Mr. Asdirhyme Abdul Rasid, Dr. Tang Fu Ee and Professor Ian Kerr with participants in a photo call
Miri – 12 November 2012 – The just-concluded 7th Curtin University Technology, Science and Engineering (CUTSE) Conference held at Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) from 6 to 7 November 2012 can be described as a great success considering the number of participants it attracted and number of research papers presented.
Some 50 researchers, engineers, scientists, academicians, industry professionals and students from 10 countries attended the conference, and a total of 73 papers were received from researchers from 10 different countries.
In addition, 88 papers were also presented by Curtin Sarawak’s final-year engineering students across its Civil and Construction Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Geology departments.
The CUTSE Conference is organised annually by departments within the School of Engineering and Science at Curtin Sarawak in collaboration with the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) Miri Branch. It provides a platform for engineers and scientists from Malaysia and around the world to share and disseminate the latest innovations and developments in engineering and science, as well as initiate collaboration in their respective fields.
In recent years, its focus has been on finding eco-friendly and sustainable solutions to problems across all areas, and this year’s conference theme was ‘Engineering Goes Green’.
Professor Ian Kerr addressing the participants
In his speech to the participants, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin Sarawak Professor Ian Kerr said the conference and its green theme should encourage participants to not only examine the tremendous strides made in technology and the sciences, but also inspire them to gear their research and development increasingly towards achieving a more sustainable development globally.
“Sustainable development has taken on greater importance and urgency all over the world. Indeed, it is a process of change that is drastically transforming business and industry, including the exploitation of resources, direction of investments, orientation of technological development, and institutional change. Supporting sustainable development is now as much an economic necessity as it is an environmental and social necessity,” he remarked, adding that scientists and engineers have a significant role to play in sustainable development.
According to Professor Kerr, Curtin Sarawak has scored many successes in its innovative approach to teaching and learning, attracted students and faculty from all over the world, and made significant strides in research and development, and the annual CUTSE Conference can be counted among its successes.
Federal Minister of Energy, Green Technology & Water Dato’ Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui, in his address delivered by the ministry’s Undersecretary for Development and Regulatory, Green Technology Sector, Asdirhyme Abdul Rasid, said the annual conference is very much in line with his ministry’s initiatives to promote sustainable development and practices.
He commended Curtin Sarawak for its teaching and research that set young engineers on the right path towards promoting sustainable development, sustainable development being one of the core subjects across all its engineering disciplines.
He also praised the university for including the presentation of students’ work in the conference, stating that the experience would not only give them a sense of pride but also the confidence and determination to use their acquired knowledge and skills to make a difference in this world.
Organising chairman Dr. Tang Fu Ee
Organising chairman Dr. Tang Fu Ee, who is the head of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering in Curtin Sarawak’s School of Science and Engineering, thanked all the participants for attending the conference.
He said it was an honour for his department, with support from other departments in the School of Engineering and Science, to organise the conference which was initiated by the department back in 2006. It has been organised by various departments within the school on rotation over the years.
The conference was sponsored by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Malaysia (KeTTHA); JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration (Malaysia) Limited; Bintulu Development Authority; Shin Yang Sdn. Bhd. and the Miri City Council.
For more information on Curtin Sarawak, call +60 85 443939 or visit its website at www.curtin.edu.my. Curtin Sarawak can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CurtinUniversitySarawakMalaysia.
