Future engineers tackle climate change and peat fire challenges at Curtin Malaysia conference

Miri, Sarawak – 18 June 2026 – Climate change, extreme weather events, and peatland fires are among the most pressing environmental challenges facing Malaysia today. To prepare the next generation of engineers to address these issues, Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently brought together students, academics, government experts, and industry professionals for its annual Civil and Environmental Engineering Research Conference (CEERC).

Organised by the Environmental Engineering Discipline and the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science, the 11th Civil and Environmental Engineering Research Conference (CEERC 2026) was held on 12 June in collaboration with the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Miri Branch.

The conference provided final-year engineering students with a unique opportunity to present their research and innovative solutions in a setting that closely mirrors a professional academic conference.

Through parallel technical sessions, students showcased their final-year projects to fellow students, academics, and engineering practitioners, gaining valuable experience in communicating research findings and defending their work before a professional audience.

A key highlight of the conference was a thought-provoking keynote lecture titled ‘Is Malaysia Really Experiencing Climate Change? What the Data Tell Us’, delivered virtually by Ambun Dindang, Deputy Director-General (Operations) of the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET Malaysia). Drawing on meteorological data and national climate trends, the session provided participants with a deeper understanding of the realities and impacts of climate change in Malaysia.

The conference also explored one of Sarawak’s recurring environmental concerns – peatland fires. Sinanawati Marto, Senior Environmental Control Officer from the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Miri Division, shared valuable insights into peat fire prevention and suppression strategies, highlighting the importance of effective environmental management and multi-agency collaboration.

Bridging theory with practice, participants took part in an educational field visit to the weather station and firebreak facilities within the Curtin Malaysia campus. During the visit, Freddie Anit, Office Supervisor from the Miri Meteorological Office, provided an on-site briefing on weather monitoring systems and their role in forecasting and environmental management.

The conference concluded with lively discussions and question-and-answer sessions, reflecting the strong interest among participants in climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and emerging engineering solutions.

By fostering collaboration between academia, professional bodies, and government agencies such as NREB and MET Malaysia, CEERC 2026 reinforced Curtin Malaysia’s commitment to producing industry-ready graduates equipped to address complex environmental and infrastructure challenges.

As climate and sustainability issues continue to shape the future of engineering, initiatives such as CEERC provide an important platform for developing the knowledge, skills, and professional networks that future engineers need to create resilient and sustainable communities.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or follow Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

Final-year engineering students and lecturers during a briefing on peat fire prevention and suppression in Sarawak.

Participants receiving an on-site briefing at weather station at Curtin Malaysia.