PNG Scientist wins prestigious Global Award



Dr Moses Laman checking blood samples in the

Automated Bactec Machine at the PNGIMR

Laboratory in Modilon Hospital, Madang.

This machine assists IMR researchers

 and hospital clinicians working on various

 Hospital-based studies to identity infectious

 germs that cause severe childhood infections and deaths in very

sick children in Madang

A senior scientist from Papua New Guinea’s Institute of Medical Research (IMR) has been awarded a prestigious global scientific award by the Third World Academy of Science (TWAS).

Dr Moses Laman’s historic award makes him the first scientist from the Pacific region including Papua New Guinea to win the award from TWAS.

His award was based on his outstanding publication track record.

TWAS is an international science academy founded by Nobel Laureate Professor Abdus Salam in 1983 and works to advance science in the developing world.

Every year, TWAS bestows only five Young Affiliate Awards to outstanding young scientists in all fields of science in developing countries in each region of the world.

These regions include Arab, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central and South Asia, and East Southeast Asia-Pacific.

Eligible scientific fields include engineering sciences, astronomy, earth sciences, agricultural sciences, cell and molecular sciences, chemical sciences, physics, mathematical sciences, social and economic sciences and medical sciences.

Since many outstanding third world country scientists in all scientific fields compete for the same award, it makes it almost impossible for smaller developing countries in the Pacific to compete against scientifically advanced third world countries like China and India.

Due to the high standard of eligibility and requirement for this award, no scientist from the Pacific has been able to accomplish this achievement since the TWAS inception.

Regardless, Dr Laman’s outstanding and strong publication track record of over 30 scientific publications – 15 of which as first-author and 12 as second-author since joining IMR in 2007, enabled his award.

“Many people have helped me. But it’s important to treat those others may consider as unimportant, with respect and if your motives are right, you’ll realise that these ‘unimportant’ people will be the main ones helping you to accomplish what others may think is impossible,” he said when commenting on his achievement.

He thanked the management of PNGIMR, his mentors, family and also gave credit to his team of simple IMR employees in Madang who have always taken ownership of his projects, and have faithfully worked with him over the last 6 years, running multiple clinical studies often under challenging field conditions.

Dr Laman, 35, currently holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Medical Science, Medicine, a Masters in Medical Science and is soon to receive his doctorate in Medicine from the University of Western Australia in December, this year.

In an unrelated event, Dr Laman has also won a travel grant offered by the Australian Academy of Science and the Royal Society to attend the First Commonwealth Science conference to be held in Bangalore, India, in November to present the findings of his PhD research.