Curtin Malaysia hosts visiting Indonesian researchers under collaborative research programme

Miri – 11 January 2024 – The Faculty of Engineering and Science at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently hosted two visiting researchers from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) in Surabaya, Indonesia, Anisa Ratnasari and Isti Faizati, on a collaborative research programme between Curtin Malaysia and ITS, a leading university in the field of science and technology in Indonesia.

This collaborative research venture from 13 November to 7 December 2023, conducted under the guidance of Associate Professor Tony Hadibarata, who is Coordinator of the Master of Sustainable Aquaculture Programme at the Faculty of Engineering and Science of Curtin Malaysia, involved an intensive exploration of topics related to microplastic contamination in aquatic environments and the isolation of microorganisms capable of degrading organic pollutants.

Assoc. Prof. Hadibarata expressed his enthusiasm for the programme, saying, “This collaboration with ITS and the presence of Ms. Anisa and Ms. Isti has been a very meaningful and enriching experience. It exemplifies the importance of international partnerships in advancing scientific knowledge and addressing global challenges.

“We look forward to the dissemination of their findings through research articles and the submission of a research grant proposal to international funding bodies,” he added.

Anisa remarked that working alongside the researchers and faculty members at Curtin Malaysia was an invaluable experience for her.

“This collaboration has enhanced our understanding of environmental issues, especially in Malaysia. We are excited about the potential impact of our research and look forward to sharing our findings with the global scientific community,” she said.

Beyond the confines of the laboratory, Anisa and Isti also participated in a knowledge transfer programme in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering and Science for pupils at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Baram 2. The programme taught the pupils practical, sustainable environmental solutions that could benefit their community such as rainwater harvesting and composting of various types of waste.

Isti, meanwhile, commented that the collaboration between ITS and Curtin Malaysia reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to advancing knowledge, fostering international collaboration, and addressing real-world challenges.

“The outcomes of this programme are anticipated to have a lasting impact on both scientific understanding and community development, exemplifying the transformative potential of global research partnerships,” she said.

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Visiting Indonesian researchers working on instruments in lab at Curtin Malaysia