PENANG, 17 August 2016 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT) Japan intensified their global collaborations when both institutions signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to embark on a research project involving the mitigation of heavy metals, to detect and eliminate heavy metals in the environment using nanotechnology and nanomaterials.

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Omar Osman said, the long standing relations between USM and TUT since 2000 in various fields coupled with the high commitment and cooperation between the two institutions is truly commendable.

"Collaborations involving sending students and lecturers to TUT for a short spell is also going well and I would like to see more joint programmes being carried out by both parties in the future," he said.

He added that, both institutions would also need to plan for future collaborations in relevant areas to further strengthen the existing relations.

Meanwhile, the Vice-President of TUT, Professor Dr. Mitsuteru Inoue said that, the international collaboration between USM and TUT every year is a success for both parties, both in terms of achievements and networking.

“One of the tangible outcomes of joint efforts between USM and TUT, triggered at the last IGNITE, is a joint research project, titled ‘Tools for Heavy Metal Mitigation: Detection and Removal from the Environment,” added Inoue who signed the MoA on behalf of TUT here this evening.

The main objective of this USM-TUT multidisciplinary research project is to design and fabricate highly-sensitive electronic devices to detect heavy metals, to study and produce nanomaterials for the devices used in the elimination and removal of heavy metals from the environment, and also to produce instrumentations to check the release of heavy metals into the environment from certain industries.

The ceremony was also enlivened with the officiating of the International Conference on Advanced Informatics: Concepts, Theory and Application (ICAICTA) 2016 by the USM Vice-Chancellor.

Inoue hoped that scientists and researchers, in particular, young researchers and students attending this conference will use this opportunity to gain new knowledge and ideas, which will lead to the production of innovative concepts, theories and applications by building new partnership with international participants.

Also present at the ceremony were the USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Dato' Dr. Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal and wife; USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dato' Dr. Muhamad Jantan and wife; USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Community Network), Professor Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed; Dean of USM School of Computer Sciences, Professor Dr. Ahamad Tajudin Khader; Dean of USM School of Material and Mineral Resources Engineering, Professor Dr. Zuhailawati Hussain and Director, TUT Centre for International  Education, Professor Dr. Atsunori Matsuda.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah