Dr. Arindam was born and raised in Kolkata (India) and he did his B.Sc. with Biotechnology (Jiwaji University, India) and M.Sc. in Marine Biology at the Pondicherry University (India). For his doctoral degree in Marine micropalaeontology at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), India / University of Burdwan he worked on the Neogene microfossils and paleoclimate of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He had the opportunity to travel internationally (USA, UK, Scotland, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Thailand, Poland, Taiwan, France, Turkey, Indonesia, etc.) and nationally to attend conferences and collaborate on different research works. His postdoctoral experience in India as a National Postdoctoral Fellow (NPDF, 2017-2019) and Birbal Sahni Research Associate (BSRA, 2019-2022) at BSIP (India) was to understand the Neogene climate of the northern Indian Ocean. During April, 2022 he joined the Stable Isotope Laboratory at the Institute of Earth Sciences (IES), Academia Sinica (Taiwan), as a postdoctoral researcher and worked on triple oxygen isotopes and silicon isotopes from diatoms. He has been currently working as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, since March 2023. Other than the teaching responsibilities, his research is focused on the palaeoclimatic variability during the geological history. He uses microfossils (mainly siliceous microfossils and calcareous nannofossils) and their chemistry to determine patterns of global climatic conditions and ecology. He is also currently working on samples from International Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 342 (North Atlantic), Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 378 (South Pacific), and Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 391 (South Indian). He is also the supervisor of the Geology Museum, Universiti Malaya. Dr Arindam is the Associate Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Membership Secretary of The Micropalaeontological Society (UK), nominated member of the Risk-KAN 'Past4future' Working Group, and Council member of Geological Society of Malaysia (GSM). 

Dr. Shafa'atussara Silahudin, born in Muar, Johor, is a distinguished Senior Lecturer and Programme Coordinator of Socio-Culture/Malay Arts at the Academy of Malay Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. She was a Guest Researcher (2021-2022) at the Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University, Netherlands. Her academic journey includes a Doctoral Degree from Leiden University, after completing her thesis titled 'Malay Singing in Pahang Villages: Identity and Practice', supervised by Prof. Dr. Bernard Arps and Dr. Suryadi at the Leiden Institute for Area Studies. She also obtained her Master of Malay Studies in Performing Arts and Bachelor of Science in Biohealth (Honors) from Universiti Malaya. Dr. Shafa's academic and community engagement roles span several years. She was an Assistant Fellow (2006-2007) and College Fellow/Secretary (2008-2013) at Kolej Kediaman Tun Syed Zahiruddin (Ninth Residential College) and held a fellowship at Universiti Malaya Community Engagement Centre (UMCares) from 2022-2023.  Dr. Shafa specializes in traditional/heritage music, Southeast Asian music history, alternative culture (including punk rock), arts community, popular media and music care. She is actively involved in interdisciplinary research, notably a project on music care for caregivers and older adults, collaborating with faculties of Medicine, Business and Economics, Creative Arts and Education under an IIRG grant (2022-2025). Her ethnographic research covers hybrid online-offline expressive cultural fields involving performers, industry professionals and audiences. As a traditional music practitioner in Malaysia, Dr. Shafa has recorded over 300 songs and has performed across Southeast Asia, China, Australia and the Netherlands. Her music performance videos are publicly accessible online. Dr. Shafa has an extensive publication record that includes: The book 'Malay Singing in Pahang Villages: Identity and Practice' published in 2023 by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) which was also the subject of her doctoral thesis. Co-authoring 'Wacana Pantun Melayu' in 2016, alongside Prof. Dr. Salinah Ja'afar, Associate Professor Dr. Tengku Intan Marlina Tengku Mohd Ali, and Malaysian National Laureate Datuk Dr. Zurinah Hassan, also published by DBP. Additional scholarly works from 2023 to present include topics such as music care for older adults and caregivers, Malay music in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and reflections on music education and music community post-COVID-19.  Dr. Shafa has received multiple prestigious awards acknowledging her artistic and academic excellence: Darjah Paduka Mahkota Perak (P.M.P.) awarded in conjunction with Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah's 68th birthday, recognizing her distinguished contributions to arts and culture. Anugerah Cemerlang Universiti Malaya (ACUM) 2024 for Arts, Culture & Creativity (Academic Staff), highlighting her outstanding academic and creative achievements. Anugerah Penggiat Seni (Seni Berbahasa) Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur in 2023. Anugerah Biduan Syair ASEAN in 2022. Anugerah Bitara Syair Nusantara in 2021. Champion, International Dendang Syair Competition in 2019. Skim Latihan Akademik Fellowships by Universiti Malaya 2008-2011 & 2013-2016. Significance and Impact: Dr. Shafa's body of work consolidates traditional Malay music and cultural heritage with contemporary academic inquiry and community engagement. By marrying ethnographic research with artistic practice, she fosters greater understanding and preservation of Malay cultural identity. Her interdisciplinary approach, involving collaborations across various university faculties and international ties, notably with Leiden University, underlines her impact on music care, cultural sustainability and the arts both within Malaysia and beyond. Her multifaceted achievements illustrate her role as key figure who bridges academia, arts, and community outreach, advancing Southeast Asian music and Malay arts scholarship while promoting cultural care practices and supporting artists and caregivers alike.

Dr. Saaidal Razalli Azzuhri holds a BEng in Telecommunication from the University of Malaya. After graduation, he began his career as a Wireless Network Engineer at eB Technologies, a second-tier Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Malaysia. He later joined Telekom Malaysia, the country’s largest ISP, where he worked as a Network Engineer. He pursued his MSc in IT at the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST), through a collaborative program with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 2014, he completed his PhD in Wireless Network Systems at the University of Queensland, Australia, with a research focus on wireless ad-hoc routing systems. He is currently serving as an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer System & Technology, Faculty of Computer Science & Information Technology, University of Malaya. In 2018, Dr. Saaidal established the university's first Blockchain Technology Lab using private funding. He later secured a government-to-government research grant to study transborder blockchain infrastructure between China and Malaysia, sponsored by the publicly-listed company MyEG Services Berhad. He has also received government and industry grants for artificial intelligence applications in wireless communications and drone systems, as well as an International Newton Mobility Grant for optical microfiber research. Dr. Saaidal holds two patents related to unmanned aerial vehicles and fiber optic biosensors. He is frequently invited by the media to provide expert commentary on cybersecurity, 5G networks, and other technology issues. His areas of expertise encompass wireless networks, mobile ad-hoc networks, autonomous systems, fiber lasers, fiber sensors and Blockchain. Some of Dr. Saaidal's media appearances include: ‘UM Miliki Makmal Teknologi Blockchain’, Utusan Malaysia, Nov 13, 2018 ‘UM Tubuh Makmal Teknologi Blockchain’, Berita Harian, Nov 15 2018 ‘Makmal Blockchain UM’, Harian Metro, Nov 25 2018 ‘Malaysia Perlu Tingkatkan Keselamatan Cyber Terutama Menuju Era 5G’, Buletin Pagi TV3, 24 Jan 2019 'Industri Halal Di Indonesia Butuh Dukungan Teknologi dan Inovasi', Ayo Bandung Portal, 29 September 2020 'Malaysia and China Collaborate to Enhance Cross-Border Supply Chain Traceability', Digital News Asia, 17 February 2023 'Malaysia hormati perjanjian dengan Ericsson, terbuka bekerjasama dengan pihak lain', Benar News Portal, 5 March 2023'Malaysia bincang kerjasama dengan Elon Musk, SpaceX bantu capaian akses internet', Malaysia Institute of Economic Research (MIER) News Portal, 18 July 2023 'MyEG, UM to include AI technology in collaborative research with China' The Star, 14 Jun 2023 'Watch what Dr Saaidal and Dr Kamarul of University Malaya have to say about 5G technology and how it will change our lives! #5GMalaysia', Richard Ker Tik Tok channel (Digital Media and Technology Influencer), 29 December 2023