USM Physics Lecturer Shares Expertise in Space Weather and AI at UN/Republic of Korea International Workshop

A Senior Lecturer from the School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Dr. Idahwati Sarudin has brought honour to the university by being selected as one of the presenters of research papers at the United Nations/Republic of Korea Workshop on the International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI): AI-Enabled Space Weather for Global Cooperation and Capacity Building in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from 7 to 11 September 2026.

The prestigious workshop was co-organised by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Korea Space Weather Center (KSWC) under the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA). The organisation of the programme also received support from various international institutions and agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Korea (MoFA), Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and Committee on Space Research (COSPAR).

Dr. Idahwati was successfully selected through a highly competitive selection process that drew participation from researchers across the globe.

In the workshop, Dr. Idahwati presented the results of her research titled, "Ground-Based Observations of Equatorial Upper Atmospheric Dynamics in Southeast Asia: Thermospheric Wind Variability and AI-Hybrid Detection of Plasma Bubble Structures."

The research focused on observations of upper atmospheric dynamics in the equatorial region, particularly variations in thermospheric winds and the use of a hybrid artificial intelligence (AI) approach to detect plasma bubble structures in the Southeast Asian region.

In recognition of her contributions and research excellence, Dr. Idahwati also received full sponsorship from the organising committee, which covered the costs of accommodation, as well as food and beverages throughout the programme.

She noted that the workshop provided valuable opportunities for her to share research findings with the international scientific community and to expand strategic collaboration networks in space weather and artificial intelligence. Dr. Idahwati described her participation in the workshop as a meaningful opportunity to share research findings with the global scientific community, particularly in space weather and AI applications. She added that beyond enriching research perspectives, the platform also fostered new collaborations with leading experts worldwide.

Other than the research presentation sessions, the workshop also discussed various topics related to space weather, including solar sources and heliospheric propagation, geo-space impacts on Earth, AI-based modeling and forecasting, as well as the development of instrumentation and education in the field of space weather.

The active participation of USM researchers in similar international programmes aligns with the university's aspiration to strengthen high impact research excellence and enhance the institution's visibility on a global scale. This achievement also reflects USM's ongoing commitment to advancing space science research and AI technology through participation in international initiatives such as the International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI) under the United Nations.

In addition, the workshop supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by strengthening research capacity, promoting knowledge sharing, and fostering cross country collaboration.

Source Text & Photo: Dr. Idahwati Sarudin, School of Physics, USM
Translation: Nur Anis Sophilia Zaidin, Intern@MPRC, USM