Introduction of Chair (Universiti Sains Malaysia)
UNESCO Chair on Ecohydraulics for Sustainable Water Infrastructures for SDG 6 in Asia and the Pacific
The UNESCO Chair on Ecohydraulics for Sustainable Water Infrastructures for SDG 6 in Asia and the Pacific has been awarded to Universiti Sains Malaysia for four (4) years, from October 2020 to October 2024. UNESCO has appointed Dato Dr Nor Azazi Zakaria, Honorary Professor at REDAC (former Director of REDAC) as the Chair holder to lead the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) UNESCO Chair. This appointment is the third UNESCO Chair to be awarded to Malaysia. The River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC), one of the research centres at USM and a pioneer in sustainable urban stormwater management, has been appointed by the university to host and support the Chairholder. REDAC was chosen for its commitment to SDG 6 since its establishment in 2001. A green sustainable urban stormwater management system known as Bio-Ecological Drainage Systems (BIOECODS) was designed by REDAC and subsequently constructed on the USM Engineering Campus, Penang in 2002 and became a national pilot project in Malaysia. REDAC has been dominant in research and consultancy projects and the Director has successfully positioned REDAC as a pioneer in the niche area of sustainable urban stormwater management. Currently, REDAC is actively involved in national and international collaborations. USM aims to promote and establish networks in eco-hydraulics for sustainable water infrastructure for SDG 6 in Asia and the Pacific.
Title of the Chair/Network:
UNESCO Chair on Ecohydraulics for Sustainable Water Infrastructures for SDG 6 in Asia and the Pacific
Host Institution:
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang
c/o River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC)
Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang
Date of establishment of Chair/Network: October 2020
RIVER ENGINEERING AND URBAN DRAINAGE RESEARCH CENTRE (REDAC)
Host of the UNESCO Chair on Ecohydraulics for Sustainable Water Infrastructures for SDG 6 in Asia and the Pacific Region
The River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC) was established and has been headed by Professor Dr Nor Azazi Zakaria since 2001. REDAC is the first research centre at the USM Engineering Campus to be awarded the status of the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence or HICoE for service on 9 October 2014, with a niche area of sustainable urban stormwater management. REDAC has been dominant in research and consultancy projects since 1999, with a total funding of more than 30 million in the last ten years. The establishment of the centre is to serve as a focal point for research, program development, training, knowledge sharing and transformation agent to improve the quality of life in urban areas by providing sustainable water management system. REDAC has been involved in various studies at the national level, including research contracts and consultancy projects for the government and the private sector. REDAC has become a reference and national consultant in the field of water resources management. REDAC also became one of the contributors to the preparation of national guidelines such as the 2nd Edition of the Manual on Municipal Stormwater Management in Malaysia (MSMA 2ed) and the River Sand Mining Guideline for Malaysia.
REDAC has been involved in various studies at national level, including research contracts and consultancy projects for the government and the private sector. REDAC has become a reference and national consultant in the field of water resources management. REDAC has also been involved in the preparation of national guidelines such as the 2nd Edition of the Manual on Municipal Stormwater Management in Malaysia (MSMA 2ed) and the River Sand Mining Guideline for Malaysia.
A green sustainable urban stormwater management system known as Bio-Ecological Drainage Systems (BIOECODS) was designed by REDAC and subsequently constructed on the USM Engineering Campus, Penang in 2001 as a national pilot project. BIOECODS attempts to solve three major problems commonly encountered in Malaysia, namely flash floods, river pollution and water scarcity. The implementation of BIOECODS will help to preserve the natural characteristics of the existing river ecosystem.
The national pilot project has continuously received national and international visitors. Nearly 20 BIOECODS projects have been implemented throughout Peninsular Malaysia, mainly for the development of government building projects. BIOECODS has received positive response from developers, engineers, stakeholders, regulators, planners, designers etc. REDAC has now become a reference for governments, agencies, industries and communities nationally and internationally on sustainable stormwater management.
REDAC, together with DID and NAHRIM, organised the largest event for the hydraulics community, namely the 37th IAHR World Congress in August 2017 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC). It was the most successful IAHR Congress with over 1200 participants from 61 countries and 800 papers presented. Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) were signed between REDAC and Hydro environment Research Centre (HRC), Cardiff University, UK, and China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) and International Research and Training Centre on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES) to collaborate on research and consultancy in river engineering and urban drainage. REDAC also collaborates with the UNESCO Jakarta Office in 2017 and 2019 to organize a workshop, bringing together experts working in the field of water to share their knowledge and best practices to improve water security. Based on the active involvement in water security issues, REDAC is confirmed as a UNESCO Chair on Ecohydraulics for Sustainable Water Infrastructures for SDG 6 in Asia and Pacific region for 4 years from 2020.
CONTACT :
Dato Dr. Nor Azazi Zakaria
Chairholder
Honorary Professor at REDAC USM
Secretariats:
Mr Mohd Fazly Yusof ; email : redac07@usm.my
Mr Syafiq Shaharuddin ; email : redacsyafiq@usm.my
Ms Siti Fairuz Juiani ; email : sitifairuz@usm.my
Article :
https://www.utusan.com.my/berita/2020/12/usm-terpilih-terajui-kursi-unesco/
https://www.kosmo.com.my/2020/12/17/usm-terpilih-terajui-kursi-unesco/
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