MICEMS Inauguration

Today (10 March 2016) was a big day for INSPEM. After a few years of planning, we have managed to officially launch the Malaysia-Italy Centre of Excellence for Mathematical Sciences. Below are some pics (more pics can be found at https://www.facebook.com/inspem.upm.1/media_set?set=a.1747368525484148.1073741931.100006330514104&type=3).

UPM Vice-Chancellor giving welcoming remarks

The Deputy Minister of Higher Education Malaysia, giving her officiation speech

The token of endorsement from Italian government to Malaysia

Arrival of Italian Ambassador to INSPEM building

At INSPEM Gallery

Italian Ambassador officiates MICEMS office at INSPEM

The event went quite smoothly though there could have been some improvements. The planned press conference did not happen. I'm not sure what will appear in the press tomorrow but we did prepare a press release as follows:

"Recognising the importance of Mathematical Sciences and the expertise in Malaysia, the Italian government has given the endorsement to initiate Malaysia-Italy Centre of Excellence for Mathematical Sciences (MICEMS) at one of Malaysia’s research university, namely, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). This initiative will be spearheaded by the Institute for Mathematical Research in UPM and the Department of Mathematical Sciences in Politecnico di Torino, Italy. The Institute for Mathematical Research (INSPEM) at UPM was established since April, 2002 and has recently been awarded the status of Emerging Regional Centre of Excellence (EMS-ERCE) by European Mathematical Society (EMS). The Italian partner, Department of Mathematical Sciences “Giuseppe Luigi Lagrange” is based in the oldest technical university in Italy, which was founded in 1859. This university is well known due to its wide range of research alliances with industries throughout the whole world.

The MICEMS initiative is the first of its kind in Malaysia and it would focus on research and development in mathematical sciences like algebraic structures, functional analysis, mathematical physics, statistics and their applications in industries and societies at large e.g. cryptography, biomedical sciences and complex networks. The initiative will also open further opportunities for Italy to embark on a broader educational framework in Malaysia.

The MICEMS initiative was officiated by YB Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Malaysia at UPM on 10 March 2016. The ceremony was attended by UPM’s Vice-Chancellor Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini Ideris and The Italian Ambassador to Malaysia, His Excellency, Mr. Mario Sammartino, together with high ranking officials of the university and research leaders of Malaysian community of mathematical scientists. This event signifies the importance of the MICEMS initiative undertaken by UPM, to both Malaysia and Italy."

The event is very much done to mark as official recognition of the centre by governments of both countries. Next, is the real work - living up to its name. Busy years ahead and pray that the centre be a great success.