Curtin M’sia academics win multiple PECIPTA awards
Researchers from Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) did their university proud by winning two golds, one silver and one bronze medal at the Innovation Technology Exposition and International Conference and Exposition on Inventions by Institutions of Higher Learning (PECIPTA) 2022 held recently at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK).
PECIPTA is a biannual programme recognising research excellence organised by the Ministry of Higher Education together with its partner institutions of higher learning (IHL).
Winning the gold medal in the Smart Technology and Systems category was Deputy Dean of Research and Development and Curtin Malaysia Graduate School director Professor Agus Saptoro and his team comprising Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student Terence Chia Yi Kai, Associate Professor Garenth Lim King Hann, and Associate Professor Chua Han Bing.
They won for their innovation of AgriSmartEye, a reliable, low-cost system combining hyper spectral imaging technologies with deep learning artificial neural networks to analyse the authenticity and geographical origins of ground black pepper. The innovation also had won them Curtin University’s prestigious Curtinnovation Award last year, as well as a gold medal at the Innovation Technology Exposition 2022 (InTEX22) in June this year.
Also winning the gold medal, in the Environment and Biodiversity category, was associate professor in chemical and energy engineering Dr. John Lau Sie Yon and his research collaborators; PhD student Shamini Anboo and Associate Professor Tony Hadibarata for their research project titled ‘Development of Novel Magnetic Hybrid OrganicInorganic Nanoflower-Structured Biocatalyst’. This project had also won them a silver medal at InTEX22.
Winning the silver medal in the Environment and Biodiversity category were senior lecturer in chemical and energy engineering Dr. Tan Yie Hua and PhD student Fahad Saleem Ahmed Khan for their research project titled ‘Developing Magnetic Functionalised Carbon Nanotube based Buckypaper for Micropollutant’. This innovation also won the gold medal at InTEX22.
Rounding up the Curtin winners at PECIPTA 2022 was Dr. Henry Foo Chee Yew, a senior lecturer in chemical and energy engineering, and his research collaborator Dr. Tan Inn Shi, who won the bronze medal in the Medical and Healthcare category. Their innovation was titled ‘Electrospun Eggshell Membrane Protein into Structural Membrane as Biotemplate to Control Nanoparticles Growth’.
Winning medals at this prestigious event contributes to Malaysia Research Assessment (MyRA) points for the participating institutions, and the wins by the Curtin Malaysia researchers have not only helped elevate Curtin Malaysia’s research standing but is also regarded as strong testimony of its research prowess.
Meanwhile, at the Sarawak Research Development Council ( SRDC) Symposium 2022, Dr. Lau Shiew Wei, a senior lecturer in chemical and energy engineering, was awarded the Best Presenter Award for her presentation on her research titled ‘Box-Behnken Design Study of Milling Effect on the Alkaline Extraction of Lignin from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch’.
The inaugural 2-day symposium was organised by the SRDC to encourage collaborative research across different academic institutions, research agencies, government departments and agencies, and industrial partners in Sarawak. The symposium featured plenary and sessions reflecting the diverse research projects funded by SRDC, from basic to translational level.
Teaching excellence at Curtin Malaysia also received international recognition when Dr. Tan Inn Shi, a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, won Curtin University’s coveted Teaching Excellence Award for University Associates 2022.
The annual award recognises and rewards academic staff across Curtin University’s campuses in Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, Singapore and Mauritius for demonstrating excellent approaches to teaching and the support of learning that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn.
Curtin Malaysia’s Pro ViceChancellor Professor Simon Leunig remarked that these recent wins speak volumes of the quality research and teaching conducted at Curtin Malaysia. As Curtin University’s earliest and largest global campus and hub in ASEAN, Curtin Malaysia is committed to being a leader in education and research in the region.