KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 — Two exceptional Malaysian students have been selected to participate in the 2024 European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) Summer Student Programme (CSSP) in Geneva, Switzerland that promises an enriching experience with specialised lectures by global experts in theoretical and experimental particle physics, engineering, and computing.

The two are Nurul Nabiilah Sulaiman, 25, a Universiti Malaya Bachelor of Science in Physics holder who is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Communication Engineering at the International Islamic University Malaysia and Shim Zi Jun, 23, a Master’s Degree student in Civil Engineering at the University of Nottingham.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) said the two were among 150 young scientists worldwide who have been offered the opportunity to actively participate in the day-to-day operations of research teams conducting experiments at CERN from July 1 until Aug 25.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang said the CSSP represents a crucial opportunity for young Malaysian talent to grow, innovate, and lead the country into a future of scientific and technological excellence.

"Since 2012, MOSTI and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) have sent 25 students, including this year’s two students, to the CSSP to boost national scientific capabilities and promote international collaboration.

"This initiative contributes to our national agenda of developing a strong talent pipeline. By investing in our students, we are preparing them to excel in their respective emerging fields and support Malaysia’s vision of becoming a high-tech nation by 2030,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nurul Nabiilah shared that her passion for community work and science drives her collaborative spirit and dedication to lifelong learning.

"I am thrilled and honoured to represent Malaysia at the 2024 CSSP. This is an amazing chance to realise my dream of setting foot in the world’s largest particle physics laboratory! This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity allows us to contribute to groundbreaking research and bring our country’s innovative spirit to the global level.

"After the programme, I aspire to inspire Malaysian youths, fostering a passion for science, especially physics and engineering, to elevate the nation’s scientific community. This experience is truly meaningful to my life, something I will never forget,” she said.

Shim, who is proficient in AutoCAD, Revit, and Microsoft Office programmes, expressed his interest in contributing his engineering expertise to the CSSP and was proud and honoured to represent Malaysia in this programme.

"I am very grateful for this, as it helped me realise my childhood dream. With the invaluable exposure to the forefront of science, my perspective on life has changed for the better and has helped me step out of my comfort zone. I hope sharing this experience will inspire more future STEM students in Malaysia,” he said.

ASM President Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen said the students’ participation in the CSSP aligns perfectly with ASM’s mission to nurture and develop top-tier talent in science, technology and innovation.

"Participation in prestigious international programmes like CSSP nurtures high-value talent who will contribute positively to our innovative capacity and capability,” he said.

This year, ASM conducted the CSSP nomination and selection process, in which 47 candidates were shortlisted. The CSSP Selection Committee conducted interviews to identify the most promising candidates and two names were submitted from this pool to CERN, with Nurul Nabiilah and Shim selected to participate in the programme.

Through this programme, participants will engage in immersive visits to key CERN facilities such as ATLAS, Synchrocyclotron, Antiproton Decelerator, and the Data Centre. — Bernama