JOHOR BAHRU, Dec 16 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), through the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM), successfully organised The Engineer Story Volume 18 on 16 December 2025, at Lecture Hall 1, Block C23, FKM. This special edition marked the 3rd anniversary of The Engineer Story series, a knowledge-sharing platform that has run consistently since 2023.
This session highlighted UTM’s Top 2% World Scientists, brought together staff and students from various faculties to celebrate research excellence, and explored how engineering knowledge can create real impact on society. Through simple explanations and real examples, the session was designed to be easily understood by everyone, including young audiences.
Four distinguished UTM researchers presented their work in an engaging and accessible manner. Dr. Muhammad Asyraf Muhammad Rizal from FKM highlighted the development of hybrid kenaf/glass composites, demonstrating how natural fibres can be utilised to produced stronger and more sustainable materials. Meanwhile, Dr. Ahmad Ilyas Rushdan from the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering introduced nanocellulose, explaining how plant-derived materials have the potential to support future technologies.
The session also featured Prof. Ir. Dr. Tan Chee Wei from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE), who presented smart and digital twin microgrids, showcasing how digital tools enable more efficient management of renewable energy systems. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Safuan A. Rashid from the Faculty of Civil Engineering (FKA) concluded the presentations by discussing climate-driven geotechnical assessment, linking climate change data with slope safety and infrastructure planning.
The session was moderated by Dr. Muhammad Shafiq Ibrahim and was officially opened by Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr Zaini Ahmad, Dean of FKM, reaffirmed FKM’s strong commitment to open knowledge sharing, lifelong learning, and building an informed society.
The Engineer Story Volume 18 successfully strengthened research culture and pride within FKM and UTM by highlighting UTM’s international research recognition and inspiring students to pursue careers in science and engineering. At the same time, the programme encouraged cross-faculty knowledge sharing and demonstrated how research contributes to sustainable solutions.
The Engineer Story is a mini conference initiated by FKM in February 2023, held every two months, and open to everyone at no cost. To date, the platform has produced 84 papers published in The Engineer Story Proceedings (ISSN 3009-0792), involving contributors from UTM, other Malaysian institutions, international universities, and industry professionals. Engineers from organisations such as power plants, manufacturing companies, and technology firms have also shared real problem-solving experiences, strengthening the link between academia and industry.
The Engineer Story can be explored through this website https://theengineerstory.com.
The Engineer Story Volume 18 once again proved that engineering ideas, when shared, can inspire everyone, young or old, to learn, think, and innovate together. Overall, the program reaffirmed FKM and UTM’s commitment to engineering excellence, impactful research, and knowledge sharing for society.
Writers: Ts. ChM Dr. Nor Suriani Sani and Prof. Ir.Dr. Syahrullail Samion
