Industry in Classroom Programme & 1st USM–Bruker Research Symposium Strengthen Collaboration Between Bruker Penang and School of Physics, USM

The School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), in collaboration with Bruker, Penang, successfully organized two impactful programmes in May 2026 aimed at strengthening industry–academia collaboration, enhancing student exposure and promoting research engagement between academia and industry.

The first programme, the Industry in Classroom Programme, was held on 13 May 2026 and involved a total of 53 participants consisting of undergraduate and postgraduate students. The session featured a technical sharing entitled “XRD/XRF Fundamentals and Data Analysis” delivered by Dr. Colin Slater, Manager of XRF Analytics Development, Bruker.

Students were also given the opportunity to interact directly with industry experts through active discussions on instrumentation, research applications, industrial practices, and career opportunities within the scientific and analytical instrumentation field. The programme created an engaging and interactive learning environment that successfully bridged theoretical classroom knowledge with real industrial applications and technological exposure.

The collaboration continued with the organization of the 1st USM–Bruker Research Symposium 2026 on 18 May 2026 at Bruker, Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang. The symposium involved participation from staff members, research officers, postgraduate students and undergraduate students from the School of Physics, School of Chemical Sciences, INOR and SERC USM.

A total of 45 participants attended the symposium, comprising 11 staff and research officers, 18 PhD students, 8 Master’s students and 8 undergraduate students. The programme featured student research presentation sessions, where participants shared their ongoing research projects, current progress, and research challenges with fellow researchers and industry representatives.

In addition, participants were given the opportunity to join an academic and industrial tour at the Bruker facility, allowing them to gain first-hand exposure to advanced instrumentation technologies, industrial workflows, and research applications in analytical and material sciences.

Both programmes successfully strengthened the relationship between USM and Bruker Malaysia while providing meaningful exposure and networking opportunities for students and researchers. The initiatives also reflect the School of Physics’ continuous commitment towards empowering students through strategic collaboration with industry partners and enhancing the integration of academic knowledge with real-world applications.

The School of Physics would like to extend its sincere appreciation to Bruker Malaysia for their strong support, insightful sharing sessions, and commitment towards fostering research and educational collaboration with USM.