEAN Senior Official Meeting and Capacity Development workshop from 23 – 30 June 2019 in Bali, Indonesia.

We are proud to present the fellows of the 2019/2020 ASEAN S&T Fellowship:  

Dr. Wida Susanty Haji Suhaili (Brunei Darussalam)

Dr. Suhaili holds the assistant professor position at the School of Computing and Informatics at the Universiti Teknologi Brunei. Through the ASEAN S&T Fellowship, Dr. Suhaili will focus on the formulation of policy creation guideline on various science, technology and innovation issues in paddy plantation sector.

Dr. Tan Reasmey (Cambodia)

Dr. Reasmey is currently the Head of Food Technology and Nutrition Research Unit of Institute of Technology of Cambodia. As an ASEAN S&T Fellow, Dr. Reasmey will work with the National Science and Technology Council of the Ministry of Planning of Cambodia to apply scientific-based inputs in policy-making process in S&T council and to promote a more cross-sectoral approach for evidence-based policy-making across Cambodia.

Dr. Sarot Srang (Cambodia)

As the Head Research Unit of Mechatronics and Information Technology of Institute of Technology of Cambodia, Dr. Srang is currently managing the creation of a new master programme on Intelligent Mechatronics. He has become involved in the techno startup center and is currently establishing a science, technology and innovation hub.

Dr. Himawan Tri Bayu Murti Petrus (Indonesia)

As a faculty member of the Department of Chemical Engineering of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Dr. Petrus has deep commitment to the development of more environmentally friendly mineral processing in Indonesia. Under the ASEAN S&T Fellowship programme, Dr. Himawan will focus on the comprehensive management plan for residuals produced during the combustion of coal.

Dr. Sengpasith Houngaloune (Lao PDR)

As a lecturer of the Mining Engineering Department of National University of Laos, Dr. Houngaloune has done researches on environmental issues in mining sector. Under the ASEAN S&T Fellowship, Dr. Sengpasith Houngaloune will focus on Science, Technology and Innovation  for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and will look to improve relevant national policies in Laos. 

Dr. Keophousone Phonhalath (Lao PDR)

Dr. Phonhalath has over a decade of experience managing research programmes on diverse topics such as groundwater contaminant movement, groundwater flow system, environmental impact assessment, and environmental management and monitoring plans. As an ASEAN Science and Technology Fellow, she will focus on science, technology and innovation policy particularly for solid waste management.

Dr. Norhayati Abdullah (Malaysia)

Dr. Abdullah is the Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering of the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. As an ASEAN S&T Fellow, she will focus on the policy for science, technology and innovation for water management, which will include the mechanisms of water management policy and technology development.

Dr. Zar Zar Wint (Myanmar)

Dr. Wint is currently serving as a professor and researcher at the Mandalay Technological University where she teaches courses on machine learning and programming. As an ASEAN S&T Fellow, Dr. Wint will work with the Department of Monitoring and Evaluation of Ministry of Education.

Dr. Myo Thida (Myanmar)

Dr. Thida has served as a consultant for EU and UNESCO and provided research and consultation services to the Ministry of Education. As an ASEAN S&T Fellow, Dr. Thida will work with the Department of Research and Innovation to develop strategic plan for science, technology and innovation policy in Myanmar to promote policy-making process that is based on scientific evidence and encourage technological innovation.

Dr. Thanda Shwe (Myanmar)

Dr. Shwe holds the position of a professor at the Department of Computer Engineering and Information Technology of Mandalay Technological University. As an ASEAN S&T Fellow, Dr. Thanda Shwe will work with the Department of Information Technology and Cyber Security of Ministry of Transport and Communications to review and analyze the existing security regulations for mobile payment solutions.

Dr. Neil Stephen Lopez (The Philippines)

Dr. Lopez is currently serving as the Assistant Professor and Vice Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department of De La Salle University. His researches focus primarily on energy economics, transportation assessment and policy.

Dr. Pierangeli G. Vital (The Philippines)

Dr. Vital is currently serving as the Head of the Biological Research and Services Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research Institute of University of the Philippines Diliman. As an ASEAN S&T Fellow, she will analyze and develop recommendations on policies and standards related to food safety and renewable energy using microorganisms.

Dr. Nguyen Van Huy (Viet Nam)

Dr. Huy is a lecturer at the Faculty of Fisheries of University of Agriculture and Forestry. As an ASEAN S&T Fellow, Dr. Nguyen Van Huy will conduct researches on the development of aquaculture models in order to adapt to climate change through environmental management in the Tam Giang lagoon.

Dr Nam Hoai Nguyen (Viet Nam)

As a senior researcher at the IES Center for Sustainable Energy Research at the VAST Institute of Energy Science, Dr. Nguyen’s focus in on integrated energy planning and energy-economic-climate models. As an ASEAN S&T Fellow, Dr. Nam Hoai Nguyen will draft a policy brief and study on contribution on emission reductions from energy sector which is essential for national and regional climate mitigation agenda and actions.

For more information about the ASEAN Science and Technology Fellowship 2019, please visit https://aseanstfellowship.aseanfoundation.org/

For further questions, please address it to [email protected]

Also, click here to check out the list of the recipients of ASEAN Science and Technology Fellowship and their achievements since 2014.