Prof Dr. Raymond Ooi is a quantum physicist with outstanding scholastic achievements. The novelty of his research is the unique combinations of different ideas or topics covering quantum optics, nonlinear optics, plasmonics, molecular spectroscopy, statistical physics of Bose-Einstein condensates and interactions with intense laser pulses. Prof Dr. Raymond Ooi is well recognized in his field, internationally and locally, evidenced by the international and national awards he has received. The Nobel Committee for Physics on behalf of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences invited him as a nominator for “The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2021”.  In 2025 he was elected a Fellow of OPTICA for the development of quantum theoretical framework (Heisenberg-Langevin theory) on nonclassical photon correlations in Raman and quantum plasmonic systems. He is the first Malaysian to be elected a Fellow by OPTICA, the leading global professional society for scientists, engineers, and professionals, which recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions in optics and photonics (the science of light). In 2013 he won the Malaysia Toray Science Foundation Science & Technology Award. He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in 2015, and has been actively contributing his knowledge, ideas and opinions through activities/events in the Academy. He is also an elected Fellow of Academy of Engineering and Technology of the Developing World (AETDEW). He was a Visiting Professor at Nanyang Technological University in 2015-2019. Raymond Ooi obtained his Dr.rer.nat (PhD) from Universitaet Konstanz, Germany in 2003. He spent 3 years as a postdoc at Texas A&M University, was a regular Visiting Scientist at Princeton University and Max-Planck Institut fuer Quantenoptik, and has collaborated with reputed leaders in quantum physics. He has contributed to the theory of strong fields interactions, particularly generalized Keldysh’s theory of photoionization while at KAIST and Korea University. In 2010, he made a sacrifice to return and develop quantum optics research for Malaysia, initiated "Quantum and Laser Science" research center at Universiti Malaya. Despite being a theorist, he recognizes the importance of experimentation and has secured a High Impact Research grant and single-handedly developed experimental lab on quantum and laser science, including Ultrafast High Intensity Femtosecond Laser and Optics facility. He was awarded the Long-Term Research Grant Scheme (LRGS) in 2020-2025 awarded by the Ministry of Higher Education. As the Principal Investigator he leads the national quantum communication research program. He was also engaged in several interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary project including brain research, green technology and poverty alleviation. He has 2 patents on harnessing green energy. Prof Dr Raymond Ooi has pioneered quantum optics and technology research and education in Malaysia, developed an undergraduate course on Quantum Optics and a postgraduate course on Quantum Technology. Besides being invited/plenary speaker at more than 35 international conferences, he regularly gave open public Seminars and Workshops to inspire students and the public on the wonders of quantum science and technology. Prof Dr Raymond Ooi is recognized globally, was invited a Guest of Honour at 6th Science & Technology Program (STEP) and Mustafa Prize Award ceremony, Tehran, Iran in 2019.  In 2018, he successfully initiated and chaired the first international conference on Quantum and Nonlinear Optics(QNO2018) attended by many luminaries in the field through the support of three external funds.  He served as a Judge for MIT Technology Review “Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific” and editorial board member for the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A and the New Journal of Physics (IOP). He published a book “The Way of Creation, Nature & Life: Physics and Mathematics Perspectives”, and has written articles in the media, connecting science with recent issues, green energy and climate change.

Professor Adeeba Kamarulzaman graduated from Monash University in 1987 and trained in internal medicine and infectious diseases at the Monash Medical Centre and Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. She is presently the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Yale University, USA. She established the Centre of Excellence for Research on AIDS (CERiA) that conducts multi-disciplinary research on HIV ranging from clinical to public health and policy research. Professor Kamarulzaman has used her clinical and academic leadership to engage in the national and community response to HIV/AIDS. She is currently Chairman of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation and an Executive Council member of the Malaysian AIDS Council, the peak HIV NGO in Malaysia. At the international level, Professor Kamarulzaman is presently an Executive Council Member of the International AIDS Society and a member of the UNAIDS Scientific Expert Panel on HIV. She has also been an advisor to numerous WHO committees on HIV/AIDS. She has played a key role in the establishment and ongoing activities and collaborations of a regional HIV research network initiative; TREAT Asia. Her achievements have been recognised through several national and international awards including the Tun Mahathir Science and the Merdeka Awards for her role as a member of the University of Malaya’s Nipah Investigative Team. She is the first recipient of the Advance Australia Global Award in the category of Alumni in 2012 and in April 2015 she was honoured with a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) from her alma mater, Monash University. She also has the distinct honour of having been featured in both The Lancet and Science publications in 2013 and 2014 respectively.  

Mohd Anuar Ramli. He was born and raised in Kampong Air Putih, Junjong, Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia on 26th November 1976. The ninth children of almarhum Haji Ramli Ismail and almarhumah Hajah Sofiah Ariffin. Mohd Anuar received early education in Sekolah Kebangsaan Junjong (1982-1988), then continued secondary education in Sekolah Menengah Agama Tarbiyah Diniah, Kulim, Kedah (1989-1994), pre-university in Nilam Puri (1995-1997), subsequently earned his bachelor’s degree in Syariah (Fiqh & Usul) (1997-2000), master’s degree (2001-2004) and doctorate degree (2005-2010) in Universiti Malaya. He has been serving in Jabatan Fiqh & Usul (Department of Fiqh and Usul), Akademi Pengajian Islam (Academy of Islamic Studies) Universiti Malaya as a temporary lecturer since 2004 and now as a senior lecturer after finishing his doctorate study under Skim Latihan Akademik IPTA (SLAI) in 2010. Mohd Anuar’s areas of expertise are Fiqh of Culture, Fiqh of Gender, Fiqh of Consumerism and other related fields in Islamic studies. He has been teaching Introduction to Shariah, Fiqh of Culture, Fiqh of Consumerism, Fiqh of Worship (Ibadah), Maktabah Shariah and Research Methodology. He produced almost 40 postgraduate master’s and doctorate students and received numerous research grants from both internal university and external fund. Mohd Anuar has published almost 200 articles, chapters in books and conference papers in various categories either in the international or local level. The published writings cover diverse areas, such as custom and culture, gender, halal and consumerism, religious extremism and terrorism, contemporary fiqh and Malaysian society. He is always enthusiastic to serve as a versatile scholar that masters numerous fields and learns to explore new research area in Islamic studies framework. Mohd Anuar loves travelling to appreciate the beauty of panoramic nature and cultures of society as well as to enhance life experience and perseverance.