GEORGE TOWN: Three Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) researchers from its engineering campus have clinched major science awards in South Korea on Sunday.
The trio won recognition in the 3rd World Scientist Award (WSA), 5th World Inventor Award Festival (WIAF) and 5th Korean Inventor Award Festival (IAF), separate events organised by Korean Inventions News (KINEWS).
The scientists are; Professor Dr. Hanafi Ismail from the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Professor Dr. Abdul Latif Ahmad from School of Chemical Engineering and Professor Dr. Fauziah Ahmad from School of Civil Engineering.
Well-known among the innovation circle, they have also won numerous awards in the past, both in Malaysia and abroad
Abdul Latif who came up with an innovation entitled, 'Recycling of Rubber Wastes and Biodegradable Plastics', received the World Golden Scientist Grand Award. He has also been named as one of the recipients of Outstanding Leaders of Global Inventors. In addition, he was also appointed as Visiting Professor by the Korea Invention Academy.
With another innovation titled 'NCMem: Indigenous Biomedical Lateral Flow Membrane', he overtook other participants in the Applied Science category, by bagging two awards; the Gold Peacock Grand award and World Inventor Award.
Meanwhile, Fauziah's 'USlope: An Innovative Slope Sustainabilty Software' won two awards; Thomas Edison Grand Award and World Inventor Award in the Civil Engineering category.
Abdul Latif said more than 50 researchers and scientists received numerous recognition for their works that represented different categories under IAF, WIAF and WSA for 2016.
"The recipients came from Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Korea." he said.
"This included school- and university-level young scientists from Malaysia representing among others, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu."