POCER 2026 Unites 98 Institutions in Global Push for Environmental Action

The 8th International Conference and Postgraduate Colloquium of Environmental Research (POCER 2026) brought together more than 560 participants from 98 institutions across 24 countries at the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) on 8 and 9 July, marking one of the most internationally diverse editions since the conference's inaugural run in 2011. 

Held under the theme "Weaving a Resilient and Sustainable Future," the two-day event drew over 400 on-campus delegates alongside 162 online participants, with proceedings formally opened by UNM Provost and CEO Professor David FitzPatrick and Vice-Provost for Research and Knowledge Exchange Professor Ir Dr Mohd Shahir Liew. In his address, Professor FitzPatrick spoke about how environmental solutions demand the weaving together of disciplines, industries, borders, and generations. He also placed early-career researchers in the spotlight, calling them the heart of the conference and their work the blueprints for a sustainable future.

Three keynote addresses followed, with the first delivered by Ir Dr Norshah Hafeez Shuaib of MTC Group, who spoke on leveraging global sustainability challenges as commercial growth drivers. Ar (Dr) Serina Hijjas of Hijjas Architects and Planners explored the architecture of the Anthropocene from metric to materiality, while Professor Jonathan Wong of Dongguan University of Technology addressed innovative technologies for converting waste biomass into energy and advanced materials. 

Subsequently, three workshops were held: a thermodynamic simulation session delivered by industry sponsor EES Consultants, a life cycle assessment workshop by Ir Dr Jully Tan of Monash University Malaysia, and a professional networking session led by Ir Prof Dr Dominic Foo of UNM. 

Recipients of Best Presenter Awards

Awards were handed out in recognition of outstanding contributions across several categories.  

• Best Oral Presenter Award: Clariss Goh Hui Peng of Monash University Malaysia. She was quoted as saying that the recognition has inspired her to continue pursuing research that addresses real-world environmental challenges. 

• Best Poster Presenter Award: Best Poster Presenter Award: Mahlomola Phala of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He won for a chapter of his PhD research on sustainable waste management, noting that the platform offered valuable opportunities to engage with international researchers, exchange ideas, and receive constructive feedback. 

• Best Paper Presenter Award: Madhusudhanan S of Manipal Academy of Higher Education. He said that the achievement has reinforced his commitment to advancing culinary education through evidence-based innovation. 

• SDG 7 Gold Medal (part of the POCER 2026 SDG Awards sponsored by Universitas Diponegoro): ChM. Dr. Choong Shiau Huai and his team from Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) for their research converting banana trunks into catalysts for biodiesel production. 

Collaborating Partners of the Conference 

The conference was supported by collaborating partners Sunway University, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Universitas Diponegoro, and Tashkent State Agrarian University, with financial backing from MTC Group, EES Consultants, IT Tech Research M Sdn Bhd, Greenverse Sdn Bhd, Samaiden Sustainable Energy, Satay Putera Kajang, Malaysia Aviation Group, and the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB). 

"POCER 2026 proved that environmental research thrives when we empower the next generation," said conference chair Dr Ianatul Khoiroh, who is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at UNM. "With 98 institutions and 24 countries represented around the table, this edition was our most collaborative, our most diverse, and our most action-oriented yet."