Mazlan Othman
Vorlage:Infobox Scientist Mazlan Binti Othman is a Malaysian astrophysicist who has served in several roles within her country, and as Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in Vienna[1].
Early Life and Education
Born in Seremban, Malaysia, Othman attended Tunku Kurshiah College, a boarding school in Kuala Lumpur. Her aptitude for mathematics led to enrollment in a science curriculum, and though her family encouraged her to become a physician, she decided to pursue physics instead. She attended University of Otago in New Zealand on a Colombo plan scholarship, earning a BSc. (honors) in 1975. She joined the National University of Malaysia (UKM) as a tutor, but negotiated an extension to her scholarship and returned to Otago, earning her Ph.D. in physics in 1981 - the first woman to do so in the physics department's 110-year existence.
Career
Othman returned to Malaysia as the country's first astrophysicist, and worked to create a curriculum in astrophysics at the national university, as well as to build public awareness and understanding of astronomy and space issues. She also performed research for a semester at the Kiso Observatory in Japan[2].
Her interest in public education was rewarded in 1990 when Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, a strong supporter of education and science, placed her in charge of the Planetarium Division of the Prime Minister's Department, overseeing development of Planetarium Negara, Malaysia's national planetarium in Kuala Lumpur[3] After the planetarium opened in 1993, Othman was made Director General of the government's new Space Science Studies Division, where she launched a microsatellite development program. She received a full professorship the following year.
In November 1999, Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, appointed Othman as Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in Vienna[4]. At the request of Prime Minister Mahathir, she returned to Malaysia in July 2002 to serve for five years as the founding Director General of Angkasa, the Malaysian National Space Agency, where her work led to the launch of the first Malaysian astronaut, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.
Othman was reappointed as UNOOSA director in 2007 by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and left Angkasa to return to the post that December[5]. At UNOOSA she deals with issues of international cooperation in space, prevention of collisions and space debris, use of space-based remote sensing platforms for sustainable development, coordination of space law between countries, and the risks posed by near-earth asteroids, among other topics.
Honors
In the 1997 Agong's honours list, Tuanku Ja'afar, tenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, conferred the federal decoration and order Panglima Jasa Negara (for meritorious service) on Othman, granting her the honorific "Datuk."[6]
Also in 1997, Othman's alma mater, the University of Otago, awarded her the degree of Honorary Doctor of Science.[7]
Personal Life
Othman is married to Ibrahim Komoo, a geologist. They have two children.
External Links
- Interview with Dr. Mazlan Othman
- Mazlan Othman resume at Pacific Science Association
- Mazlan Othman profile at National Science Centre, Malaysia.
References
- ↑ Past and Present Heads of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). Abgerufen am 30. Mai 2009.
- ↑ Surface distribution of M stars with different IRAS colour. Abgerufen am 30. Mai 2009.
- ↑ ASP: World Beat: Malaysia. 1994, abgerufen am 30. Mai 2009.
- ↑ Secretary-General Appoints Mazlan Othman Director of Office for Outer Space Affairs. 26. November 1999, abgerufen am 30. Mai 2009.
- ↑ Mazlan Othman retires as DG of Angkasa on Dec 10. 12. Dezember 2007, abgerufen am 30. Mai 2009.
- ↑ List of Award Recipients. Abgerufen am 30. Mai 2009.
- ↑ Alumni Profile: Professor Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman. Abgerufen am 30. Mai 2009.