Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, MTSF conducted two interview sessions under strict health Standard Operating Procedure to finalize the MTSF Awards and Grants for 2020. 29 candidates, comprising 3 Malaysian scientists, 12 young researchers and 14 Science educators were shortlisted from the 634 nominations received online for the interview.
Conducted over two days on 24th and 25th September 2020, the Selection and Examination Committees evaluated and judged the interviewees’ proposals and projects based on their scientific achievements, contributions and objectives. The following recipients were finally recommended to the MTSF Board for the 2020 MTSF Awards and Grants:
(a) Two winners for the “Science and Technology Award” in respect of their past scientific achievements. The award carries a monetary of RM30,000 each.
(b) Eleven researchers for the “Science & Technology Research Grants” pertaining to the proposed research projects. The grants is limited to RM60,000 each (including 5 to 10 grants from Toray Science Foundation, Japan worth Japanese Yen 5 million).
(c) Fourteen school teachers and educators for the “Science Education Award” in respect of their innovative science teaching methods. The prizes range from RM2,000 to RM6,000 each.
Taking into consideration the global Covid-19 pandemic and heeding the restrictions imposed by the Malaysian authorities under the prevailing Restricted Movement Control Order (RMCO), the Annual MTSF Prize Presentation Ceremony scheduled in December yearly will not be organized this year. Instead, the formal prize presentation for the Year 2020 recipients will be combined with that of Year 2021 Prize Presentation Ceremony scheduled in November/December 2021.