Curtin Sarawak academicians awarded grant for research into transport sustainability

Miri – 23 February 2012 – A research team from Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) was recently awarded a grant by the East Asian Development Network (EADN) to carry out a research project entitled ‘The Influence of Macro-Environment Forces on Transport Sustainability: A Case in Malaysia’.

The team comprises accounting senior lecturer Dr. Pauline Ho Poh Ling, marketing and management senior lecturer Dr. Goi Chai Lee, marketing and management lecturer Fayrene Chieng and a postgraduate student from the University of Canterbury, Ng Poh Yen.

The research project, which commenced on 1 February 2012, aims to identify the key macro-environmental forces (political, economic, demographic, cultural, technological and natural) that affect transport sustainability. It also provides an opportunity to examine the relationships among the macro-environmental forces and transport sustainability through a measurement model.

EADN is a network of research institutions in the developing countries of East Asia. As one of the regional network partners under the Global Development Network (GDN), EADN was established with the objective to develop research capacity and networking in the developing countries of the region. The EADN Steering Committee consists of members from Malaysia, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore and the Philippines, to name but a few.

EADN grants are awarded on a competitive basis in which the amount varies depending on the quality of proposed content, scope of the research subject, complexity of the research methodology, field work, project completion period and number of researchers involved. Research projects must be completed within one year from the time the grants are formalised.

The selection of award recipients is based on the originality, quality and policy relevance of the topic. Proposals that cover a range of topics within the field of social sciences, take into account capacity building concerns and are cost effective, development-oriented and highly likely to have implications for policy are preferred. Preference is also given to those who have never received or are not currently receiving an EADN research grant.

The grant to Curtin Sarawak marks another milestone for the university in building and strengthening its research and development reputation in this region. Curtin Sarawak researchers are also part of a successful team of researchers based at the University of Malaya which has managed to obtain a RM2 million grant to produce hydrogen biofuels through the hydrolysis of biomass.

Its researchers are also working in collaboration with the National Metal and Materials Technology Centre in Thailand where the university will be developing methods to recover functional ingredients from biomass.

On 9 November 2011, the university launched the Curtin Sarawak Research Institute (CSRI), a multi-disciplinary research institute that delivers scientifically-based solutions, principally to the energy and biotech industries, as well as offers research fellowships to researchers.

Research team will investigate macro-environment forces on transport sustainability in Malaysia.