JAKARTA, 11 October 2024– Professor Yeng Ming Lam (Singapore) and Dr. Daphne Teck Ching Lai (Brunei Darussalam) are this year’s winners of the prestigious 10th annual UL Research Institutes-ASEAN-U.S. Science Prize for Women. The ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and UL Research Institutes organised the prize, which this year focused on “Climate Resilience and Adaptation” and garnered an impressive 100 applications.
The Science Prize began in 2014 and has become a prestigious platform for empowering women scientists across the ASEAN region. Over the past decade, the prize has inspired and recognised women who are tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges and making significant contributions to regional development and global sustainability.
The prize recognises Professor Yeng Ming Lam for her work in developing advanced nanostructured functional materials, nanogels, from plant waste that significantly enhance soil water retention and productivity, transforming non-arable lands into fertile grounds and promoting efficient water usage in sandy soils. Similarly, Dr. Daphne Teck Ching Lai won the prize for her work in applying data science and artificial intelligence to domains relating to climate resilience and adaptation such as forest monitoring, water quality analysis and green energy. They will each receive US$ 12,500. Prof. Dr. Ir. Lariyah Mohd Sidek and Dr. Go Yun Ii, both from Malaysia, won Honorable Mention recognition for their work in advancing technology in dam safety and community-based resilience and enabling and emerging technological advancements for energy transition towards net-zero carbon emission, respectively. The Honorable Mention recipients will receive US$ 5,000 each.
“Congratulations to all the winners,” said ASEAN COSTI Chair Dr. Hul Seingheng. “We are excited to celebrate the 10th year of the UL Research Institutes-ASEAN-U.S. Science Prize for Women, which continues to highlight the invaluable contributions of ASEAN women scientists. Their work plays a crucial role in fostering climate resilience and adaptation in the region.”
“We are proud of our 10-year partnership with ASEAN COSTI and USAID, and our shared history of supporting and recognizing the extraordinary contributions of women in science,” saidChris Cramer, Interim President and Chief Research Officer at UL Research Institutes. “Congratulations toall the winners and honorable mentions for their work that will benefit their region and the global community.”
“Congratulations to these exceptional scientists whose winning innovative solutions will advance ASEAN’s efforts to combat climate change,” said Kate Rebholz, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to ASEAN. “The U.S. government is proud to support women in science, particularly as we celebrate the milestone 10th anniversary of the UL Research Institutes-ASEAN-U.S. Science Prize for Women.”
ASEAN and the U.S. Government, working with COSTI and nonprofit organization UL Research Institutes, respectively, continue to annually recognize and support the professional achievements of women in science across the ASEAN region. Over the past decade, nearly 500 participants from all 10 ASEAN Member States have competed in this prestigious award, inspiring future generations of women scientists to contribute to the global effort to address climate change.
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For additional information, contact USAID/ASEAN Office at: jakartausaidasean@usaid.gov
Detailed information on this year’s winner, each national finalists and next year’s competition is available at: http://scienceprize4women.asean.org
