IUTAM Vice President visits ICSU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Left to right: Zaneedar, Azmin, Roslinda, Salmi, Keith and Nordin.
The Vice President of the International Union for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM), Emeritus Professor Keith Moffat ( University of Cambridge ), visited the ICSU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) on 10 December 2007. In conjunction with the visit, a dialogue on enhancing international scientific collaboration in the field of theoretical and applied mechanics was held amongst ICSU, IUTAM, the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) and the Malaysian Mathematical Science Society (PERSAMA). In attendance were the President of PERSAMA, Professor Mohd Salmi Md. Noorani (National University of Malaysia - UKM), members of the Society Dr Roslinda Nazar (UKM) and Azmin Sham Rambely (UKM). The Director of ICSU ROAP Nordin Hasan, who also represented the ASM moderated the dialogue. Also in attendance was Zaneedar Norman (ICSU ROAP).
IUTAM organizes 7 to 8 symposia annually at various locations around the world; an average of one “Summer School” per year; and its General Assembly which is held biennially. A major event held once every four years is the International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ICTAM). The XXII congress will take place in Adelaide , Australia on 24 - 30 August 2008 (see http://ictam2008.adelaide.edu.au/ ).
The dialogue included discussions on how to further enhance the participation of the mechanics community in Malaysia in research at the international level. This included possible participation of Malaysian scientists in activities organized by IUTAM within the ICSU priority area "Natural and human-induced hazards and disasters", focusing on the mechanics (fluid and solid) of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and tsunamis, and on problems of pollution (ocean, atmosphere, and urban). IUTAM plans to hold a Summer School and/or Workshop in early in 2009 on "Mechanics of Ocean and Atmosphere in relation to Environmental Hazards", which would have both educational and research objectives. The proposed host is the National University of Singapore (NUS), Institute for Mathematical Sciences (IMS). Possible IUTAM membership of PERSAMA through assistance from ASM was also discussed.
