Page 24 - Science@UM365Dec2020

WAN AZRIN IZANI BIN WAN MOHD ZAIN
BSC IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY STUDIES, 2003
PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
HEALTH EDUCATION DIVISION, MINISTRY OF HEALTH
I am responsible for coordinating and monitoring the quit smoking services
(behaviour modification) in hospitals and health clinics under the MOH.
Besides, the MOH also offers Quitline Service (Counselling for Smoking
Cessation) which comes under my supervision. My section is also tasked to
implement the plan of action and mobilize the NGOs in the anti-smoking
advocacy program to the public.
My ultimate dream is to spread the notion that science and technology can be harnessed for humanitarian
and environment causes towards the betterment of this world. The most impactful experience in university
was to be part of the 'family' of the Department of Science and Technology Studies. The department still
invites me to relate my experience and share my ideas to continue improving the teaching of S&T. Other
than academic learning, I actively participated in student activities especially those related to disabilities
and community outreach projects. Those two, among others shape my world view. I am very fortunate to be
among the disciples of esteemed scholars such as Datuk Prof. Azizan Baharuddin, Prof. Hazim Murad, Dr. K.
Thiruchelvam and many others who I am unable to list here. The varsity is blessed with great thinkers and
academicians, of whom I was able to attend talks, discourses or fora as well as enjoy their writings where
their ideas and knowledge were shared with all.

DR. P. RAJESH KUMAR
BSC IN PHYSICS, 1994; MSC, 1998; PHD, 2016
SENIOR LECTURER
OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA
I am currently the program director for the PhD (Science) programme at Open
University Malaysia (OUM). My passion lies in teaching physics. I believe it is a
great waste of "resource” if that repository of knowledge that resides within
us is not shared with our students. After all, knowledge is power. So, it is
within our power to disseminate that knowledge, empower our students and
make a positive impact on their lives. And one way of doing that is through
teaching. The most inspiring experience I had in the Faculty was meeting a
small group of like-minded physics students who were "gung ho" about doing
a very challenging 10 week final year undergraduate project entitled
"Feynman diagrams" under the supervision of the late Professor S.P. Chia.
Only later did I find out who this Richard Feynman was! I never realized at
that time that this final year project would trigger my interest in theoretical
physics and inspire me to further my studies.

PATRICK CHEANG ZHI CHIAN
BSC IN APPLIED CHEMISTRY, 2017
MANAGER
DIGITAL BANKING, ALLIANCE BANK
I am currently a project manager in a local commercial bank, managing the
internet and mobile banking platforms for day-to-day retail transactions.
Handling projects is my bread-and-butter, and they range from short projects
spanning 2-3 weeks for end-to-end deliveries, to big projects that will take 1
year to fruition. As cliché as it sounds, my passion is to speak to individuals
from different backgrounds and listen to their journeys and experiences. There
is nothing more satisfying than to have my thoughts broadened by the
different opinions of others.
Being a member of the English debating society, I have had the privilege of representing Universiti Malaya in
travelling to more than 10 countries across 3 continents, and to meet debaters from different institutions. No
experience will ever be more memorable than taking an Inorganic Chemistry 2 paper at 3pm, and then
reaching Puncak Alam at 5.30pm to represent UM in the World Universities Debating Championship, the
largest inter varsity debating tournament in the world. I am most inspired by a moment I shared with AP Dr.
Cheng Sit Foon. I was in my second year and was struggling to juggle between my studies and debating, so I
sought Dr. Cheng’s advice after one of her lectures. She told me that regardless of what other people think, it
is me who best understand what I want and where my passion lies. She told me that the university is where
all young adults learn to juggle different activities, and with enough determination, everybody can do well. I
ended up getting an A in Food Chemistry that semester.

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