Meet the Oral Panel of Science Castle Asia 2026: Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists and Innovators

Dr. Kihoko Tokue is the Managing Director of Leave a Nest Singapore Pte. Ltd. She holds a PhD in Science (Behavioral Biology) from Rikkyo University, an MSc in Science from the University of New England, and a BSc, graduating Magna Cum Laude, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Born in Tokyo and raised in Singapore and Thailand, she was also educated in the US and Australia. She has work experience in Thailand as a researcher and lecturer at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi. Dr. Tokue joined Leave a Nest in 2011, founded Leave a Nest Malaysia in 2013, and became President of Leave a Nest Singapore in 2016. Her vision is to establish Leave a Nest Asia as a leading global hub for advancing science and technology to promote global happiness.

Professor Ir. Dr. Hafizal Mohamad is a distinguished Malaysian academic, registered Professional Engineer, and strategic research leader specializing in next-generation wireless engineering and intelligent automation. Currently serving as Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment and Director of the Research & Innovation Management Center at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), he brings over two decades of advanced expertise in 5G/6G systems, cognitive radio networks, and the Internet of Things (IoT). He holds a first-class honors Bachelor’s degree and a PhD in Wireless Communications from the University of Southampton, UK. Dr. Hafizal's pioneering work blends machine learning with telecommunications to resolve spectrum scarcity and mobility challenges, complemented by an impactful track record in deploying AI-driven environmental monitoring and automated smart infrastructure solutions globally.

Prof. Dr. Maki Tsujimura, Dean, University of Tsukuba, Malaysia

Prof. Dr. Maki Tsujimura is a Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources/Water Environment at the Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, and serves as Dean of the School of Transdisciplinary Science and Design, University of Tsukuba, Malaysia (UTMy). A specialist in groundwater hydrology and governance, he has conducted research and education in Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Tunisia, Malawi, and Iran. His work includes rainfall-runoff processes and groundwater-surface water interactions in Klang and Langat River watersheds. He supervise international students, integrating their thesis outcomes into his courses while crediting their contributions.

Dr. Lee is an aerospace engineer with a passion for aviation and emerging flight technologies. Fascinated by the science of flight from a young age, he pursued a Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering and became one of the pioneers in UAV control research, contributing to projects funded by the Department of Defense. His research spans a wide range of fields, including Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), flight simulation, artificial intelligence, multi-agent systems (swarming), and battery technology. Currently, Dr. Lee is focused on advancing electric flight, driven by his vision of a greener and more sustainable future for air transportation. With over a decade of experience in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), he continues to lead innovations that are shaping the future of aviation technology.

Norafiza Saleha binti Sahlan was born in Muar, Johor, on 10 August 1980. She obtained a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Warwick in 2003, graduating with First Class Honours, and later completed a Master of Research (MRes) in Advanced Computer Science with Distinction at the University of Manchester in 2015. She began her public service career in 2005 at the Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing (MACRES) in the System and Configuration Section, was appointed to lead the division in 2017, and transitioned to the Strategic Application Division in 2022, where she continued contributing to Malaysia's national space initiatives. She currently serves as the Director of the Strategic Planning and Communications Division, overseeing the implementation of the National Space Policy 2030 while leading international relations, policy development, strategic documentation, corporate communications, and human capital development, reflecting her commitment to advancing Malaysia's space agenda and strengthening the country's presence in the global space community.