Professor Dominic Foo, Professor of Process Design and Integration in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) received the Top Research Scientists Malaysia (TRSM) Award on 15 August 2016.
The ASM’s Top Research Scientists Malaysia award aims to recognise and showcase the accomplishments of Malaysian researchers as role models of science excellence, science ambassadors and leaders, driving the nation’s science, technology and innovation agenda.
One key reason Professor Foo won the Top Research Scientists Malaysia 2016 award is his world leading research in chemical engineering process design and integration. Also, equally important is his willingness to give back to the next generation of engineers coming through the ranks at UNMC.
Apart from his research, he is very engaged with the postgraduate researchers he supervises, as well as the undergraduates he teaches.
Professor Foo said, “I am passionate about working with young people to help them succeed in their careers. I spend time with them to provide career guidance and also mentor new researchers and academics in planning their research career.”
"We are honoured to have one of our researchers win this prestigious award," said Professor Graham Kendall, CEO and Provost of UNMC.
"This award reflects our position as a leading research university, both in Malaysia and globally. The quality of the research we produce is ground breaking and has a positive impact to society at large," Professor Kendall said.
The award was presented by DYMM Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah Al-Maghfullah, the Sultan of Perak on the first day of the International Conference on Science for Peace in Kuala Lumpur.
"I am very honoured to receive this award from Sultan Nazrin Shah, whom I highly respect and who is a friend of the University” Professor Foo said.
"I feel very blessed as a Malaysian graduate, completing my studies from undergraduate to postgraduate level in Malaysia. Also all my research work is based in Malaysia. I would also like to acknowledge all my research collaborators throughout Asia, Europe, Africa and North America for their support," said Professor Foo.
Professor Foo is an active member of professional engineering bodies in Malaysia and the UK. He has published three books and more than 110 papers in international refereed journals and has made more than 170 conference presentations.
He is also the Editor-in-Chief for Process Integration and Optimisation for Sustainability (Springer), and Subject Editor for Process Safety & Environmental Protection (Elsevier), among others.
No stranger to major accolades, in 2009 he won Innovator of the Year Award (Institute of Chemical Engineers – IChemE). Shortly afterwards came recognition from the Institution of Engineers Malaysia who presented Professor Foo with the Young Engineer Award 2010. In 2012, Junior Chamber International lauded him the Outstanding Young Malaysian Award while in 2013 he received the Award for Outstanding Asian Researcher and Engineer from the Society of Chemical Engineers Japan (SCEJ). In 2014, he was also awarded with The University of Nottingham Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Award.
About the award
Academy of Science Malaysia (ASM) has embarked on the Top Research Scientists Malaysia (TRSM) initiative since 2010 to identify and recognise leading Malaysian research scientists who are actively pushing the boundaries of research and development to generate new knowledge, make discoveries, create value-added opportunities and translate their research into meaningful and impactful outcomes that would significantly contribute to the socio-economic transformation of the nation.
(Image caption: Professor Foo receiving the award from DYMM Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah Al-Maghfullah, the Sultan of Perak)
More information is available from Professor Dominic Foo on dominic.foo@nottingham.edu.my or Josephine Dionisappu, PR & Communications Manager at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus on josephine.dionisappu@nottingham.edu.my.
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham has 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with a “distinct” approach to internationalisation, which rests on those full-scale campuses in China and Malaysia, as well as a large presence in its home city.’ (Times Good University Guide 2016).
It is also one of the most popular universities in the UK among graduate employers and the winner of ‘Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers’ at the Times Higher Education Awards 2015. More than 97% of research at The University of Nottingham is recognised internationally and it is 8th in the UK by research power according to the Research Excellence Framework 2014. It has been voted the world’s greenest campus for four years running, according to Greenmetrics Ranking of World Universities.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future.
Posted on 18th August 2016