Latest news with #UniversitiTeknologiPETRONAS
The Star
31-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Building coastal resilience with nature-based solutions
THE marine and coastal areas of Malaysia, which are home to diverse ecosystems — from coral reefs to mangrove forests — are currently under threat due to climate change. Rising sea levels, changing temperatures and increased storm intensity reinforce the importance of building coastal resilience to ensure that coastal ecosystems, particularly mangrove wetlands and the communities they support continue to thrive. 'Coastal resilience is the ability of coastal systems, encompassing the environment, infrastructures and communities, to participate, absorb, recover from and adapt to adverse events such as coastal erosion, storm surges and sea level rises. 'It's not just about withstanding disasters, but also about bouncing back stronger,' says Dr Teh Hee Min, senior lecturer at the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP). 'From a community's perspective, coastal resilience is vital because it safeguards lives, homes and heritage. 'Many of these communities depend on coastal resources for their daily survival, cultural identity and economic resilience,' he says, adding that a robust coastline is also key to protecting critical infrastructures like ports, fisheries and tourism assets. He points out that floods and erosion on coastal areas especially can have a long-term ripple effect on local and even national economies. 'These ecosystems are natural buffers against extreme events and contribute to carbon sequestration and biodiversity. 'So, in essence, coastal resilience is about securing a future where human development and natural systems coexist and support one another,' he emphasises. At UTP, coastal resilience projects led by Teh focus on integrating innovative engineering technologies with ecological awareness and community empowerment. The Tanjung Kepah Mangrove Action Project in Perak, for example, exemplifies UTP's research and consultancy ethos of leveraging the university's cutting-edge research and multidisciplinary expertise to address pressing sustainability challenges. The project solutions directly support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 14 (life below water) and SDG 15 (life on land), aiding in the country achieving its sustainability targets. The project, led by UTP and Wetlands International, is a collaboration with the Irrigation and Drainage Department, Manjung, National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (Nahrim), Parak Forestry Department, Solmax and Pertubuhan Sahabat Hutan Bakau Lekir. The project site at Tanjung Kepah, as its name suggests, was once a prolific mud clam (kepah) production site, but over the years, yields have dropped because of the loss of mangrove forests, which served as barriers against storm surges. Furthermore, replanting efforts over the years also failed because the tender saplings did not stand a chance against the strong sea waves. At its heart, the project is a coastal defence system composed of an offshore 25-metre bamboo wave screen, the first of its kind in Malaysia. Completed in November 2024, the screen has received thumbs-up from various stakeholders. Recently planted mangrove saplings – now sheltered from waves – are seeing a survivability rate of 70%, a remarkable feat as mangrove planting in the open sea garnering a 30% survivability rate is usually considered marvellous, says Teh. He points out that because this is a nature-based solution, the lifespan of the bamboo screen is about three years, by which time the mangrove forest should have grown enough to play its role as a natural defence against storms and strong waves. A 25-meter bamboo wave screen was constructed at Tanjung Kepah to protect newly planted mangrove saplings and reduce wave impact on the hinterland. What's more, the remains of the bamboo structure will also serve as nurseries or dwellings for marine life. Buoyed by the success of the first phase of this project, the plan is to construct another screen, this time further afield in the open sea. Installation of the 30-metre screen is expected to commence in August. Apart from the sites in Perak, UTP's project partner Wetlands International also plans to deploy this technology at a site in Sungai Haji Dorani in Selangor. 'This project at Tanjung Kepah is built around three key pillars, namely, nature-based coastal restoration, multi-stakeholder partnership and community engagement and empowerment,' says Teh, adding that the bamboo used is sourced via a collaboration with SEAD Build, a proponent of sustainable bamboo agroforestry in Malaysia. Apart from the project at Tanjung Kepah, UTP previously undertook another coastal resilience project at Teluk Nipah in Pulau Pangkor, which stemmed from a UTP study revealing that the sandy beach was eroding at a rate of up to three metres a year due to continuous degradation of the shoreline by waves. To gauge the awareness level of the coastal problems in Teluk Nipah among the local community, UTP organised two community engagement sessions in August 2019 and January 2022. The town hall sessions enabled communities in Teluk Nipah and Pulau Pangkor to share their concerns and pain points on coastal problems with local authorities and the need for erosion control measures. Teh, who led the project, explains that UTP designed a 50-metre rock revetment at the beach in Teluk Nipah, which was constructed at the end of 2020. The university also proposed to the authorities a soft approach to mitigate erosion and replenish the existing shoreline through beach nourishment. Final year UTP Civil Engineering students enrolled in the elective course Design of Coastal Structures conducting field measurements of alongshore sediment transport along the shoreline of Teluk Nipah. Nurturing innovation For Teh, being part of the UTP ecosystem has been instrumental in the success of the projects at Tanjung Kepah and Teluk Nipah. 'Here, interdisciplinary knowledge sharing, access to cutting-edge research facilities and institutional support come together to nurture innovation,' he says. He adds that the research also benefited greatly from being part of UTP's Water-Energy-Environment Nexus, which brings together experts in hydrology, botany, environmental engineering and social sciences. 'This allowed for more holistic project planning. UTP's strong emphasis on industry and community engagement also opened doors for funding and collaborations, which enabled us to involve the local communities in Tanjung Kepah and train them in the monitoring and maintenance of the bamboo wave screen.' Beyond research projects, these were real-world initiatives that empowered communities directly impacted by coastal erosion, he adds. 'Building coastal resilience isn't just an engineering challenge, it's a human one. The shoreline is where science meets society. 'The greatest success comes from when we design with the people and nature in mind. Interventions when rooted in local knowledge supported by research and powered by collaborations, can create meaningful, lasting impact. 'More than stopping erosion, it's about restoring dignity to coastal communities and preserving the ecosystem for future generations,' Teh concludes. For more information and enquiries on coastal resilience, email programmeoffice@
The Star
25-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
UTP's water cube back in global race
WINNING an award for their water purification innovation three years ago turned out to be just the beginning for a group of students. Determined to take their project further, the winners of the 'RAPID Award' at the 2022 ChemE Cube Competition in Arizona, United States, entered it in another competition last year. Their enterprising spirit was recently rewarded when they were named the National Winner for Malaysia at the 2024 Energy Globe Award. The team's 'ShuiNew' water purification innovation. Calling themselves the Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) ChemE Cube Team, the group of six comprises Poh Ching Hong (team lead), Kenneth Chong Yih Haur, Foo Jia Wen, Yap Wei Cheng, Liew Lih Xua and Low Chen Khang – all 24-year-old undergraduates pursuing engineering degrees at UTP in various disciplines, namely chemical, electrical and electronics, and mechanical engineering. According to Chong, the Energy Globe National Awards were presented at the country level across more than 180 participating nations. 'The best projects from each country will be nominated for the Energy Globe World Award soon,' he told StarEdu. Having received the national award on Feb 4, Chong expressed his team's hope of being nominated for the international stage in Austria. 'If we win at the international level, it can assist us in seeking funding opportunities for small-scale production,' he said. Describing his team's 'ShuiNew' innovation as compact and cost-effective, Chong said the water purification device is designed to tackle clean water challenges in developing regions. 'This one-cubic-foot setup utilises chlorination, coconut shell-based activated carbon adsorption, and ceramic membrane separation to remove up to 99.99% of chlorine, bacteria and viruses – providing a sustainable and accessible solution for communities lacking safe drinking water,' he said. He added that the system aims to purify at least 25 litres of surface water per day and meet the required drinking water standards at low cost. 'We came up with this idea considering that in Malaysia, access to clean water is still inconsistent and limited, especially in rural areas. 'As ShuiNew is portable, it uses lower energy input, resulting in significantly lower manufacturing costs compared to existing solutions. Consequently, it is more affordable,' he explained. Chong shared that their latest recognition at the Energy Globe Award further validates its potential global impact. 'It gives us the motivation to work harder to contribute to the community in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation),' he said. He shared that the team is actively looking for partners who can help to refine the product, and further develop and commercialise the system. 'The advantage of the system is that it is modular, allowing for more flexibility and scalability, instead of requiring a scale-up from a small prototype, which is often more challenging from an engineering perspective,' he said. To students looking to develop impactful innovations, Chong had this to say: 'Don't be afraid to take on challenges, especially as engineers are often required to solve problems innovatively. 'Having supportive teammates can help delegate tasks and solve problems together.' He also said having supportive advisers is just as crucial, adding that his team was under the guidance of the then-UTP lecturer Dr Chuah Chong Yang. 'We'd also like to acknowledge the UTP Centre for Student Development for providing financial support for the construction of the cube, as well as the UTP Robotics Society (Petrobots) for the workspace and tools,' he said. Urging students to participate in science, technology and innovation competitions, he said it is necessary to stay informed about recent advancements. 'We hope that our achievement will motivate younger students to participate in such competitions,' he said. Held annually since 2000, the Energy Globe Award is presented by the nonprofit Energy Globe Organization based in Austria. Its aim is to highlight outstanding sustainable and impactful solutions addressing global environmental challenges. Charis, 22, a student in Kuala Lumpur, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star's Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities. 1. Write five sentences based on the article, but include incorrect factual information. Exchange papers with a friend and rewrite each other's sentences with the correct facts. 2. Use words and pictures from today's newspaper to create a poster with your group. Your poster should show a new invention that could help solve an environmental problem in your country or the world. When your group is ready, present your poster to the class. The Star's Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes English language learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@
Barnama
24-04-2025
- Business
- Barnama
UTP Leaps In Times Higher Education Asia Rankings, Maintains Top Spot In Malaysia
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) has reached a new milestone in its journey towards becoming a world-class institution, breaking into the Top 50 for the first time in the latest edition of the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings. UTP, in a statement, said it is now the highest-ranked Malaysian university, securing the 43rd position, up from 52nd last year, while retaining its title as the number one university in Malaysia and private university in ASEAN. Its vice chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib, said the recognition reflects UTP's continuous commitment to academic excellence, impactful research and global collaboration. 'This achievement is a testament to the relentless drive of our staff, students and partners to push boundaries in research, innovation and education. We are immensely proud to represent Malaysia on the regional and global stage,' he was quoted as saying in the statement today. The rankings assess the world's best research-intensive universities based on five pillars: teaching, research environment, research quality, knowledge transfer and international outlook. The statement added that UTP's sharp rise reflects its growing impact in multidisciplinary research, industry partnerships and academic excellence. Mohamed Ibrahim said UTP's next phase would focus on solving real-world challenges through deeper collaboration with global institutions, industries and governments. 'We are investing in frontier research, transdisciplinary programmes and digital-first learning experiences to ensure our graduates thrive in a world that's changing faster than ever,' he said. UTP said its forward-looking initiatives include the Bachelor of Integrated Engineering with Honours programme, which is scheduled to commence in September this year.
