SQS Online News: More than 150 researchers attended the 4th biennial Innovations and Analytics Conference & Exhibition (IACE 2019) from 25 - 28 March 2019 held in the EDC Hotels & Resort, UUM Sintok, Kedah. With the chosen theme of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM): Making Connection, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the conference marked the importance of embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) that integrates the digital, physical and biological worlds in perfect symbiosis that can forever changing the world we know.
This year, IACE 2019 has successfully brings together 3 keynote speakers from three continents (Prof. Dr. Cheickna Sylla from New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA, Prof. Dr. Abdel Salhi from University of Essex, United Kingdom, and Prof. Dr. Yuliya Zelenyuk from University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa, 4 forum panellists, 7 invited speakers, 150 oral presenters and 11 poster presentations in 5 parallel sessions from the area of mathematics, operational research, statistics, health, finance, information technology, education and quantitative application, connecting 13 countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines, Pakistan, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Iraq, Japan, South Africa, USA & UK) to discuss their current results and sharing insights in this secluded campus. A special 2-hour forum was also the highlight of this event, as participants were deeply engaged with thought-provoking discussion on global concern of STEAM-related issues by 4 distinguished panellists - Prof Dr Abdel Salhi from University of Essex, United Kingdom, Prof Dr Yuliya Zelenyuk from University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr Rahmat Shazi from Strand Aerospace Malaysia and Abdul Offar Musa from ACC Aviation Group. This forum is special as perspectives from academia and industry players are being debated and acknowledged.
The conference was utilizing technology embedded platform, where mentimeter and padlet are among the apps used to obtain live feedbacks, questions and comments from audiences. IACE 2019 has also backed by strong supports from the Exco of Kedah State Government (Education, Human Resource & Human Development), Kedah Chief Minister Office, Webcure (M) Sdn Bhd, SAS Institute Inc. (M) & Intel Malaysia. The collaborators from different stakeholders harnessing new direction into smart partnership between the University, industry and community, this signalling positive future for the growth of our country.
The new friendships and collegiality forged throughout this conference were being fostered through few socializing events such as the grand dinner and excursion programmes. The delegates started the registration as strangers, and disembarked the hotel in the end of the conference as friends. The conference will be expected to resume on the year 2021.
Pictures by Muhammad Azfar Ariffin.