PENANG, 1 October 2024 – It has been said that when you aspire to achieve success, reach for the sky. Which is what Keith Isaac Noni of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) had done while studying at the School of Industrial Technology in USM.

As an alumnus of the MSc in Environmental Science programme at the School, and a rising PhD candidate in the Environmental Technology programme, he has been awarded the prestigious Early Career Poster Presentation Award.

This accolade was bestowed upon him at the highly acclaimed 16th International Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (iCACGP) Symposium and the 18th International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) Science Conference, positioning him among the brightest emerging talents in atmospheric science.

Held from the 9-13 September 2024 at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, the iCACGP-IGAC Conference is a globally renowned platform for atmospheric scientists.

Keith was awarded for his outstanding poster in the “Air Quality Impact” category, showcasing his impactful research on kitchen emissions and their health risks in commercial settings.

The research done by Keith focuses on the emission of pollutants from kitchens in commercial environments, an area of concern highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the world’s largest environmental health risks.

Cooking, especially in commercial kitchens, produces a variety of air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) that can have carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects on individuals exposed to them.

Through his Master's research project, "Source Characterization and Health Risk Assessment of Ambient Kitchen Emissions," Keith analysed the variability of these pollutants, considering factors such as food type, cooking temperature, and methods.

His work aims to create an activity-based emission inventory to model indoor air concentrations and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

This research aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on Good Health and Well-being, particularly concerning the health and safety of kitchen workers.

The project which was supervised by Ts. Dr. Norhaniza Amil encompassed objectives such as determining VOC and PM concentrations in commercial kitchen emissions, assessing health risks from exposure, estimating the formation of air pollutants, and analysing correlations between kitchen scenarios and emissions through positive matrix factorization (PMF).

The IGAC Early Career Programme, of which Keith is involved in, is dedicated to fostering a global network of budding researchers and supporting international research and collaboration.

Keith was one of 40 early career researchers (ECRs) chosen from over 150 worldwide applicants to participate in this programme.

Throughout the conference, he engaged in the Early Career Short Course, presented at poster sessions, and took part in special facility tours, networking opportunities, and social activities designed to connect ECRs with senior scientists.

Keith received his award at the closing ceremony of the iCACGP-IGAC Conference on 13 September, a proud moment that marked his growing recognition in the field of environmental science and technology.

The IGAC programme is funded by notable organisations, including NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and NSF (National Science Foundation).

These organisations support the advancement of research and collaboration in the field of atmospheric chemistry, fostering an environment for innovative solutions to global environmental challenges.

For more information about Keith's research and the conference, visit the iCACGP-IGAC Conference 2024 website at https://icacgp-igac2024.com. 

Text: Associate Professor Dr. Japareng Lalung, School of Industrial Technology, USM/Editing: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin