Last week, I was approached to assist and provide professional advice regarding the ventilation piping system of the chemical cabinet at the CREG Laboratory. The request was made following the advice of Dr. Kamarizan Kidam, the Safety Head at the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, who emphasized the need for a Professional Engineer to inspect and provide input on the matter. After agreeing on the date and time, I arrived at the lab as scheduled today (3 pm after Friday prayer).

This laboratory holds a special place in my journey at UTM, as it was the first lab I worked in—initially as a Research Assistant in 1999, then a Research Officer in 2000, followed by my Master’s studies from 2001 to 2002, and later as a PhD student from 2009 to 2013. Because of this long-standing connection, I felt a deep sense of responsibility and urgency to contribute and help.

Upon inspection, I observed that the overall condition of the lab remains largely unchanged. However, I noted that many critical components, including the fume hood, chemical cabinet, ducting system, ventilation fans, and electrical systems, are aging and require attention. Most notably, the ducting system is in urgent need of an upgrade to ensure full compliance with current laws and safety regulations. While there is a strong intent to make these improvements, cost remains a significant challenge.

Following a discussion with the lab team, I offered several preliminary recommendations. These include:

• Engaging a qualified consultant to conduct a full technical assessment and provide expert recommendations.
• Performing a site visit to the recently upgraded Faculty of Science laboratory, which has implemented a new ducting and stack system, to learn from their setup and vendor engagement.

These initial steps will help the team formulate a clearer upgrade strategy that is both compliant and feasible within their budget constraints.

Earlier the same day, I attended the Jawatankuasa Tetap Senat (Penyelidikan & Inovasi) Meeting (Bil. 3/2025) held at Dewan Senat, UTM, which commenced at 9.00 a.m. and concluded at 11.45 a.m. The meeting involved the discussion and approval of several important planning documents and policy papers.

A key highlight of the session was the deliberation on budget planning for research and innovation activities within the university. The chair addressed the ongoing challenges of sustaining UTM’s status as a Research University, especially in the face of reduced financial allocations compared to previous years. Strategic measures and prioritization frameworks were discussed to ensure that research excellence and impact can still be upheld despite the budgetary constraints.

Other tasks of the day:

• Updating the JKPD LPB and agenda for the upcoming meeting this coming Monday.
• Evening discussion with my MKKL Master student – ALCOA+ in pharmaceutical industries.
• Getting an update on our staff visit to SPRM yesterday.
• Checking the copyright document made by my postdoc.

#20242025 Day 011

#Friday