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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