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Activity

Laptop Handover Ceremony Worth RM50,000 for FST Asnaf Students

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), through its Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), organized a Laptop Handover Ceremony worth RM50,000. This initiative was the result of a strategic collaboration between Sekatarakyat (Koperasi Bank Rakyat), Lembaga Zakat Malaysia, and Taman Botani Bangi (TBB). Led by Prof. Dr. Noraini Talip, Head of TBB, the program also commemorated the 50th anniversary of Sekatarakyat as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts.

The ceremony, held at the Banquet Hall, Keris Mas College (KKM), was attended by members of the Board of Directors of Sekatarakyat, including Dato’ (Dr.) Mustafha Abd Razak, Puan Hasrul Liza Shah Rudin, En. Mohd Salleh Mahmood, En. Mohd Shaifuddin Abdullah, Puan Nor Elina Ab Ghani, and En. Ahmad Rozaman Mohd Yusoff. Representatives from FST included Prof. ChM. Dr. Ishak Ahmad, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, En. Muhammad Walid Osman, Deputy Registrar of FST, Dr. Mohd Ikmal Asmuni, Dr. Johari Jalinas, Dr. Hafiz Muhamad, Dr. Syazwani Basir, En. Mohamad Ruzi Abdul Rahman, Research Officer, Yang Mulia Raja Farzarul Hanim Raja Azmy, Research Officer, and Pn. Nurhafizah Haris, Marketing Officer. A total of 20 laptops were handed over to asnaf (underprivileged) students from FST to support their studies and research.

With the motto “FST to the Fore”, the Faculty of Science and Technology remains committed to being a leader in producing competitive graduates prepared to face future challenges. This initiative reflects the faculty’s and Sekatarakyat’s continuous efforts to support students in need.

FST Silver Jubilee Celebration 2024 marked with great enthusiasm, over 1,000 participants joined

Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), today organized the FST 25th Jubilee Celebration 3-in-1 Program with great enthusiasm in conjunction with its 25th anniversary. The running event successfully attracted over 600 participants, including students, alumni, and the local community, featuring a variety of beneficial and entertaining activities.

The program began as early as 6:45 AM with a Zumba session as a warm-up activity, followed by running events covering distances of 2km, 5km, and 10km. These activities aimed to promote a healthy lifestyle while fostering closer ties among FST members and the community. This was followed by the Career Program, which served as an essential platform to enhance students’ knowledge and employability.

Highlights of the Career Program included: (1) A Financial Literacy Talk by Great Eastern General Insurance (M) Berhad. (2)A Personal Branding Sharing Session by GRADUAN. (3) A forum themed Equipping Science & Technology Graduates for Dynamic Careers, featuring FST alumni and industry representatives. This forum discussed the challenges and opportunities for Science and Technology graduates in an increasingly competitive job market.

The celebration was further enlivened by an entrepreneurship carnival showcasing various stalls and exhibitions by students and local entrepreneurs.

Among the FST management in attendance were Prof. ChM. Dr. Ishak Ahmad, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ts. Mohd Hariri Arifin, Deputy Dean of Industry & Community Engagement; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abd Munir Abd Murad, Deputy Dean of Postgraduate Studies; Mr. Muhamad Walid Osman, FST Administrative Head; Mr. Cheng Chuen Chee, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Great Eastern General Insurance (M) Berhad; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhamad Azry Khoiry, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development & SMEs (UKM-CESMED).

This program also highlighted Great Eastern General Insurance (M) Berhad’s commitment as the main sponsor, supporting human capital development through graduate employability initiatives. The FST 2024 Silver Jubilee Celebration not only reflected the faculty’s 25 years of achievements but also served as a platform to strengthen the bonds between students, alumni, staff, and industry players, making this event a resounding symbol of success. “FST to the Fore!”

The Closing Ceremony of the Kelas Rimba Bateq Literacy Program

The “Education & Community Development Program ‘Kelas Rimba Bateq'” at Pos Changkung, Sungai Keniam, Taman Negara Pahang, for the year 2024, was successfully conducted in 8 series starting from January 2024. This program is a collaboration between the Faculty of Science & Technology (FST) and the Malaysian Food Bank Foundation (YFBM), with full support from the Student Affairs Center (HEP-UKM) and the Faculty of Science Student Association (PMFST).

The closing ceremony of the 8th series was honored by the presence of Prof. Ts. Dr. Norinsan Kamil Bin Othman, Director of HEP-UKM; Prof. ChM. Dr. Ishak Bin Ahmad, Dean of FST; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdul Munir Bin Abdul Murad, Deputy Dean of Postgraduate Studies at FST; and Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Hariri Bin Arifin, Deputy Dean of HEJIM FST, along with 11 FST staff members and 12 students supported by YFBM staff.

This 8-series program supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG1 (No Poverty) and SDG4 (Quality Education), through initiatives in education, health, and welfare for the Bateq indigenous community. Key activities included teaching Malay, English, and Mathematics; hygiene care classes; microbiology exposure; and food supply distribution to the local community.

Prof. Ts. Dr. Norinsan Kamil expressed his hope that one day, some of the students involved in this program might have the opportunity to become UKM students, thus changing their future for the better.

Professional Certificate Course in NPS Investigation by FST with the Participation of 123 PDRM Participants

The Faculty of Science and Technology has implemented part of the components of the Professional Certificate in New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) Crime Scene Investigation with the participation of over 123 participants from various ranks and departments of the Royal Malaysia Police, particularly from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, Criminal Investigation Department, and several other relevant units. This Professional Certificate course is jointly organized by academic staff from the Forensic Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, and the Department of Chemistry (FST).

The inaugural Professional Certificate is part of the collaborative efforts outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding between UKM and PDRM to address the growing threat of new psychoactive substances (NPS). After completing the initial session, participants must fulfill additional requirements to receive the Professional Certificate.

International Geothermal Conference Strengthening Cooperation Between Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand

YBhg. Prof. Dato’ Dr. Roslee Rajikan, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Strategy and Governance), officiated the Malaysia International Geothermal Conference 2024 (MIGC 2024) held at the Cyber Academy Technopolis, UKM.

This conference is organized by the National University of Malaysia (UKM) in collaboration with three countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

UKM’s startup company, Geothermal Resources Sdn. Bhd., and NewQuest Geotechnology, Indonesia, have become co-sponsors for the MIGC 2024 conference.

The conference provides a platform for participants from various countries to interact and form collaborations that can drive the development of the geothermal industry and has successfully raised awareness and interest in the use of geothermal energy in Malaysia and internationally.

In his speech, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Roslee emphasized that geothermal energy is a renewable alternative energy source of today.

Various studies have been conducted to explore the potential and effectiveness of this technology, showing that geothermal energy can not only be used for electricity generation but also for heating and cooling buildings, as well as other industrial applications.

Also present were Prof. ChM. Dr. Ishak Ahmad, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, and Prof. Madya Ts. Dr. Mohd Hariri Arifin, Chairman of MIGC 2024.

Enhancing Collaboration and Research in Atmospheric Chemistry for Global Sustainability

The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRES), Datuk Dr. Ching Thoo A/L Kim, officiated the 16th International Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (iCACGP) Symposium and the 18th International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) Science Conference (iCACGP-IGAC Conference 2024) at the World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

Themed “Atmospheric Chemistry: From Local Knowledge to Global Sustainability,” this conference serves as an international platform for researchers, scientists, and non-governmental organizations to present and discuss findings on atmospheric chemistry through cross-border research and multidisciplinary approaches.

The international conference, which gathered over 500 participants, aims to promote research and collaboration in environmental and sustainability fields.

The conference topics encompass aspects of air quality, the impacts of climate and weather on air quality, the fundamentals of chemical processes and mechanisms, as well as current challenges and future directions in atmospheric chemistry for sustainable solutions.

Also present were the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Prof. ChM. Dr. Ishak Ahmad, and the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the iCACGP-IGAC conference, Prof. Dr. Mohd Talib Latif.

CSR Bateq Forest Camp PMFST

Faculty of Science and Technology Student Association (PMFST), in collaboration with the Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia (YFBM), has successfully organised a program, “CSR Bateq Forest Camp PMFST,” at the Bateq Forest Camp PMFST, Pos Changkung, Kg. Keniam, Taman Negara Pahang, taking place from November 10 to 12, 2023. This program is a collective effort to make a positive contribution to the Bateq community in the area.

In the execution of this CSR program, various holistic and integrated activities have been planned and carried out by FST and YFBM. One of the key initiatives is the provision of food supplies to the Bateq community, aiming to alleviate their living conditions. Additionally, there are teaching sessions covering subjects such as Malay, English, and Mathematics, with the goal of enhancing the educational standards among the residents.

The program also emphasizes health and hygiene aspects through cleanliness care classes and the production of lip balm. This aims to raise awareness and knowledge among the Bateq community regarding good health practices. Furthermore, microbiology classes are conducted to provide an in-depth understanding of microorganisms that influence daily life.

These initiatives align with the goals of sustainable development, especially SDG1 (No Poverty) and SDG4 (Quality Education). They reflect FST’s commitment to achieving sustainable development among communities in need of assistance.

FST's Natural History Museum Seminar Programme 2023

On October 11, 2023, Natural History Museum, Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), UKM successfully organised the FST 2023 Natural History Museum Seminar, with the theme “The Role of Museums in Preserving the Natural Heritage of the Country,” held in the Conference Hall of FST. This program was led by Associate Professor Dr. Farah Shafawati Mohd Taib, who is the head of the FST Natural History Museum, along with members of the MSA (Museum of Natural History) consisting of 6 repository units, including the Zoological Museum, Geological Museum, Herbarium, Insect Repository, Seed Bank Unit, and Culture Collection Unit.

The program aimed to gather interested agencies and institutes that possess natural history repository collections to enhance the sharing of information related to natural history collections. The keynote address for this seminar was delivered by the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, Ms. Norsham Abdul Latip. Plenary agencies involved in the seminar included the Department of Minerals and Geosciences (JMG), the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), the Department of Museums Malaysia (JMM), and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN). The seminar was expected to foster cooperation in the management and research of national-level natural history collections. This program marked the first time it was organized by MSA FST and aimed to raise the profile of MSA at the national level. Through these efforts, the program supported the goal of sustainable development SDG17 (Partnership for the Goals).

Furthermore, the preservation of these natural history collections is crucial for the conservation of natural resources, particularly biodiversity and geodiversity, which aligns with the sustainable development goal SDG15 (Life on Land).

FST's Natural History Museum Seminar Programme 2023

Nuri Nutrisi Garden Launch Event

October 4, 2023 – This program is an initiative by the Bangi Botanical Garden, Faculty of Science and Technology in collaboration with Bank Rakyat, aimed at assisting students from B40 families in generating their own income. Engaged students have been provided with training and guidance on nutritious vegetable cultivation through sustainable methods, which is a lifelong knowledge. The sustainability of this program will be achieved through the continuous transfer of knowledge to students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Nizam Sani, Chief Marketing and Communication Officer of Bank Rakyat, and witnessed by Professor Dr. Mohd Firdaus Mohd Raih, Deputy Dean (Research and Innovation) of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Associate Professor Dr. Noraini Talip, Head of Bangi Botanical Garden, also serving as the Head of the Nuri Nutrient Garden Program, Ms. Airul Asmiza Khaeruddin, Director of the Agricultural Engineering Division, Department of Agriculture Malaysia, as well as the senior management of Bank Rakyat and the Faculty of Science and Technology at UKM.

Installation of Pipeline Wells at Kota Bharu Polytechnic

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Takaful Ikhlas General Berhad, Dato’ Rudy Rodzila Che Lamin, inaugurated the Opening and Handover Ceremony of the Pipeline Wells at Kota Bharu Polytechnic, Kelantan. This program is a collaborative effort between UKM, Takaful Ikhlas General Berhad, and Kota Bharu Polytechnic.

In his address, he expressed that the collaboration between UKM through the Chancellor Foundation, the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), and Takaful Ikhlas General Berhad should continue through skills and expertise to contribute to the community through community programs.

As a result of this collaboration, Kota Bharu Polytechnic benefits from the use of clean water resources for its students and the surrounding residents.

A technology-sharing session on pipeline wells was also presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Hariri Arifin, Deputy Dean of Industry and Community Network Affairs at FST, regarding the findings of this research, aiming to expand its reach throughout Kelantan state and Malaysia in general.

Also present were Prof. Ts. Dr. Faizal Mohamed, Director of the Chancellor Foundation at UKM, Gs. Sr Haji Mohd Fikri Ismail, Director of Kota Bharu Polytechnic, Haji Kamaruddan Abdullah, Deputy Director-General (Operations) at the Department of Minerals and Geosciences Malaysia, and students from Kota Bharu Polytechnic.”

Media coverage

Merdeka 66 Community Expedition Program

18th to 20th August 2023 – Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at the National University of Malaysia (UKM), in collaboration with the Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia (YFBM), successfully organized the ‘Merdeka 66 Community Expedition Program’ at Royal Belum, Gerik, Perak. The program was led by the Honorable Prof. ChM. Dr. Ishak Ahmad from the Faculty of Science & Technology at UKM and Mr. Johan bin Halid from the Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia.

The aim of this program was to assist and provide dry food aid to the indigenous community. Activities organized by FST and YFBM included distributing dry food supplies weighing 5.7 tons and stationery to 250 indigenous families of the Jahai tribe residing in the villages of Sungai Tiang, Sungai Klewang, Sungai Kejar, and Sungai Tan Hain. To commemorate the month of independence, the handing over session also included singing patriotic songs to ignite patriotic spirit.

Additionally, Centre for Modelling and Data Analysis (DELTA) agreed to collaborate with YFBM in analyzing data from the food bank community to support the sustainable development goals of SDG1 (No Poverty) & SDG2 (Zero Hunger).

Orang Asli Village CSR

Faculty of Science and Technology Student Association has successfully organised the “Orang Asli Village CSR with Food Bank Malaysia Foundation” program at Pos Yum, Sungai Siput, Perak on 9-11 July 2023.

This program was created as a result of PMFST’s collaboration with UKM’s FST Laboratory and Instrumentation Secretariat with the joint venture of the Malaysian Civil Defense Department, Food Bank Malaysia Foundation and Dana Kita.

FST personnels involved had the opportunity to get to know and be kind to the Temiar tribe’s indigenous community there. Various activities were carried out throughout the program including advocacy of infectious diseases as well as advocacy of menstrual poverty which received attention and encouraging response from the indigenous community in the village. A million thanks go to all parties involved in making this program a success, especially the solid support from the FST management.

Building an Eco-Friendly Prototype

January 30, 2023 – With the aim of promoting the development of environmentally friendly packaging materials, Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad (KPS Berhad) launched the KPS #Ekovative Challenge last year. Recently, the KPS #Ekovative Challenge 2022 Grand Finale was held at the Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) in Shah Alam, Selangor. It featured prototypes from the Top Five Finalist Teams.

The KPS #Ekovative Challenge 2022 was a competition among universities focusing on the development of environmentally friendly alternative materials as a sustainable solution for paper and plastic packaging. Therefore, the focus of the KPS #Ekovative Challenge 2022 was on Eco-Friendly and Innovative solutions.

Referring to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Climate Promise website, Malaysia has increased its direct mitigation targets to reduce carbon emissions compared to gross domestic product (GDP) by 45 percent by 2030, as outlined in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

However, with the increasing trend in the production and use of paper and plastic in Malaysia, limited resources, and rapid recorded increases in scheduled waste, it could pose a serious threat to the country’s and the world’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by 2030.

Therefore, a zero-waste approach is the solution to current environmental, economic, and social issues, including climate change, food security, and resource scarcity.

In line with this, the objective of the KPS #Ekovative Challenge 2022 was to find alternative ways to address the plastic and paper packaging issue that would contribute to the goal of zero waste pollution.

This competition was open to all public and private universities in Malaysia. Teams participating were required to create innovative solutions or eco-friendly prototypes using alternative materials for paper and plastic packaging. A total of 25 teams participated in this competition, and 20 teams were shortlisted for the implementation phase of the solution or prototype.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) with their ‘Innovative Biopolymer’ project was named the champion of the competition, taking home a cash prize of RM10,000, along with a trophy, medal, and certificate.

Adapted from an article written by Harian Metro

Media coverage

Harian Metro

CEO Day @ UKM

The CEO Day @ UKM program jointly organized by the UKM Faculty of Science and Technology and the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) was officiated by Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir, Member of the MPOC Board of Trustees, who is also the Director General of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

The one-day event was held at Chancellor Tun Abdul Razak’s Hall and was attended by more than 1,000 participants, mostly higher education students from UKM and other universities, Polytechnic Malaysia, as well as primary and secondary school students around Bangi.

True to its name, CEO Day provides a space for industry leaders to share their vast knowledge as well as inspire university students in pursuit of their chosen careers. Simultaneously with this event, exhibitions by 27 companies offering training and employment, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations, also held exhibitions to showcase their products and services.

Also present, Prof. Dr. Norhamidi Muhamad, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Generation & Infrastructure) and Ms. Belvinder Kaur Sron, Acting Chief Executive Officer & Director of Promotion and Corporate Communications of MPOC.

Media coverage

"IT'S TIME FOR OUR RIVER" CSR PROGRAMME

The “It’s Time For Our River” CSR programme was held on 26 June 2022 at 8.30 am at the Friends of Langat River (FOLR) Recreation Site, UKM. This program has been sponsored by the Etika Company Group in collaboration with FST and FOLR.

The programme was attended by Dato Seri Ir Dr Zaini Ujang, Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and President of Friends of River Malaysia (FORM), Prof Dato’ Ir. Ts. Dr. Othman A. Karim, Deputy President of FORM, Prof. ChM. Dr Ishak Ahmad, Dean of UKM’s Faculty of Science and Technology and officiated by Mr Santharuban Thurai Sundaram, Chief Executive Officer of the Ethical Company Group and Mr Nazurudeen Meerah Ghany, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Sustainability ambassador of the Etiqa Company Group.

A total of 300 participants consisting of FST students and staff, UKM eco-volunteers, Etiqa Company Group staff, FOLR Association, Indah Water Konsortium and CAVAdventures Association jointly carried out cooperative activities around the FOLR recreation area.

In addition, exhibitions were also held involving Centre for Insect Systematics (CIS), FOLR, Fun with Microbes and AiRBORNE Sense which uses drones to detect water pollution. Efforts to promote the research products of FST lecturers through mass media channels have been carried out on our website. Webinars and VLOG competitions have also been conducted and received favorable response. It is hoped that this program can foster public awareness and understanding of how important it is to care for and preserve the environment for the sake of future generations.

Media coverage

"OCEAN CLEAN-UP" CSR PROGRAMME

The “Ocean Clean-Up” community program, organized by the Selangor State Government and the Marine Ecosystem Research Center (EKOMAR), Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), UKM in collaboration with the Selangor Fisheries Department, was held on 29-31 May 2022 (in Pulau Redang, Terengganu) , 22-24 July 2022 (in Pulau Tenggol, Terengganu) and 1-3 September 2022 (in Pulau Tioman, Pahang).

Participation of this programme is limited to 30 participants. They consisted UKM’s divers, Selangor State Government’s divers, media participants, Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) participants and Malaysian Fisheries Department.

The community program was led by Mr. Mohd Shahrim Senik (Senior Science Officer, FST) and attended by Y.B. Tuan Haji Izham Hashim (Infrastructure and Agriculture Exco, Selangor State Government) as a representative of the Selangor State Government and YBhg Prof. ChM. Dr. Ishak Ahmad (Dean of FST) and YBhg. Prof. Dr. Zaidi Che Cob (Head of Marine Ecosystem Research Center (EKOMAR)).

The goal of this programme is to perform coral reef cleaning activities to remove Crown of Thorns (COTs) and marine litter, particularly ghost nets. In addition, our programme also conducts research on the effectiveness of using chemicals to eliminate COT thrush via research experiment performed at EKOMAR and hopefully publishes scientific papers.

Our initiative has contributed to the preservation and conservation of the coral reef environment from COT, which can harm corals. EKOMAR and FST genuinely hope that similar efforts will continue to preserve and conserve coral reefs.