Environment

News

Lingnan University scholars and artists collaborate to showcase the reality of grassroots living. (From right: Prof Ruby Lai Yuen-shan, Mr Victor Sham Chung-tat, and Ms Miu Law.)
27 Jan 2025
Prof Ruby Lai Yuen-shan, Assistant Professor of the Department of Sociology and Social Policy at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, has partnered with two Hong Kong artists, Ms Miu Law and Mr Victor Sham Chung-tat, for an interdisciplinary collaboration. Together, they have curated the exhibition “Listening to the Stories of 118.4 Square Feet”, which highlights a selection of real-life stories from residents of subdivided units.
23 Jan 2025
A symposium that will discuss how to address multifaceted challenges of inequality and promote science for sustainability will take place in person and online on February 8, 2025.
The suckling behavior of a wild Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin. (Photo provided by Takashi Hayakawa, © Mikurashima Tourism Association)
22 Jan 2025
Juvenile dolphins were found to have specialized receptors for fatty acids on their tongues, offering new insights into their growth and feeding habits.
Refugees at Cox’s Bazar
15 Jan 2025
An inclusive Myanmar must include all voices. One voice is from the Rohingya, who have faced persecution for many years. IDRC’s Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar supports scholars and research from and about the Rohingya people to generate evidence-based policy advice and empower a new generation of thought leaders.
Great Barrier reef
15 Jan 2025
Tsuyoshi Watanabe uses corals to understand the environment of the past and what it can tell us about people living then.
Sample fungus tiles
15 Jan 2025
Inspired by elephants, researchers grow fungus in elephant-skin patterns to create better insulation for buildings.
14 Jan 2025
A new study has lifted the lid on five species of root-lesion nematodes living in maize crops across New Zealand - and suggested the existence of a hitherto-unsuspected cryptic species.
Asia Research News Editor's Choice header
13 Jan 2025
Crossing the uncanny valley, Batteries that don’t explode, Tiny climate change fighters, Liver-friendly mushroom & Foetal defence. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.
20 Dec 2024
Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are a cockroach cyborg, microrobots that assemble and disassemble to perform tasks, and a sponge made of squid bones to clean up pollution.
20 Dec 2024
A research team led by National Taiwan University used geochemical indicators from deep-sea sediments to reconstruct the upper ocean zonal gradients in the tropical Pacific during the last glacial period, providing valuable constraints for future climate projections.
20 Dec 2024
Advances in solid-state battery research are paving the way for safer, longer-lasting energy storage solutions. A recent review by Tohoku University researchers highlights breakthroughs in inorganic solid electrolytes and their role in improving battery performance. The study also addresses key challenges, such as interfacial compatibility, while proposing innovative strategies for next-generation battery technologies.
19 Dec 2024
Seed grants have been awarded to six applicants with high quality and well-outlined proposals to organize workshops promoting science advice at an institutional or national level in their respective countries in 2025.
Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) system in winter
17 Dec 2024
Accidental clogging in geothermal wells reveals need for monitoring to ensure long-term usability
16 Dec 2024
This annual event will bring together innovators, researchers, and industry leaders from around the world to spotlight groundbreaking advancements in sustainable energy and green technology.
Rehabilitation robot training programs show promise in treating upper body paralysis.
16 Dec 2024
Use of automated system in upper extremity paralysis care proves beneficial for patients and medical staff
13 Dec 2024
Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are an AI model trained on ‘plant-speak’, how greedy groundwater use is making cities sink, and a lidar system that could find a needle in a very large haystack.
13 Dec 2024
Tsunamis can cause immense physical damage to ports, but the economic cost does not stop there. The resultant disruptions of shipping lanes result in billions of dollars in losses every day, as was seen in the 2011 tsunami that hit the Tohoku Region. To better assess the ripple effect a tsunami could cause to shipping lanes in the South China Sea, a group of international researchers carried out 104 tsunami simulations.
Lingnan University's research projects win three awards in the 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong.
09 Dec 2024
Lingnan University participated for the first time in the 4th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong (AEII) held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 5 to 6 December. Lingnan University won a total of three awards, including 1 Gold Medal and 2 Silver Medals, among more than 140 innovative projects from all over Asia.
06 Dec 2024
Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are the genetics behind cat coat color, how AI and rat urine can help a robot fit in, and how plastic damages coral reefs.
06 Dec 2024
A boon to solar power, agriculture, and other industries, ADMU and MO scientists have found a way to improve sunny weather forecasts by as much as 94%.
Editor's Choice
06 Dec 2024
Venice of the Pacific, Membrane transformers, Diverse meals, Nano dots and spirals & Extinct swimmers. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.
 Harvesting water from vapor
22 Nov 2024
Copolymer solution uses water-loving differential to induce desorption at lower temperatures
Meteorological data predictions
21 Nov 2024
Balancing environmental conditions with energy-saving performance
20 Nov 2024
Typically, closely related animal species have difficulty coexisting because they are competing for similar resources. Despite eating the same figs, binturong, small-toothed palm, masked palm, and common palm civets do coexist together. To understand how they coexist, a new study explores their degree of faunivory.
Prof Tang Xiaopeng, Assistant Professor of the Science Unit at Lingnan University in Hong Kong.
14 Nov 2024
With the global rise in electric vehicles’ popularity, the demand for lithium-ion batteries has surged, leading to a considerable increase in discarded batteries. The issue of how to efficiently use “retired” batteries has become urgent, and to address this Prof Tang Xiaopeng, Assistant Professor of the Science Unit at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, recently published a groundbreaking research paper titled "Lifespan-based Battery Classification towards Second-life Utilisation", which won the Best Paper Award at the prestigious 2024 IEEE 25th China Conference on System Simulation Technology and its Application (CCSSTA). It was one of only four papers out of 278 submissions to receive recognition.
13 Nov 2024
Phase-transformable membrane featuring liquid-glass-crystal states achieves precise CO₂/H₂ selectivity and enhanced gas permeability through modular design with metal-organic polyhedra
12 Nov 2024
Hokkaido University and Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. signed a partnership agreement in June 2022 to address various social issues in Hokkaido and lead the creation of a sustainable society. As part of this collaboration, Hokkaido Air System Co., Ltd. will equip one of its aircraft with an external camera to commence the world's first regular flight-based red tide monitoring starting in the summer of 2025.
11 Nov 2024
In a pivotal move ahead of COP29, Applied Microbiology International (AMI) has partnered with leading global scientific organisations to issue a unified call to action, spotlighting microbial solutions as pivotal in combating climate change. In a strategic publication, released in multiple high-impact scientific journals at once, the joint paper advocates for the establishment of a global science-driven climate task force. This initiative aims to expedite the deployment of microbiome technologies, providing stakeholders worldwide with access to effective and immediate solutions
Efficient cycle of green algae and yeast in wastewater treatment
05 Nov 2024
Combination enhances microorganisms’ growth environment, uptake of ammonium and phosphate ions
Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University, visits the Mongolian booth for an exchange.
02 Nov 2024
In light of the Government’s recent Policy Address promoting Hong Kong as an international hub for post-secondary education, and to build the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, Lingnan University gave its annual International Day on 29 October a “Cultural Fusion, Global Vision” theme. The event attracted about 500 faculty members and students for a lively celebration of diversity and cultural exchange.

Events

07 Apr 2022
The 1st International IPV Workshop will bring together, for the first time, experts in the area of Building-integrated PV (BIPV), Floating PV, Agro-PV, Vehicle-integrated PV (VIPV) and others to discuss the way forward and generate synergies between the various disciplines.
13 Feb 2022
A joint forum by APN, ADRC, JICA Kansai, and Graduate School of Disaster Resilience and Governance, University of Hyogo
23 May 2022
SNEC 16th (2022) International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference (SNEC2021) will take place on May 23-25, 2022 in Shanghai, China.
02 Dec 2021
The Dialogue Forum, which opens a space for such critical discussion, therefore, would cordially like to invite you to explore the new deal as well as its implications for countries like Thailand at Dialogue 6 (Year 2): From Paris to Glasgow, COP 26 and Implications on Climate Policies as part of the climate forum series on 2 December 2021 from 12.15 pm-2.30 pm via Zoom.
13 Sep 2021
Virtual Forum co-hosted by Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and Ministry of Energy, Brunei Darussalam
13 Sep 2021
The Regional Resource Center for Asia and the Pacific, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP), along with its partners, is organizing the “Capacity Development Program on Air Quality Management and Emission Reduction of PM 2.5 for Asian Countries” from 13-17 September 2021 in an online platform.
01 Jun 2021
The Ocean Celebration event runs 1-30 June 2021 and is organized by the Borneo Marine Research Institute of Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
25 Oct 2021
First in the region focused on recognizing innovations, initiatives, programmes and ideas which contribute to sustainability, eradicating poverty, improving well-being, protecting our planet, and building peace and prosperity.
16 Mar 2021
In times that the Mekong has just dropped to worrying levels, we hope that the issue is brought into wider attention through this 2-week long exhibition.
21 Oct 2021
Call for Papers for 2021 conference: People, Power, Politics, Pandemics and Other Perils in Southeast Asia. The event will take place on 21-24 October 2021 at University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada. Deadline: Thursday 8 April 2021. Submit from the link below.
01 Mar 2021
An international symposium, "Cool Earth via Microbes in Agriculture" will be held online on March 1 to address global warming and introduce the latest research aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farmland. Open to all, registration required.
The Khwarizmi International Award (KIA) acknowledges the efforts made by researchers, innovators and inventors from across the globe and to appreciate their high quality research work and contributions to different fields of science and technology.
09 Dec 2019
The ASEAN Emerging Researchers Conference is a flagship programme of the ASEAN Young Scientists Network; the official platform for young researchers in the region.
26 Nov 2019
Conference will focus on the issues and challenges of sustainable waste management, from the planning to implementation phases.
09 Oct 2019
This 3-day event will showcase green technology solutions represented by 350 exhibitors from 35 countries.
10 Oct 2019
The promotion period has been extended to 30 August 2019.
03 Sep 2019
For more than a quarter of a century, POWERGEN Asia has served as Asia's premier forum for the power generation industry. Attracting over 8,500 attendees from more than 60 countries, POWERGEN Asia covers all forms of power generation, from conventional to renewable energy and other low-carbon options. This leading forum is where the power industry can meet, share and discuss solutions for Asia's energy future.
01 Oct 2019
Advancing Innovation, Embracing Transformation and Securing the future

Researchers

Suraj Bhattarai
Suraj Bhattarai is a global health specialist and tropical medicine physician with research interests in infectious disease epidemiology and surveillance, health systems, and urban health. He is a co-founder and research fellow at the Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, a Kathmandu-based academic institute that promotes and conducts interdisciplinary research. He is a member of Global Young Academy and an Alumni steering committee member of IAP-Young Physician Leaders Programme. He obtained medical training in Nepal and masters in Tropical Medicine & International Health from the LSHTM, UK.
An energetic and talented researcher with a strong desire to build a career within the research industry. Passionate, self-motivated individual with a drive to succeed, with excellent organizational skills. Highly efficient and methodical with a good eye for detail with a proactive approach to performance and data accuracy.
Morshed Hossan Molla, Ph.D. Research Fellow in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Chittagong and working at YPSA (Young Power in Social Action) as a Research, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer, Chittagong, Bangladesh. He received B.Sc. (Honours) and MS (thesis) Degrees in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Chittagong in 2009 and 2011 respectively. He received also M.Phil degree from the same department in the field of Water Resource Management. He has attended a number of national and international conferences and published more than thirty research articles in national and international journals and books, mainly on urban service delivery (supply water), urban environment & environmental health, climate change & disaster management, and water resources management. He has a desire to contribute to different aspects of the planning process for underprivileged groups.
I am a Health Economist/Researcher, working with UN agencies in the development of policy documents for developing countries including Nepal, Ethiopia and Pakistan.
City University of Hong Kong (CityU)
Dr. Brian Kot Chin Wing
Dr Brian Kot is a registered diagnostic radiographer and veterinary imaging researcher in the City University of Hong Kong.
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK)
Dr Chris Tsang Yiu-fai
Dr Chris Tsang Yiu-fai is an Associate Professor of the Department of Science and Environmental Studies and Assistant Dean of Graduate School at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK).
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
Department of Microbiology / Biomolecular Sciences Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
https://www.iium.edu.my/v2/
Dr. Irina's research focuses on sustainability, including an analysis of environmental management, the urban environment, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and education for sustainable development, or ESD, and its application in real-world contexts.
University of Malaya
Ridha is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and is jointly an associate member of Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Processing (AMMP) Center at the University of Malaya.
Nanyang Technological University
Kenneth Y T Lim operates at the intersection of cultural anthropology, the learning sciences, and cognitive psychology.
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK)
Dr. Lewis Cheung Ting
Dr. Lewis's research interests focus on sustainable tourism with particular emphasis on nature-based tourism in protected areas, environmental education, and environmental conservation.
The University of Tokyo
Lian is an IT professional with a bachelor's in Computer Science at De La Salle University and a masters in Information Studies at The University of Tokyo. She had previously handled professional projects in culture-based conservation and blended learning. She is currently based in Chiba, Japan as a research student in Sustainability Science at UTokyo's Kashiwa campus. Her research focuses on educational technology for sustainable development (ICT4Ed and ESD). Aside from her day job, Lian enjoys painting and has participated in a number of exhibitions in her hometown, Davao City.
Lingnan University (LU)
Picture of Paulina Wong Pui-yun
Prof. Paulina's areas of specialization include air pollution, urban climate, GIS modeling and environmental health. Her research interests focus on examining the effects of air pollution and urban heat islands on health-related problems in densely populated cities.
Dr. Huichao Jin
He is currently an assistant researcher in Jilin University. His research focuses on functional surfaces, bioinspired antifouling coatings, and medical antifouling materials.
Guangshun Jiang
Guangshun Jiang does research in ecology and zoology with a special focus on big feline ecology and conservation research.
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
Dr. Fariha is a Senior Lecturer and a Civil Engineer at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. She is actively conducting research on Kenaf-sorb beads that is potentially for wastewater treatment at the factory’s effluent point.
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
Cho Jae-Weon
Prof. Cho Jae-Weon is a professor of environmental engineering at the National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in Ulsan, South Korea and has devised a way to convert human waste into power.
Prof. (Dr.) Pranay Dilip Abhang
Professor and Head Department of Food Science and Technology K.J.E.I's Trinity College of Arts, Commerce and Science Pune, Maharashtra, India
City University of Hong Kong (CityU)
Kenneth Leung Mei Yee
Prof. Kenneth Leung Mei Yee has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles which are principally related to marine ecology, pollution, ecotoxicology, environmental risk assessment and ecological restoration using eco-engineering.
Dr. Mohammed N. Abdulrazaq is currently an Assoc. Prof. at Department of Engineering & Technology, Management & Science University (MSU), Malaysia.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Dr. Connie Cassy Ompok is an early childhood education expert and a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. She Started her career in Early Childhood Education as a preschool teacher (2004-2007), a lecturer in early childhood education at the Malaysian Institute of Teacher Education (2008-2016) before serving as a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at UMS (2016 until now).
Dr. A. Ahmad obtained his BS, MSc, and PhD degrees in Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering, respectively. Dr. Ahmad's areas of expertise include algal engineering for bioenergy production, environmental remediation, dark fermentation, and biochemicals, CO2 mitigation, industrial wastewater treatment, and heavy metals biosorption. Ahmad has worked on several projects using integrated microalgal engineering in industrial wastewater. Dr. Ahmad has published over 35 articles in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings and generated significant research interest. He serves as a reviewer for more than ten scientific journals.
Currently a research assistant in the laboratory of green energy in Zhejiang University of Technology.
I'm Senior Lecturer at the School of East Asian Studies, University of Sheffiield. I research and teach about post-developmental Japan in the Asia-Pacific region.
Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Tokyo Institute of Technology
Mayuko Nakagawa is a biochemist at Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) based at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan.
Dr Ye Zhou is an electronic engineer at the Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, China.
Hokkaido University
Daisuke Hirano is an assistant professor at the Ocean and Sea Ice Dynamics Group, the Institute of Low Temperature Science of Hokkaido University, Japan.
City University of Hong Kong (CityU)
Zuankai Wang is currently a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Dean (Internationalization & Industry Engagement) of College of Engineering at City University of Hong Kong.
Dr. KeweiGao is the Professor of Materials Physics, and the Associate Chair of the Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry at University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB).
Hokkaido University
Jorge García Molinos is an aquatic ecologist broadly interested in global change ecology and macroecology.

Giants in history

Tetsuya Theodore Fujita (23 October 1920 – 19 November 1998) was a Japanese-American meteorologist who created the Fujita scale that classifies the strength of tornadoes based on damage to structures and vegetation.
Archana Sharma (16 February 1932 - 14 January 2008) conducted research into plant and human genetics that expanded the understanding of both botany and human health. In relation to botany, she uncovered the means by which asexually-reproducing plants evolve into new species.
Roseli Ocampo-Friedmann (23 November 1937 – 4 September 2005) was a Filipino-American scientist whose research focused on cyanobacteria and microorganisms that inhabit extreme environments.
Edgardo Dizon Gomez (7 November 1938 – 1 December 2019) was a Filipino marine biologist who recognized the need to protect marine resources, especially coral reefs, in the Philippines.
Anna Mani (23 August 1918 – 16 August 2001) was an Indian meteorologist who contributed significantly to the understanding of solar radiation, ozone and wind energy by developing a wide range of measurement tools. One of India’s pioneering female scientists, Mani excelled in the male-dominated area of meteorology and became the Deputy Director-General of the India Meteorological Department.
Võ Quý (1929 – 2017) was a Vietnamese ornithologist who studied the destruction of tropical forests and agricultural lands in Vietnam by Agent Orange, a herbicide used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. In addition to planning forest restoration projects, Quý rediscovered the rare eastern sarus crane, an endangered species that had vanished during the war.
Japanese geochemist Katsuko Saruhashi developed the first method and tools for measuring carbon dioxide in seawater