Championing Global Science Outreach and Data Sharing Ethics Collaboration: IMU IRDI Professor Joins Southeast Asia Bioethics Network Initiative

26–28 May 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand — The Pint of Science festival returned to Thailand this May, hosted by the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit. Held at the C ASEAN Samyan CO-OP amphitheatre in Samyan Mitrtown, the festival spanned two lively evenings, featuring accessible and engaging science talks in a community-friendly setting.

Founded in 2012, Pint of Science is a global, volunteer-driven initiative that brings researchers and the public together for informal discussions about current scientific developments, often in pubs and cafés. The festival runs annually each May, uniting cities worldwide through shared curiosity and dialogue.

This year, Prof Mai Chun Wai, a proud IMU Pharmacy & PhD alumnus and currently the Acting Deputy Director of Research Strategy and Innovation at the Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), IMU, was invited as one of seven featured speakers at Pint of Science Thailand 2025.

On Monday, 26 May, Prof Mai delivered a talk titled “IT (Integrity and Transparency): A Better Science for All”, highlighting the crucial importance of transparent data sharing and ethical research practices. His presentation resonated deeply with the Southeast Asia Bioethics Network’s focus on data governance and public trust—issues that are increasingly critical in an era marked by misinformation and scientific skepticism.

Beyond the public engagement event, Prof Mai was also selected as one of ten funded researchers from Southeast Asia to participate in the Workshop on Advancing Solutions to Enable Effective, Ethical, and Equitable Data Sharing, held on 27–28 May at the Mahidol University, Bangkok. Co-funded by Wellcome through the Southeast Asia Bioethics Network, the workshop convened stakeholders from across Southeast Asia and beyond, tackling pressing challenges in health-related data governance, particularly in low-resource settings. Participants included experts from Malaysia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Geneva, South Africa, Singapore, Australia, Brunei, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and Germany.

Prof Mai was invited to speak in the Capacity Strengthening session, where he shared insights on “Responsible Conduct of Research Training in Malaysia in Advocating Ethical Data Management and Sharing in Malaysia.” His presentation emphasized the importance of embedding ethical data practices in researcher training programmes and fostering institutional cultures that champion integrity, transparency, and equity in data use and governance.

“Participating in Pint of Science Thailand and the regional data sharing workshop was both intellectually stimulating and personally rewarding. As scientists—and as an IMU alumnus—I believe we have a responsibility not only to conduct high-quality research but also to ensure that our data practices are transparent, ethical, and inclusive—especially in settings with limited resources. At Pint of Science, I was reminded of the transformative power of open dialogue—how stepping out of academic halls and into public spaces can humanise science and build bridges of trust. The workshop, meanwhile, provided a critical platform to discuss data governance, legal frameworks, and cultural contexts, reinforcing the need for actionable, equitable policies that can truly make a difference.”

Prof Mai’s achievements highlight the global impact of IMU alumni in advancing science, ethics, and public engagement across Southeast Asia and beyond.

IMU takes pride in nurturing leaders who champion ethical research practices and promote public trust in science, paving the way for a healthier, more equitable future.