KUCHING – The Research Centre for Sustainable Technologies of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus was officially declared open today (6 December, 2012).
The Chief Minister of Sarawak Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is also the Pro Chancellor of the campus, placed his palm on the screen of a laptop to trigger a two-minute video of Swinburne Sarawak’s achievements in research, to mark the official opening the research centre.
The research centre is designed to boost the university’s research program, promote research collaborations and instill best research practices, with the common emphasis on sustainability.
Its opening marks the start of a huge effort to elevate the campus to the forefront of research excellence. A total of RM40 million will be invested into research over the next few years.
Based at the centre are experts from Swinburne Sarawak’s engineering, computing, science, business and design faculties which are currently involved in developing technologies and strategies for financially, socio-economically and environmentally sustainable development.
More than 20 postgraduates and five post-doctorates are located at the centre which will also host visits by renowned experts, especially those from the university’s Melbourne campus.
Among some of the research projects the centre are engaged in include exploring the potential of microorganisms from Sarawak’s rich biodiversity for industry use, geotechnics issues in the ongoing Kuching centralized wastewater system project, and developing the latest science and IT technologies for the medical industry.
Laboratories across Swinburne Sarawak are associated with the work at the research centre. This includes its biotechnology, chemistry, electronics, civil and robotics laboratories. The research centre is also linked to a supercomputer at its Melbourne campus, which is among the most powerful in Australia for research simulation work.
At the ceremony, Swinburne alumnus Barry Lim made a personal donation of RM100,000 to the research centre. His son Lim Guan Aik, presented a mock cheque to Taib, who is also the Pro Chancellor of Swinburne Sarawak.