Curtin Malaysia hosts 8th Civil and Environmental Engineering Research Conference, bridging theory and practice for final-year students

Miri, Sarawak – 12 December 2024 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently hosted its 8th Civil and Environmental Engineering Research Conference, providing an invaluable platform for final-year students from the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering under its Faculty of Engineering and Science.

In collaboration with the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Miri Branch, the conference aimed to showcase the innovative research and projects of students as they prepare to enter the professional world.

Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Wong Kwong Song, Head of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, explained that the event was designed to immerse students in a professional conference environment, simulating real-world academic and industry engagement.

“This conference is a critical opportunity for our students to present their final-year projects, gain feedback from industry professionals, and experience the conference atmosphere, which is invaluable in their academic and professional journeys,” he said.

The event featured engaging parallel sessions where 14 final-year students, along with one Higher Degree Research (HDR) student, presented their projects in front of an audience of peers, lecturers, and engineers. These sessions were complemented by three enriching guest lectures, followed by a geological field excursion to the geological features at Jalan Mukah near Canada Hill, providing both theoretical and hands-on learning experiences for participants.

The guest lecture series began with a presentation by John Curtin Distinguished Professor Ramasamy Nagarajan, Dean of Research and Development at Curtin Malaysia, who delved into the geology of Borneo Island, with a particular focus on Sarawak’s northern region. His talk offered a deep dive into the diverse and complex geological features of Borneo, enriching students’ understanding of the region’s geological heritage.

The second lecture, led by Ir. Dr. Wong, focused on an innovative approach to peat stabilisation using bacteria, a topic of great relevance to civil engineering in Malaysia’s peatland areas. The final lecture, delivered by Dr. Lee Yeong Huei, Senior Lecturer in the Civil and Construction Engineering Department, provided an in-depth exploration of steel structures and their design considerations based on the Eurocode, offering students crucial insights into modern construction methods.

The interactive guest lectures sparked stimulating discussions, with students actively asking questions related to their projects and gaining valuable feedback from the expert speakers. After the lecture series, the group embarked on a field excursion to Jalan Mukah, lead by Applied Geology lecturers Professor M.V. Prasanna, Associate Professor Dominique Dodge-Wan, Dr Vijay Anand and Fiona Bassy, where they explored various geological features in a real-world context. The excursion highlighted the critical role that geology plays in both civil and environmental engineering, particularly in areas such as geotechnical design and soil contamination management.

“For civil engineers, understanding the geological landscape is essential for tasks like slope stability analysis, while for environmental engineers, it is crucial for addressing soil contamination issues,” said Professor M.V. Prasanna, Head of the Applied Sciences Department. “This hands-on experience in the field greatly enhances the students’ understanding of key geological concepts like lithology, faulting, bedding, and trace fossils.”

With a combination of expert lectures, active participation, and practical fieldwork, the 8th Civil and Environmental Engineering Research Conference at Curtin Malaysia successfully provided students with a well-rounded, immersive educational experience that bridges the gap between theory and practice.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or TikTok.

Dr. Lee Yeong Huei presents on steel structures used in construction during the guest lecture session

Professor M.V. Prasanna discusses the geological features at Jalan Mukah, near Canada Hill, during the field excursion