JOHOR BAHRU, 15 August – The 3rd International Conference on Separation Technology (ICoST2020) organized by the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Centre of Lipids Engineering and Applied Research (UTMCLEAR) was successfully organized despite the COVID-19 pandemic phenomenon which fiercely attacking countries around the world.
Bringing the theme “Synergizing Sustainable Technology towards Future Prospective’, this conference gathered the energetic researchers, scholars, scientists, engineers, students, technologists and application developers in the area of separation technology from around the globe to share their knowledge and d current research projects.
ICoST 2020 Programme Director, Dr Nur Izyan Wan Azelee said a total of 113 participants from Asian continent such as Thailand, Indonesia, Abu Dhabi and Nigeria had gathered virtually during this conference to share their findings and innovations based on the conference scope of separation process and technology.
“As the COVID-19 outbreak shutters businesses and disrupts everyday life, ICoST 2020 has changed its conference mode. Following the cancellation of the face-to-face ICOST conference which was initially planned to be held in Le Grandeur Hotel Senai, the conference was shifted to a virtual conference via WeBex platform with the goal of providing an engaging and meaningful experience to all the participants.
“The success of the virtual conference was contributed by all the hardworking committee members who were working together and creating a common space and purpose as we build a dynamic, interactive, and inclusive conference,” said Dr Nur Izyan.
A total of 113 participants from Asian and African continent such as Thailand, Indonesia, Abu Dhabi and Nigeria had gathered virtually during this conference to share their findings and innovations based on the conference scope of separation process and technology.
“A number of researches on separation processes and technologies had virtually presented their topics which encompassed the seven themes namely advance separation technology, extraction technology, biotechnology, wastewater treatment, environmental engineering and absorption and adsorption technology and others separation technology.
“This first online conference posed numerous technical and organizational challenges. However, it had offered huge opportunities in reaching wider audiences, reducing the carbon footprint for travelling and improving diversity and equity,” said Dr Nur Izyan.
UTM as an innovation-led and graduate-focused Research University, is very committed to be a leader in the development of human capital and innovative technologies that will contribute to the nation’s wealth creation.
Thus, this first ever virtual conference has sparked an insight into the sharing of knowledge among researchers, research updates and international networking can still be performed despite the pandemic plus providing flexibility and comfort to all the participants.
“The health and safety aspects remain the primary concern and thus the new norms must be exercised. The one days event had successfully fulfil the philosophy and mission of the conference.
“The 4th ICoST is planned to be held on 2022 with much global interest research area and much larger participants,” Dr Nur Izyan added.