ACS Student Forum 2016

 

25 April 2016 - The American Chemical Society (ACS) is always concerned in preparing chemical practitioners whom of high quality to enter the future job markets. The society also helps the young members to seek for suitable career pathways right after their graduations. In line with the society’s mission, on the 23rd April 2016, the ACS-USM Student-Chapter and the School of Chemical Engineering had jointly organized a forum for the undergraduates under the theme, “Bridging the Gap between Industry and Chemical Graduates”, which took place at SERC Seminar Room, USM’s Engineering Campus.

This event was financially sponsored by the central ACS headquarters in America, under the ACS Corporation Associates Local Section Grant. The committee was led by Mr. Tai Ming Li under the advisory of Dr. Low Siew Chun, whom the ACS-USM advisor. More than 80 participants have joined this forum, including 18 delegates from the Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and USM’s School of Chemical Sciences. In conjunction with the forum, the US-based society has also taken the opportunity to present the “Salutes to Excellence” award to USM for the outstanding accomplishments and achievements of an organization that has made a positive impact on everyday life. The awards were received by Prof. Ahmad Zuhairi Abdullah representing the School of Chemical Engineering and Prof. Afidah Abdul Rahim as the Dean of the School of Chemical Sciences representing her department on behalf of the Universiti Sains Malaysia.

The School of Chemical Engineering would also like to thank Mr. Loh Tat Chuang from Penchem Technologies, Mr. Hong Jia Herh from Oryx Advanced Materials and Mr. Woo Muan Hoy from IOI Acidchem, for sharing with the participants their industrial experiences, and most importantly, for supporting the students’ activity under the ACS-USM Student-Chapter. It is also our pleasure to welcome USM alumni, Mr. Woo and Mr. Hong for again visiting us this year. The forum has apparently provided a platform for members and industrial experts to communicate and remove the gap between employers’ perception and expectation towards future employees of chemical industries in Malaysia. This was the first initiative undertaken by the ACS-USM Student-Chapter to facilitate an event that gathers and promotes communication between students, academics and industrial practicing experts in the country.

Text : Dr Low Siew Chun