| Danial Norjidi |

A SCIENTIST from Brunei Darussalam is among the 15 finalists for the 2019 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE).

Dr Juliana binti Zaini is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Integrated Technologies of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) with research interests in solid/structural/geotechnical modelling, biomass biofuel, microalgae, IoT in agriculture, and renewable energies.

According to the APEC Secretariat website, Dr Juliana specialises in geotechnical engineering, which is concerned with addressing the engineering behaviour of Earth materials. She is working to establish an international research platform to leverage on the biodiversity in Borneo to transform bioinspired technology – or the imitation of models, systems and elements of nature – for the purpose of solving complex human problems.

To date she has published over 17 peer-reviewed journal articles.

The announcement of the 15 finalists was made in a press release issued on June 18 by the APEC Policy Partnership for Science, Technology, and Innovation, which oversees the ASPIRE Prize.

The prize is an annual award that recognises young scientists across the Pacific Rim region who demonstrate excellence in scientific research. For this year, the prize is promoting innovative research that advances society through “natural laboratories”, with the winning entry among the current crop of 15 finalists to receive a USD25,000 prize from Wiley and Elsevier, publishers of scholarly scientific knowledge.

Chair of the APEC Policy Partnership for Science, Technology, and Innovation Fabiola Leon-Velarde Servetto said of the award, “The ‘laboratory’ of nature has inspired generations of scientists to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. In turn, the scientists’ innovative approaches inspire us to pursue economic growth that is sustainable in the long-term.

“From sustainable energy production to protection of the marine ecosystem, the issues raised by these exceptional scientists this year reflect APEC Chile’s focus on sustainable growth for 2019. The discoveries enabled by science, technology, and innovation can be crucial to economic development and help decision-makers make better policy decisions.”

The press release highlights that this year’s ASPIRE Prize nominees represent APEC’s most inventive minds and were nominated for their scientific accomplishments and cross-border collaboration.

Each economy may nominate one individual, who must be from the region and under 40 years.

Every year the ASPIRE prize brings forward bright sparks of imagination and academic rigour, the press release added. Work carried out by the 2019 nominees include satellite remote sensing and machine learning to monitor changes in coastal ecosystems, observation of aquatic insects adapting to global change in freshwater ecosystems, and surveillance of the Avian influenza virus in wild birds.

Commenting on the finalists’ work, Elsevier Chairman Youngsuk ‘YS’ Chi said, “From the South Pole to Borneo to the International Space Station, the research carried out by this year’s finalists addresses some of our biggest global challenges. We are delighted to highlight their work and look forward to seeing its impact.”

“The 15 nominees teach us about the importance of international research collaboration and of the natural world before us,” Wiley President and CEO Brian Napack noted. “We thank the nominees for their pursuit of scientific excellence; their work reminds us to think bigger about what we can accomplish and is vitally important in moving the world towards a more sustainable future. We are thrilled to sponsor the ASPIRE Prize and look forward to honouring the winner.”

The winner will be announced at an award ceremony held on the sidelines of the 3rd Senior Officials’ Meetings in Puerta Varas, Chile in August this year.