Acceptance speech Summary of submitted work

Prof. Abdul Latif is an indigene of Malaysia. He received his doctorate in Membrane Technology from University of Wales, Swansea, United Kingdom in 1995 and B.Sc in chemical engineering from University of Wales, Swansea, United Kingdom in 1990. Currently, he is a Professor and delegated as the Dean of Chemical Engineering School in Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia. Prof Latif is a fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineering in United Kingdom and a member of the Board of Malaysian Institute of Chemical Engineering.  He is also deputed as Chartered Engineer and member of the European Desalination Society as well as Malaysian Council Engineering Dean. With the expertise in wastewater treatment technology, he was assigned as the member of editorial boards for journal of physical sciences, journal of engineering science and etc. Prof Latif was recently been promoted as professor (June 2006) and accredited as one of the youngest professor in Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Close to over ten years’ research experience; he is capable of carrying quality research work of international standard. Prof Latif stands out among his peers in his research field of wastewater treatment, membrane technology as well as separation process, not only in Malaysia, but at International level as well. He has made Universiti Sains Malaysia proud by being the focal point for this area of research in the eye of the world. Bearing all the granted achievement and successfulness, he was renowned as the “golden boy” among his peers and Vice Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia.   Among one of his most prominent research invention is the development of a novel-innovative treatment process of wastewater integrated with indigenous membrane separation technology. He has pioneered a treatment process which allows reclaiming 85% of the wastewater to crystal clear, meeting the USEPA drinking water standard. Current invention also addressed the short treatment time with consistent treatment efficiency.
 
Prof Latif’s experience shown the sense of roots that many of our ancestors had but most of us lack today. This is well reflected in his international professional body membership and being article assessor for many international journals such as Journal of Membrane Science, Separation and Purification Technology, Chemical Engineering Science, Journal of Desalination, Journal of Environmental Management and etc.

His enthusiasm and dedication towards his research works has been reflected by his achievement in various scientific invention awards. He has received eight awards for the university levels and 9 awards for the national levels. His unique and innovative inventions have also received recognition in the international level by winning 13 awards in several well-known international product exhibition events such as International Exhibition, Ideas-Inventions- New Products (IENA, Nuremberg, Germany) and Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, New Techniques and Products. With these achievements, he has been awarded as Malaysian excellent scientist for the year 2004 by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia.

His active participation in scientific research has also been exhibited by the recipient of research grant in various disciplines sponsored by government and non-government bodies. With the financial support of total research grant which nearly achieve three millions Malaysian Ringgit, most of his completed projects (22 projects) and on-going scientific projects (7 projects) has been commenced and executed successfully. With his extensive professional knowledge in wastewater treatment, water reuse and membrane fabrication, he has directly participated in consultancy works in various disciplines and involved a total gratuity which approximately worth 3.5 millions Malaysian Ringgit.

His capability in carrying quality research work of international standards has been further supported by the publication of almost 100 technical papers in well established and high impact factor international refereed journals such as Environment Science and Technology, Water Research, Journal of Membrane Science, Separation and Purification Technology, Journal of Desalination, Journal of Applied Polymer Science and etc. Apart from being an active researcher, he also shows his dedicated attitude toward the supervision of postgraduate students. Started from his career as a lecturer, his has successfully graduated 4 PhD students and 17 master students. He is currently supervising 11 PhD students and 11 Master students.

Prof Latif is a highly conscientious person who adopts a serious attitude towards work and believes in archiving his best. Despite as a marvelous researcher, the name of the School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia had been uplifted by Prof Latif under his fantabulous administration skill as a dean of Chemical Engineering School.