About Us

Our mission

Science Media Centre (SMC) Malaysia is an information resource centre aimed at promoting accurate and evidence-based reporting especially on complex or controversial science issues in the media. We connect journalists to credible and articulate scientists from across various research fields. We also help scientists to communicate their research effectively and ultimately make science mainstream and accessible to the public. 

Who we are 

Established by Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC) and The Petri Dish, Science Media Centre Malaysia is founded by trained science communicator, Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan and journalist, Tan Su Lin. Both Mahaletchumy and Su Lin represent a combined experience of almost 30 years in biotechnology, science communication and journalism. 

Listed as the 100 most influential person in biotechnology in the world by Scientific American WorldView (2015); listed in the honorific list of Women in Biotechnology Law and Regulation as part of Biotechnology Law Report 2015 published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc, USA; and won the 2010 Third World Academy of Science Regional Prize for Public Understanding of Science for East, Southeast Asia and Pacific Region.

Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan ventured into science communication upon joining the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC) in 2003 and pursued a Ph.D. in this field. Founder of The Petri Dish in 2011, South East Asia’s first science newspaper, she has a strong penchant for filling the void in the field of science communication in the developing world. She plays a key role in communicating science, biotechnology with an aim to shape public opinion, enable the development of science-based policies and regulations through capacity building programmes, and promote STEM education and career. She is also the Global Coordinator at International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) and a UN FAO International Consultant for their Biosafety Project in Sri Lanka.

As an award-winning journalist, with over 10 years of experience in the media industry, Tan Su Lin has built a reputation as a professional and credible broadcast journalist in this country. She has won numerous accolades throughout her career, with science and environmental topics as her areas of specialisation. The highlight of her career was winning one of Malaysia’s most prestigious award for journalists, the MPI-Petronas Journalism Awards in 2013. She is also CNN’s 2014 Journalism Fellow.

A Chevening Scholarships 2018/2019 awardee, she has a Masters Degree in Environment, Culture and Society from Lancaster University, UK. She is passionate about communicating science and the environment through engaging content and experiences. Her specific area of interest is in sustainability science including marine conservation and climate change. An avid scuba diver, she also holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from University Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Our Ethos

• Championing evidence-based science in media reporting
• Encouraging and supporting research scientists and organisations to engage openly and proactively about their work even when it is complex and controversial
• That the media will “do” science better when scientists “do” the media better
• We acknowledge that public debate is fundamental to a healthy society and that science has an important role to play in informing public debate with evidence

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