Mazlan Othman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yang Berbahagia Professor Emerita Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr
Mazlan Othman
PSM SSNS PJN KMN
|
|
|---|---|
| مصلان عثمان | |
Mazlan in 2010
|
|
| Born | 11 December 1951 |
| Nationality | Malaysian |
| Alma mater | University of Otago |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
Mazlan binti Othman (Jawi: مصلان بنت عثمان; born December 11, 1951) is a famous Malaysian astrophysicist. She helped Malaysia become a part of space exploration. She was the very first astrophysicist in her country.
Dr. Mazlan also helped create university courses in astrophysics. She worked to teach people about space and astronomy. From 2007 to 2014, she was the director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in Vienna.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mazlan Othman was born in Seremban, Malaysia. She went to Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, a well-known boarding school. She was very good at math, so she studied science.
Her family wanted her to become a doctor. But Mazlan chose to study physics instead. She went to the University of Otago in New Zealand. She received a scholarship called the Colombo plan. In 1975, she earned her first degree.
Later, she joined the National University of Malaysia as a tutor. She went back to the University of Otago. In 1981, she earned her Ph.D. in physics. She was the first woman to get a physics Ph.D. from that university since it started in 1869.
Career in Space Science
After her studies, Mazlan Othman returned to Malaysia. She became the country's first astrophysicist. She worked hard to create new courses in astrophysics at the national university. She also helped people learn more about space and astronomy. She even did research in Japan at the Kiso Observatory.
Leading Malaysia's Space Efforts
In 1990, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, put her in charge of the Planetarium Division. She helped build Planetarium Negara, which is Malaysia's national planetarium in Kuala Lumpur.
When the planetarium opened in 1993, Mazlan became its Director General. She then started a program to develop small satellites. The next year, she became a full professor.
Working with the United Nations
In 1999, Kofi Annan, who was the head of the United Nations, asked Mazlan to be the Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in Vienna.
In 2002, she returned to Malaysia. She became the first Director General of Angkasa, the Malaysian National Space Agency. Her work there led to the first Malaysian astronaut, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, going to space.
In 2007, she was asked to lead UNOOSA again. She worked on many important space topics. These included international cooperation in space and preventing space junk collisions. She also worked on using space technology for development. She helped coordinate space law between countries. She also looked at risks from asteroids close to Earth.
Later Career and Advisory Roles
After leaving the United Nations, Dr. Othman continued to be involved in science and space. She joined advisory groups and taught as a visiting professor. She also became a senior fellow at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia.
In 2017, she became the Director of the International Science Council (ISC) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
Honours and Awards
Dr. Mazlan Othman has received many important awards for her work.
- In 1997, the King of Malaysia gave her the "Panglima Jasa Negara" award. This honor gave her the title "Datuk".
- Also in 1997, her old university, the University of Otago, gave her an honorary Doctor of Science degree.
- In 2009, the Institute of Physics gave her the President's Medal. This was for her work in teaching astronomy in Malaysia. It was also for her important role in space science around the world.
- In 2013, she received the "Polarstern-Preis" (Polarstar Award). This award was from the Austrian Space Forum. It recognized her efforts to make people excited about space.
Malaysia :
Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2021)
Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) – Datuk (1997)
Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1994)
Negeri Sembilan :
Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (SSNS) – Dato' Seri (2020)
Personal Life
Dato’ Seri Mazlan Othman has two children. Her son is an aerospace engineer. Her daughter was born in 1995. She also has two grandchildren.
She retired from the United Nations in 2013. She lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with her youngest daughter.
See also
In Spanish: Mazlan Othman para niños
