Over 100 international delegates attend materials technology and energy conference at Curtin Malaysia

Miri – 26 November 2019 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) hosted a highly successful International Conference on Materials Technology & Energy (ICMTE) 2019 for the second time at its campus here from 6 to 8 November 2019.

The conference saw the gathering of over 100 delegates from Malaysia, Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Singapore and South Africa to exchange knowledge and ideas, and discuss innovations, trends and future challenges related to materials technology and energy. They included academics, researchers and industry professionals in the fields of construction, materials, manufacturing, green energy and industrial technology.

The conference was jointly organised by Curtin Malaysia, Institute of Materials Malaysia (IMM) Miri Regional Chapter and The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Miri Branch.

It received support from Serba Dinamik Holdings Berhad, the Sarawak Convention Bureau, Sarawak United People’s Party and University Sebelas Maret in Indonesia, and also had the honour of having the Institute of Physics in the United Kingdom as partner publisher of the conference proceedings.

The conference was opened by Ir. David Lai Kong Phooi, President of The Institution of Engineers Malaysia. Representing Curtin Malaysia at the opening were Pro Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Jim Mienczakowski, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan, Chief Operating Officer Ir. Pieter Pottas, Associate Dean of Research and Development Professor Ramasamy Nagarajan, and Acting Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Science Associate Professor Vincent Lee.

Also present were IMM Miri Chairman Ir. Edwin Jong Nyon Tchan and the organising chairman of ICMTE 2019, Dr. Yam Ke San.

The conference featured seven keynote speakers, whose presentations were in line with Sarawak’s Digital Transformation and Industrial Revolution 4.0 initiatives. They included Professor Mohd. Nasir Tamin (University Teknologi Malaysia) who spoke on ‘Hybrid Experimental-Computational Characterisation of Materials for Reliability and Life Prediction Models’, Associate Professor Yang Wenming (National University of Singapore) whose topic was ‘Fuel Design and its Impact on the Performance and Emissions of Internal Combustion Engines’, and Associate Professor Ir. Chong Wen Tong (University of Malaya) who delivered a talk on ‘Innovative Wind Turbine Designs and Technologies’.

Associate Professor Sujan Debnath (Curtin University Malaysia) gave a presentation on ‘Mechanical Performance of Natural Fiber Polymer Composites Using Palm Oil Biomass’ while Dr. Suvash Saha (University of Technology Sydney) spoke on ‘Heat Transfer and Thermal Storage in Different Types of Heat Exchangers’.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ir. Wahyudi Sutopo (Universitas Sebelas Maret) talked about ‘Intervening for Accelerating a Technology Commercialisation in University using Early Supply Chain Integration’, and Dr. Chithirai Pon Selvan (Curtin University Dubai), spoke about ‘Investigation of Process Parameters for Depth of Cut in Abrasive Waterjet Machining of Materials’.

Many of the delegates said the conference provided excellent opportunities for domestic and international participants to share their research findings and initiate collaboration in areas of recent technical advancements and innovation with regards to materials technology and energy.

They added that the keynote speakers were eminent and reputable academics and industry practitioners in their respective fields. They also remarked on the quality of the parallel oral presentations, which covered various key research areas such as materials engineering, clean technology, renewable energy, sustainable material, industrial optimisation and Industrial Revolution 4.0.

The conference ended with a half-day technical tour to the Sarawak BioValley Pilot Plant at the Curtin Malaysia campus, and a half-day master class on the interpretation of industrial welding codes.

The RM60.6 million Sarawak Government-funded Sarawak Miri BioValley Park Pilot Plant, the first of its kind in the state, supports the development of new bio-products and processes and provides pilot plant facilities to assist the petrochemical and biotechnology industries in phytochemical and bioprocesses that include high quality testing and development facilities for product analysis, product enhancement and quality assurance.

IEM President Ir David Lai Kong Phooi opening the conference.

The gathering of academics, researchers and industry professionals at ICMTE 2019.

Conference participants gathered for the closing ceremony.

Dr Graham Sussex from Nickel Institute delivering his technical talk.

Dr Suvash Saha from University of Technology Sydney delivering his keynote speech.

Associate Professor Yang Wenming of National University of Singapore giving his talk.

University of Malaya’s Associate Professor Ir Chong Wen Tong delivering his talk.

Dr Ir Wahyudi Sutopo of Universitas Sebelas Maret giving his talk.