By Amirul Salam Hasan, Corporate Communications Office
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) doctoral student Hii Chiong Hwee has further strengthened the university’s research excellence after being selected to receive the Kurita Water and Environment Foundation (KWEF) Overseas Research Grant 2026 from Japan.
The grant, valued at JPY400,000, supports his research project titled “Tailoring Diphenylacetylene-Gold(I) Hybrid Complexes for Selective Electrochemical Sensing of Nitrogenous Pollutants with In Silico Insights”, which will be conducted from October 2026 to September 2027.
The research focuses on developing more selective electrochemical sensing technology to detect nitrogen-based pollutants such as nitrate, nitrite and ammonia in water sources.
Pollution from these substances has attracted increasing attention, as discharges from agricultural, industrial and domestic activities have the potential to affect water quality and disrupt aquatic ecosystem balance.
Hii said receiving the KWEF grant provides him with an opportunity to further develop his research in chemistry and sensor technology, while exploring new approaches that could contribute to water quality monitoring.
“This grant is a very meaningful opportunity for me to further develop my research in electrochemical sensors, particularly in developing more selective and effective methods for detecting nitrogen pollutants,” he said.
The research is being conducted under the supervision of Prof. Chm. Dr. Wan Mohd Khairul Wan Mohamed Zin, who is also the Dean of UMT’s Faculty of Science and Marine Environment (FSSM).
“I hope this research will contribute to the development of better water quality monitoring methods, while also providing a foundation for designing sensors with potential applications in environmental monitoring,” he said.
More importantly, the research is directly aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, particularly efforts to improve the monitoring and protection of water resources.
Hii’s achievement also reflects the potential of UMT’s young researchers to produce research that connects fundamental fields such as chemistry with global environmental challenges.
The research also holds strategic value for UMT in strengthening its research agenda in environmental sustainability, water quality and environmental monitoring technologies, in line with the university’s expertise in marine and environmental sciences.
Hii’s selection by KWEF further demonstrates that research at UMT is not only focused on scientific discovery, but also has the potential to be translated into solutions for environmental issues and societal needs.
With the support of the international grant, Hii’s research is expected to serve as a foundation for developing more selective pollutant detection technologies while strengthening efforts to produce science-based solutions to safeguard water resources for future generations.
