University of Malaya researchers received the Young Researcher Award at ISGMA 2014

The 2014 International Symposium on Green Manufacturing and Applications, ISGMA 2014 was held in Busan, Korea (June 24-28, 2014). The symposium becomes one of the globally well-known events in the field of green manufacturing and applications. For ISGMA 2014,420 technical papers and posters have been accepted. There were about 450 participants representing 19 countries.

The Young Researcher Award was granted for the young researcher based on his/her activities related to green manufacturing and applications. The CV of the participants was evaluated by the Committee of ISGMA 2014. Assoc. Prof. Engr. Dr. Chong Wen Tong from University of Malaya, Malaysia was selected as the winner of the Young Researcher Award granted on the occasion of the ISGMA 2014. The award ceremony was held during the ISGMA 2014 Banquet at the Paradise Hotel, Busan. Dr. Chong presented 2 papers (oral session), and both of them were recommended to submit to the International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing (SCIE, Q1).

Dr. Chong joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya in 2008 after spending 10 years in various industries. Before joining UM, he was the Head of Technology and Mechanical Team in Dyson Malaysia, and has been responsible for research, design and development works on vacuum cleaner, hand dryer and bladeless fan.

He led more than 30 engineers and technicians in various aspects, i.e. Computational Fluid Dynamics, Finite Element Analysis, Mechanical-Drives, Debris Pick-Up, Filters, Cyclone and Materials; and participated in several projects, award-winning products, patents and the creation of Dyson new technology. He also conducted several product design lectures and workshops in Malaysia and Singapore.

His research focus is Renewable Energy, Green Building and Clean Technology; and he has secured more than RM 5 million research grants as project leader (HIR-MOHE, PRGS, ERGS, FRGS, UMRG, PJP and RCETS-NCKU-Taiwan). He leads the research activities in Renewable Energy and Green Technology Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering.

He has completed 5 research projects as principal investigator and 2 projects as co-researcher, and graduated 12 post-graduate candidates. Recently, his FRGS project (PI) on power-augmented wind energy conversion system was selected as the Best FRGS 2010 Project by Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) and awarded RM 50,000 for the extension works.

Dr. Chong has filed 9 intellectual property rights (2 listed in Derwent Innovation Index, ISI Web of Knowledge), and won 12 Gold Medals and 2 special awards as project leader and inventor in innovation and invention fairs (MTE, ITEX, iENA, SIIF). Two of his inventions won the Certificate of Merit from WIPO, KIPO and MyIPO (Malaysia Patent Competition 2011).

Dr. Chong has co-authored more than 50 technical articles on energy research in journals, books and conference proceedings, and won the Best Paper Award in ICAME 2009 and ISGMA 2012 (Korea).

He serves as the reviewer for several ISI indexed-Q1 journals (Applied Energy, Renewable Energy, Energy and Buildings, International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, Journal of Wind Engineering & Industrial Aerodynamics, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews and Energy Conversion and Management). Currently, he is the Editorial Board Member of ASEAN Engineering Journal and International Journal of Advanced Alternative Energy, Environment and Ecology.

In 2012, he was awarded Energy Invention Order of Merit in World Inventor Award Festival 2012. He also won the "Best of the Best Award" for the research poster participated in UMRC 2013.

His supervised students won the Best Paper & Best Poster Award in Shell Inter-Varsity Student Paper Presentation Contest, S-SEPC 2011; and Outstanding Technopreneur Award 2013 (Young Intellectual Category) organized by Malaysian Scientific Association and WENCOM Career Consultancy. He is commercializing his research output, Eco-GreenergyTM Outdoor Lighting System through UMCIC Innovation Incubator and industrial collaborators.