By: Noor Eszereen Juferi
SERDANG, 11 August – Mathematical research at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) continues to receive international recognition, with two Senior Lecturers from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, UPM, Dr. Nur Syahirah Wahid and Dr. Yow Kai Siong, recently selected to present their research at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) 2026 in Philadelphia, United States.
Both lecturers were also selected for the ICM 2026 Travel Support Program administered by the American Mathematical Society (AMS), with funding from the Simons Foundation.
Dr. Nur Syahirah’s research, developed from a final-year undergraduate project under her supervision, highlighted how undergraduate research at UPM can further developed and presented to the international mathematical community.
She explained that her research, titled “Magnetohydrodynamics Ternary Hybrid Nanofluid Flow over a Permeable Moving Surface,” focuses on applied mathematics, particularly fluid dynamics and heat transfer.
“Briefly, this study involves developing a mathematical model to represent a physical phenomenon, formulating the relevant equations and solving them using mathematical and numerical methods.
“From these solutions, we interpret the results to understand the behaviour of the system being studied,” she said.
She added that the study focuses on ternary hybrid nanofluids, which combine of several types of nanoparticles, while examining the effects of parameters such as magnetic fields, surface movement and surface properties on flow behaviour and heat transfer.
“The opportunity to present this research at ICM 2026 allowed me to share my findings with the international mathematical community, while also engaging and exchanging ideas with mathematicians from around the world.
“This experience broadened my perspective on mathematics as a discipline, particularly on how mathematical ideas, theories, structures, proofs and ways of thinking are valued and developed across various branches,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Yow Kai Siong presented his research titled “D&A: Resource Optimisation in Personalised PageRank Computations Using Multi-Core Machines,” which integrates graph computing and resource optimisation to address practical challenges in large-scale Personalised PageRank query processing.
According to him, the study determines the optimal number of computing cores needed to process Personalised PageRank queries within a specified time frame.
“The D&A framework developed in this study demonstrates that computing resources can be significantly reduced while still meeting the specified processing time requirements,” he said.
He described his participation in ICM 2026 as a highly meaningful experience, providing an opportunity to be part of a global community of mathematicians and witness the development and breadth of modern mathematics.
“One of the most memorable experiences was witnessing the Fields Medal award ceremony in person. Being among thousands of mathematicians and witnessing that historic moment further deepened my appreciation for the beauty and impact of mathematical research,” he said.
ICM, organised every four years by the International Mathematical Union (IMU), is one of the most prestigious gatherings in the international mathematical community.
The congress brings together mathematicians from around the world to present research findings, share the latest developments across various mathematical disciplines and foster international research networks and collaborations.
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