Humanizing Technology for Planetary Health
The talk will discuss how universities can support planetary health goals and the SDGs through human-centric technology, including the role of AI and the social disparities that technology alone cannot address.
Date: Thursday 05 February 2026
Time: 11:00 - 11:45
Venue: 427B, James Watt South Building
Category: Public lectures, Academic events
Speaker: Ahmad Farhan, Vice-Chancellor, Universiti Putra, Malaysia
Abstract: To achieve our planetary health aspirations, universities must play an active and impactful role in the global agenda. As the world builds upon the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a powerful new framework is emerging: Planetary Health. This concept focuses on securing a sustainable balance between human civilization and the natural systems we depend on. By uniting our university missions under this banner, we can amplify collective impact. While technology, and now artificial intelligence, offers unprecedented opportunities for effective action, critical gaps remain, often rooted in social disparities that technology alone cannot bridge. This talk explores these challenges and proposes a human-centric approach to technology, illustrated through pioneering initiatives at Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Speaker biography: Professor Ir. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah is currently the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and a Professor in Transport Studies.
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Mar 2017 to Apr 2021; previously Dean, School of Civil Engineering and Director, Engineering Campus.
• Founding Commission Member of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and later Interim Chairman until the commission was decommissioned.
• Director General, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), 2008 to 2011, contributing to national road safety strategies.
• Provides leadership at UPM with a focus on food security and sustainable agricultural development, including the Blueprint for Food Security and Agriculture for People.