KOTA SAMARAHAN: Aspiring chemists are advised to not disregard the importance of basic and fundamental science in their process of innovation.
Organic chemist scientist and academician Prof Dr Zainab Ngaini pointed out such concept was integral to developing downstream green technology products that are environmentally friendly.
“Fundamental science is an outstanding topographical illustration of structural synthetic chemistry related to drug design, liquid crystal study, solid-phase organic synthesis and other applications.
“Based on the fundamentals, it outlines the significance of functional groups in the development and production of important compounds with various
applications,” she explained.
Prof Zainab said this when delivering her lecture during the Professorship Inaugural Talk at Dewan Syarahan, PITAS Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) here yesterday.
She addressed the crowd on the chemical description of the compounds, which was supported by spectroscopic instrumentations, molecular docking, polarising optical micrograph, during the lecture.
She summarised the downstream studies on agricultural waste and overcoming
issues related to extraordinary properties of sago, which hold promises for future applications.
“Organic synthesis is a broad dynamic science that has continuously developed, which leads to unique applications of chemistry in science and technology.
“Green methodologies have been reported to overcome the current problems even though they trigger environmental and economic concerns in the chemical society,” she said.
Prof Zainab hoped that with her talk, it would provide inspiration to the public, fellow
academicians, scientists and schoolchildren in making new discoveries and foster an understanding of the physical world based on the fundamentals of chemistry.
Prof Zainab’s field of specialisation covers synthesis of organic compounds such as azobenzene, chalcones, coumarins, aspirin, Schiff Bases, thiourea, pyrimidine, pyrazoline and kojic acid derivatives for applications as antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer activities.
Her research also involved chemical modification of agricultural wastes for green industrial applications and her innovation in chemistry has won her several gold medals at local and international R&D exposition. She is also listed as an inventor of more than 11 patents.
Among those present during the lecture were Unimas vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Kadim Suaidi, deputy vice-chancellors Prof Dr Wan Hashim Wan Ibrahim and Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit, Universiti Malaysia Perlis deputy vice-chancellor Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Fo’ad Sakdan and Unimas Faculty of Resource Science and Technology dean Assoc Prof Dr Ramlah Zainuddin.
Also present during the inaugural lecture were representatives from various schools in Kota Samarahan and Kuching, representatives from Malaysian Pepper Board, Department of Education and companies such as Trienekens and Serapi Bayu.
