The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) would like to thank S.Param for the article “Hail the God particle” as published in The Sun on 07 August 2012.

As the lead Government agency in the promulgation of science, technology and innovation (STI), MOSTI encourages more Malaysians to discuss issues regarding the latest developments in STI; especially the impact that these developments will have on their lives. With 25 agencies and departments under its wings, MOSTI is in a position to assistboth the public and academia achieve a better understanding in these areas.

Preceding the 04 July 2012 announcement of the discovery of the Higgs boson, the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), an agency under MOSTI, hadsent three young scientists to the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland as part of the CERN Summer Student Programme from 24 June 2012 to 02 September 2012; making these young Malaysians among the few to actually witness this historic discovery firsthand. Plans have been made for these students to share their experiences with fellow colleagues and the media upon their return.

Since the announcement, MOSTI has lined up several programs to celebrate this discovery.  Among them is an intellectual discourse with two ASM Fellows - experts in the area of Physics - to explain this discovery to the public at large. This discourse will be featured on the ASTRO Awani TV channel.

The Higgs boson is the last missing piece of the Standard Model Theory that describes the basic building blocks of the universe.  This discovery helps scientists to understand the way matter behaves and interacts with each other; and with this discovery we can map out how we were formed.

The Estidotmy magazine, in conjunction with the Year of Science and Innovation Movement (SGI 2012), will also explain this discovery through its easy to read articles.  Readers can catch up on the up-coming issue, themed Mega Science, on 29 August 2012. (Estidotmy is published by MOSTI and disseminated as an insertion in theUtusan Malaysia newspaper every last Wednesday of the month).  More facts and explanations will also be published on the Sciencebuzz portal (www.sciencebuzz.my), which allows students and members of the public to post queries and receive replies from experts in their respective fields.

Apart from the above initiatives, The National Science Agency in Kuala Lumpur is preparing a special Higgs boson video and information panel for its Hot Science Corner. The public will be able to view these new additions sometime in September this year. Additionally, the National SpaceAgencywill organise a mini-exhibition on this topic at the National Planetarium before the end of December 2012.

MOSTI would also like to request the media to continueplayingan effective role in communicating issues on STI to the public. We hope the media will dedicate special columns and programs for STI in newspapers, magazines, as well as TV and radio channels.

Issued by:

The Corporate Communications Unit

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)

08 August 2012