Art Meets Science: SOTA–AMDI Collaboration Sparks Creative Awareness

IPPT, October 15 2025

The Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, welcomed 32 students and four lecturers from the School of the Arts (SOTA), Universiti Sains Malaysia, for an ArtScience awareness session held on 15 October 2025, under the RINTIS 2026 initiative.

RINTIS is an annual graduation showcase by SOTA’s final-year students, featuring creative projects that merge innovation, sustainability, and interdisciplinary exploration. It serves as an ideal platform for future ArtScience collaboration with AMDI.

The session, hosted by Dr. Siti Hawa Ngalim, aimed to foster mutual understanding between the fields of art and science, introducing art students to AMDI’s research environment while encouraging scientists to view their work through a creative lens. Rather than a technical workshop, it functioned as an awareness and dialogue platform, exploring how scientific methods, images, and materials could be reinterpreted and translated into artistic expression.

The programme began with an introductory talk by Dr. Nor Azlina Khalil, who shared insights into the use of animal models, in vivo research practices, and USM ethics procedures at AMDI. This was followed by an interactive exchange session between AMDI researchers and SOTA lecturers Dr. Siti Rohaya Yahaya (fabric art), Dr. Tetriana Ahmed Fauzi (fine art), Dr. Shahrul Anuar Shaari (drawing), and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sarena Abdullah (art history). Several other AMDI lecturers, including Dr. Ida Shazrina binti Ismail, Dr. Maisarah Nasution binti Waras, Dr. Eva Nabiha binti Zamri, and Dr. Noor Mastura binti Mohd Mujar, also attended the session and kindly shared insights into their respective research areas, contributing to the exchange of ideas between science and art. The discussion focused on each lecturer’s area of expertise, the students’ exhibition themes for RINTIS 2026, and potential avenues for ArtScience collaboration.

Following the dialogue, the group proceeded on a guided tour of the Central Research Laboratory (CRL) of Cancer Research Complex (CRC), led by Pn. Syazwani Ismail and En. Ahmad Farid Asmail @ Ismail. Participants were introduced to AMDI’s research ecosystem, including cellular and molecular research approaches such as DNA and protein isolation using electrophoresis, cell sorting via flow cytometry, and fluorescent microscopy for cell imaging.

The visit then continued to Pusat Perubatan USM Bertam (PPUSMB), guided by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Hafiz Mohd Zin, who shared insights into clinical imaging technologies and cancer treatment workflows. This segment allowed students to better understand how scientific data and medical images are applied in healthcare diagnostics and patient care.

While at PPUSMB, the group also visited the recycling and sustainability facilities, guided by Nur Hasmiza Mahadzir, where AMDI’s initiatives in managing paper, plastic, e-waste, fabric, and wet-lab waste were highlighted. The tour included a visit to the recycling depot, where students explored the potential to collect recyclable materials for use in upcycled art and design exhibits, linking environmental responsibility with creative practice.

The session also saw active participation from lecturers from both AMDI and SOTA, who discussed ideas for future collaboration in ArtScience education and outreach. Meanwhile, SOTA postgraduate students engaged with AMDI researchers by asking questions to better understand scientific processes, with the aim of translating these observations into creative concepts for their RINTIS 2026 exhibition.

As of 17 December 2025, this initiative has progressed beyond awareness building. There are approximately 10 Science–Art projects currently in various stages of planning, ideation, curation, and development, involving students and lecturers from AMDI and SOTA. In addition, several potential collaborations are being explored with partners from INFORMM, USM main campus, as well as Kyushu University, Japan, reflecting growing interdisciplinary and international interest in this ArtScience platform. The projects in development cover themes such as cancer biology and treatment; mental health; virology; and, cell and molecular motors, showing how diverse scientific ideas are being translated into creative practice.

This initiative marks a significant step forward in strengthening ties between AMDI and SOTA, demonstrating how sustained dialogue can translate into tangible collaborative outcomes.

Through this effort, AMDI continues its commitment to STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) and to promoting creativity, sustainability, and innovation across disciplines.