Prof. Emerita Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail, former President of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and former Science, Technology and Innovation Advisor to Malaysia, currently holds key positions including the Ibnu Sina Chair for Medicine at International Islamic University Malaysia, Pro-Chancellor at University College MAIWP International, University Board member for Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and spearheads the Planetary Health Action Plan for Malaysia.
Academically she has a BSc in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, USA, an M.A. in Microbiology from Indiana University, USA and a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from University of Nevada, Reno, USA. She also received honorary doctoral degrees from University of Glasgow, Keele University and Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.
A pioneer, Dr Asma achieved many firsts such being the inaugural female Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia, the first female Director-General of Higher Education, first female President of Academy of Sciences Malaysia and the first woman to be the National Science Advisor to Malaysia. She was elected into several academies including the Academy of Sciences Malaysia ,The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) and elected as honorary member of The Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences.