Latest news with #RavigadeviSambanthamurthi
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Science
- Free Malaysia Today
From nature tables to UK's Royal Society: Ravigadevi's love for science
Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi will be officially inducted into UK's Royal Society as a Fellow on July 11. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle) PETALING JAYA : Turning 70 years old is an incredible milestone, but for Turning 70 years old is an incredible milestone, but for Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi , the occasion will be extra special. On July 11, two days before she celebrates her birthday, Ravigadevi will be officially inducted into UK's Royal Society as a Fellow, making history as the first Malaysian to receive the honour. As part of the ceremony, Ravigadevi, a scientific consultant with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), will sign the centuries-old Royal Society's Charter Book, which bears the signatures of scientific greats such as Charles Darwin, known for his theory of evolution. In a recent interview, FMT Lifestyle learnt more about the woman behind this remarkable achievement. Her love for science was sparked in part by a 'nature table' at her primary school, Convent Bukit Nanas. She said students were encouraged to bring items found in nature, display them, and explain them to their classmates. 'Everyone learns from it. And it was such a fun way of learning,' she recalled. Her passion for science deepened in secondary school where she developed a love for chemistry, an interest that would later shape her future career. To this today, Ravigadevi remembers the dedication of her teachers, especially her late chemistry teacher, Mrs Maniam. 'She played a key role in my love for chemistry. She really knew how to nurture a love for the subject. That's why I say teachers play such an important role in getting kids to appreciate a subject.' Ravigadevi has received numerous accolades throughout her career – and has even met theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author Stephen Hawking. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle) At home, education was a priority for her parents. 'They never pushed us, but they also told us, 'It's up to you what you want to do. We won't tell you to be a lawyer or a doctor – you decide. But what you do, you must do the best,' she said. And that's exactly what she did. Throughout her career, Ravigadevi led transformative research in oil palm biochemistry and genomics, recognising its importance to Malaysia's economy. She became the founding director of the advanced biotechnology and breeding centre at MPOB, and led the oil palm genome project, successfully deciphering the genetic blueprint of the crop. She also helmed the team that identified the Shell gene, a key determinant of oil yields, uncovering the epigenetic cause of an abnormality that could potentially reduce yields significantly. These breakthroughs were published in the science journal, 'Nature'. She has received numerous accolades including the 'Knight of the International Order of Merit of Inventors' by the International Federation of Inventors Association'; the 'Tan Sri Augustine Ong Lifetime Achievement Award for Inventions and Innovations in Oil Palm'; and the 'Intel Environment Laureate' distinction from the Tech Museum, US. Ravigadevi credits her research team at MPOB for helping conduct breakthrough oil palm research. (Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi pic) She is also immensely grateful to her research team at MPOB as well as those from Orion Genomics USA and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory who she worked with. 'We can be the best if we want to. We just need the right ecosystem to thrive. And I was just so blessed that I had the right ecosystem, both in terms of infrastructure and support from my bosses and team. 'In order to be a good leader, you must also be a good team player. You cannot be one and not the other,' she said. Teamwork was also instrumental in helping her balance the demands of career and family – this time, with her husband, whom she described as 'very, very supportive'. Ravigadevi also made it a point to introduce her three children to her work, sparking their curiosity from young. Today, they are carving their own paths in economics, biotechnology and law, having studied in Harvard and MIT. Ravigadevi with her husband, Dr Subramaniam Krishnan and son, Abhilaash Subramaniam. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle) Just like her parents, she has valued education, actively participating in the parent-teacher associations of her children's schools, focusing on the education portfolio. She has also given free tuition, including to students from low-income families. To younger women scientists in Malaysia, she shared: 'Dare to dream big. Dare to fail. Dream – that's very, very important. Please don't ever stop that. Don't ever think you can't do it. Don't let anybody else define your limits. 'But at the same time, be grounded in good science. You have to get your basics right. And go do it. You can do it. We need you. We need more women in science.' Learn more about Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi here.
Barnama
21-05-2025
- Science
- Barnama
Dr Ravigadevi Becomes First Malaysian Elected To Royal Society
A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi - Credit: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, making her the first Malaysian scientist at the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific academy. It also marks a historic milestone for the country. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), in a statement today, said Ravigadevi will be officially inducted into the Society in London on July 11, 2025, where she will sign the Royal Society's historic Charter Book, a record that bears the signatures of scientific luminaries spanning more than three centuries. A pioneering biotechnologist, Ravigadevi was appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in 2010 and is currently the Chair of the Biological, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Discipline. She is also a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences and a former Director of the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), where she led transformative research in oil palm biochemistry and genomics. 'Her innovations have had a global impact, particularly in improving yield, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. 'One of her most significant achievements was leading the team that decoded the oil palm genome, a major scientific breakthrough published in the prestigious journal Nature. This led to the discovery of the SHELL gene, which plays a key role in determining oil yield,' the statement read. The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang, lauded the achievement, saying that Ravigadevi's election as the first Malaysian Fellow of the Royal Society marks a proud moment for the nation. 'This recognition is not only a personal triumph but also a symbol of what Malaysia stands for under the Malaysia MADANI framework, a nation that uplifts prosperity through knowledge and champions sustainability through innovation.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Dr Ravigadevi becomes first Malaysian elected to Royal Society
KUALA LUMPUR: A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, making her the first Malaysian scientist at the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific academy. It also marks a historic milestone for the country. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), in a statement today, said Ravigadevi will be officially inducted into the Society in London on July 11, 2025, where she will sign the Royal Society's historic Charter Book, a record that bears the signatures of scientific luminaries spanning more than three centuries. A pioneering biotechnologist, Ravigadevi was appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in 2010 and is currently the Chair of the Biological, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Discipline. She is also a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences and a former Director of the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), where she led transformative research in oil palm biochemistry and genomics. 'Her innovations have had a global impact, particularly in improving yield, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. 'One of her most significant achievements was leading the team that decoded the oil palm genome, a major scientific breakthrough published in the prestigious journal Nature. This led to the discovery of the SHELL gene, which plays a key role in determining oil yield,' the statement read. The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang, lauded the achievement, saying that Ravigadevi's election as the first Malaysian Fellow of the Royal Society marks a proud moment for the nation. 'This recognition is not only a personal triumph but also a symbol of what Malaysia stands for under the Malaysia MADANI framework, a nation that uplifts prosperity through knowledge and champions sustainability through innovation. 'MOSTI will continue to build an ecosystem that nurtures excellence, accelerates impact and positions Malaysia as a respected contributor to global science,' he said. In response to the honour, Ravigadevi said the recognition was not a personal achievement, but a tribute to the exceptional teams she had the privilege of working with. 'Scientific progress is never the work of one individual. It is the product of shared vision, dedication, and collaboration. The vibrant research ecosystem at MPOB and our committed collaborators made all of this possible,' she said. Meanwhile, ASM President Academician Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen FASc said the inclusion of a Malaysian in the prestigious fellowship signals the increasing impact of Malaysia's scientific contributions globally. 'More importantly, Dr Ravigadevi's research has advanced scientific understanding and brought tangible societal benefits,' he said. Founded in 1660, the Royal Society counts among its Fellows many of history's most influential scientists, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking. For 2025, more than 90 individuals from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, China and Switzerland have been selected as Fellows of the Royal Society.
The Star
21-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
Dr Ravigadevi becomes first Malaysian elected to Royal Society
KUALA LUMPUR: A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, making her the first Malaysian scientist at the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific academy. It also marks a historic milestone for the country. The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti), in a statement on Wednesday (May 21), said Ravigadevi will be officially inducted into the Society in London on July 11, 2025, where she will sign the Royal Society's historic Charter Book, a record that bears the signatures of scientific luminaries spanning more than three centuries. A pioneering biotechnologist, Ravigadevi was appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in 2010 and is currently the Chair of the Biological, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Discipline. She is also a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences and a former Director of the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), where she led transformative research in oil palm biochemistry and genomics. "Her innovations have had a global impact, particularly in improving yield, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. "One of her most significant achievements was leading the team that decoded the oil palm genome, a major scientific breakthrough published in the prestigious journal Nature. This led to the discovery of the SHELL gene, which plays a key role in determining oil yield,' the statement read. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Chang Lih Kang, lauded the achievement, saying that Ravigadevi's election as the first Malaysian Fellow of the Royal Society marks a proud moment for the nation. "This recognition is not only a personal triumph but also a symbol of what Malaysia stands for under the Malaysia Madani framework, a nation that uplifts prosperity through knowledge and champions sustainability through innovation. "Mosti will continue to build an ecosystem that nurtures excellence, accelerates impact and positions Malaysia as a respected contributor to global science,' he said. In response to the honour, Ravigadevi said the recognition was not a personal achievement, but a tribute to the exceptional teams she had the privilege of working with. "Scientific progress is never the work of one individual. It is the product of shared vision, dedication, and collaboration. The vibrant research ecosystem at MPOB and our committed collaborators made all of this possible,' she said. Meanwhile, ASM President Academician Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen FASc said the inclusion of a Malaysian in the prestigious fellowship signals the increasing impact of Malaysia's scientific contributions globally. "More importantly, Dr Ravigadevi's research has advanced scientific understanding and brought tangible societal benefits,' he said. Founded in 1660, the Royal Society counts among its Fellows many of history's most influential scientists, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking. For 2025, more than 90 individuals from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, China and Switzerland have been selected as Fellows of the Royal Society. - Bernama
New Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Science
- New Straits Times
Malaysian scientist elected to prestigious Royal Society in UK
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian scientist Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi has made history as the first researcher based in the country to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, one of the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific institutions, according to reports. In a report published by FMT, the UK-based academy said in a statement that this year's cohort includes trailblazers across diverse fields, ranging from artificial intelligence and electron microscopy to global health and neuroscience. Among them are a Nobel laureate whose team developed the transformative AI model AlphaFold, and a public health expert working to prevent HIV among young women. Royal Society president Adrian Smith said the honourees represent the very best of scientific endeavour, from fundamental discoveries to research with real-world impact across health, technology and policy. Ravigadevi, who was born in Johor Baru in 1955 and now resides in Petaling Jaya, will be formally inducted into the academy in London on July 11, just two days before her 70th birthday. "I will have the distinct honour of signing the Royal Society Charter Book, a historic ledger bearing the signatures of scientific giants over the past three centuries, including Isaac Newton," she told FMT. A scientific consultant at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Ravigadevi obtained her Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and microbiology from Universiti Malaya in 1979, followed by a PhD in biochemistry from University College London in 1983. She currently heads the biological, agricultural and environmental sciences division at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and serves on the board of trustees of the Malaysian Invention and Design Foundation, among other roles. Despite the individual recognition, Ravigadevi said the honour belonged to the wider scientific community with which she has worked throughout her career. "True scientific advancement rarely happens in isolation. Our breakthroughs resulted from seamless collaboration with international partners and a shared commitment to ensuring science serves humanity and the planet," she said. The Royal Society said this year's elected Fellows and Foreign Members hail from countries including Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, China and Switzerland. "They now join the ranks of renowned figures such as Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and Dorothy Hodgkin," the academy said.
