By Nursyahirah Ariffin
SERDANG, Dec 12 - A lecturer from the Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), won the prestigious Islamic Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) award 2014, for the Science and Technology (S&T) category on December 18 in Morocco.
Prof. Dr. Mahiran Basri nabbed the recognition based on her active research and excellence in the field of chemistry, including palm oil research that has contributed to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Dr. Mahiran took home a certificate, gold medal and cash prize of USD5000, presented by the ISESCO Director General, Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri.
ISESSCO received a total of 84 entries from around the world.
"I am grateful to UPM for the support of my research work," said the UPM Agriculture Foundation Centre Director (Asper).
Prof. Mahiran obtained her Bachelor and Masters degree in Chemistry from the University of Northern Illinious, USA in 1980 and 1982, and Ph.D in Chemistry from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 1993.
During her tenure, she has won numerous awards including Archer Daniels Midland Award of the American Oil Chemists' Society, Ram Rais Biotechnology Award and a gold medal at the International Invention, Innovation, Industrial Design and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2004.
The biennial award was established by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in 1979, to promote and strengthen cooperation among its members in the fields of science, education and culture that is in accordance with the Islamic values.
