Visit from Prof Jerry to ChEE

30 – 31 May 2024: The Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (ChEE) has appointed Professor Dr. Jerry Heng Yong Yew, a highly esteemed candidate as the visiting professor from 1st June 2023 to 30th May 2024. Professor Jerry is recognized globally as a high-impact researcher affiliated with Imperial College London, one of the world’s leading universities. He holds a professorship in Particle Technology and serves as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Chemical Engineering programme at Imperial College London.

Professor Jerry’s visit to the ChEE Department at MJIIT on 30th May 2024 was marked by a series of enriching engagements and insightful contributions. Beginning with a warm welcome from the Head of
Department, the day commenced with a briefing session covering programmes offered by the department, educational objectives, and curriculum enhancements, followed by interactive discussions on laboratory practices, student projects, and internship opportunities. A major highlight was the laboratory tour where Professor Jerry had the opportunity to visit both the ikohza and teaching laboratories.
During the lab tour, he also shared valuable insights into how research and teaching are conducted in the laboratories at Imperial College London.

MJIIT iKohza Innovation Competition 2024

The MJIIT iKohza Innovation Competition 2024 was a highly anticipated event held at the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) on 28th May 2024, in conjunction with Malaysia-Japan Industrial and Innovation Expo (MJIIX) 2024. This competition aimed at showcasing the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills of the iKohza members in MJIIT. Participation was open to all 20 iKohzas and 2 research centres at MJIIT, encouraging them to develop and present unique, marketable products. The competition this year drew 13 entries/teams from 12 iKohzas, reflecting the vibrant and innovative spirit among the faculty members.

The champion was the Malaysia-Japan Advanced Research Centre (MJARC) with their project titled “Waste to Feed: Conversion of Banana Peels to Ruminant Feed Using Subcritical Water Technology,” earning them a RM1,500 cash prize and a certificate of achievement. The first runner-up was Shizen Conversion and Separation Technology (SHIZEN / CLEAR) for their project “Precise Thermophysical Properties and Phase Equilibrium (VLE, LLE, and SLE) Data for Design of Unit Operations in Chemical Engineering,” receiving a RM1,000 cash prize and a certificate of achievement. The second runner-up was Tribology and Precision Machining (Tri Prem) with their project “Gliding Our Waste into a Sustainable Future,” which garnered a RM500 cash prize and a certificate of achievement.

Global Algae Summit 2023

[Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur, August 17th] – The inaugural Global Algae Summit 2023 (GAS 2023) concluded with resounding success, marking a significant milestone in uniting thought leaders, researchers, and experts from the algae industry and related fields. Organized collaboratively by Leave a Nest, Euglena Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., and Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), the summit took place on August 17th, 2023, at Azman Hashim Hall, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

Strategic partnerships with leading organizations, including Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corp.) and the Algae Biotechnology Consortium (ABC), underscored the summit’s commitment to advancing a circular and sustainable bioeconomy. NanoMalaysia Berhad, serving as a session partner, spotlighted the role of nanotechnology in renewable energy and augmenting algae-related innovations, showcasing the potential of nanomaterials in sustainable biofuel production, advancing algae cultivation, product development, and more.

Under the theme “Paving the Future of Circular Algae Bioeconomy,” the summit illuminated the immense potential of algae in revolutionizing industries such as healthcare, renewable energy, biotechnology, and more. Attendees experienced a diverse range of sessions, including keynote speeches, interactive panel discussions, engaging pocket talks, informative poster presentations, and interactive exhibition booths, all of which showcased cutting-edge research, innovations, and technologies in the field of algae.

Prior to the summit, a significant step was taken as MJIIT, UTM joined hands with Euglena Co. Ltd. by signing a memorandum of agreement. This marked the official initiation of their collaborative efforts in algae research and development. Prof. Ts. Dr. Abd Latif Saleh, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of UTM Kuala Lumpur, in his speech has emphasized the profound nature of this collaboration, describing it as a fusion of visionary intellects, a seamless merging of academic prowess and industrial expertise, and a dedicated stride towards pushing the boundaries of scientific understanding and technological innovation in the field of algae.

A total of 185 participants from all over Malaysia which involved a consortium of esteemed universities, including Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIA), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), UCSI University, International Medical University (IMU), Sunway University, and Universiti Selangor (UNISEL), enriched the summit with diverse perspectives and fueled the progress of algae research and innovation through poster presentations. Notably, the poster presentation was also enriched by the participation and contributions of researchers from various industry and corporate entities.

SCE3 2023

1st International Conference on Sustainable Chemical, Energy and Environmental Engineering 2023 was organized by Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), UTM Kuala Lumpur. The conference was held on 8-9 March 2023 at Ibis Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.