ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS : RECYCLING CARBON DIOXIDE INTO RENEWABLE FUELS
Pressing carbon dioxide ( CO₂ ) atmospheric concentration and fossil fuels exhaustion have triggered many sustainable energy harvesting endeavors . One of the many - the recreation of artificial photosynthesis by tapping the sun energy to chemically reduce CO₂ to higher energy compounds of fuels offers a way to address this problem . Our research focus on the photo-conversion of CO₂ to energy-rich methane ( CH₄ ) using the assistance of nanostructured semiconductors as the photo-catalyst . Our research activities are directed towards devising novel , robust photo-catalyst materials for the selective conversion of CO₂ to CH₄ . We are hopeful that in time , solar fuels can be made a significant portion of our future energy pool .
RESEARCHERS A / Prof Chai Siang Piao
Dr Gui Meei Mei ( Heriot-Watt University Malaysia )
Dr Tan Lling Lling ( Heriot-Watt University Malaysia )
Dr Ong Wee Jun ( A * Star , Singapore )
Cathie Lee Wuen Pei Lutfi Kurnianditia Putri Kong Xin Ying Ng Boon Junn
FUNDING AGENCIES
Ministry of Science , Technology and Innovation
Ministry of Higher Education
WORLD-FIRST GENOME STUDY REVEALS INTRIGUING HISTORY OF ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIANS
An international team of scientists undertook the first population genomic study of Aboriginal Australians . The Nature paper , ‘ A Genomic History of Aboriginal Australia ’, was a collaboration between international scientists and Aboriginal Australian co-authors . The multi-institutional team successfully sequenced 83 modern Aboriginal Australians and 25 modern Papuan genomes to reveal that Aboriginal and Papuan ancestors left Africa around 72,000 years ago , and then split from the main group of Europeans and Asians around 58,000 years ago . They reached the supercontinent of Sahul , which originally connected Australia , Tasmania and New Guinea around 50,000 years ago . Then 37,000 years ago , long before the continents separated from each other , the Papuans and Aboriginals split . Subsequently , the ancestral Australian population differentiated 31,000 years ago into subgroups with the formation of the central desert likely acting as a barrier to migrations .
Published in : Nature ( 2016 )
RESEARCHERS Prof Maude E Phipps
Prof Eske Willerslev ( University of Copenhagen , Denmark )
Prof David Lambert ( Griffith University , Australia )
Prof Laurent Excoffier University of Bern , Switzerland
Prof Mark Stoneking ( Max Planck Insitute for Evolutionary Anthropology , Germany )
Dr Manjinder Sandhu , ( Sanger Centre , UK )
Prof Rasmus Neilsen , ( University of California , USA )
FUNDING AGENCIES
Ministry of Science , Technology and Innovation , Malaysia
Lundbeck Foundation , Denmark
GERONTECHNOLOGY AND GERONTOLOGICAL INTERFACE FOR HOME ENVIRONMENT
Globally , the ageing population and its impact on economics , politics and lifestyle are placing pressure on families , government and institutions . Sustainability of an ageing society depends on our effectiveness in developing for active and independent living for older adults . Our researchers have successfully developed the gerontechnology and gerontological interface integrating with Near Field Communication smartphone and Set-Top-Box to realise " tap-to-connect " interaction , replacing the need for multiple hand-held controllers for different devices . This application presents a whole new way of interacting with digital content effortlessly while allowing ubiquitous access to electronic appliances .
RESEARCHERS A / Prof Teh Pei Lee Prof Pervaiz K . Ahmed
Prof Phang Chee Wei ( Fudan University , China )
A / Prof Alan Chan Hoi Shou ( City University of Hong Kong , China )
Cheong Soon Nyean ( Multimedia University , Malaysia )
Yap Wen Jiun ( Multimedia University , Malaysia )
INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Ministry of Science , Technology and Innovation of Malaysia
Khind Starfish Foundation Petrosains Sdn Bhd
Alzheimer ' s Disease Foundation Malaysia
Near Field Communication Smartphone Home System
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