The Centre for Postgraduate Studies and Research congratulates Chew Zhi Ling, a postgraduate student from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, on receiving the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Education for Nature (EFN) Trudy Fellowship of USD 22,000, for her research in food waste valorization and novel food formulation.
This grant will support her postgraduate studies and research for a period of 3 years (July 2023 – June 2026).
Food waste accumulation, vulnerable food systems and food insecurity are the major causes of environmental degradation and poor human health. This year, with the theme “Food is Local”, Chew Zhi Ling proposed her project to convert durian seed and food wastes using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) into high-value and healthy food products. The findings will contribute to the maximum utilization of food waste, which will help improve environmental sustainability, waste management, food security, conservation and nutrition.
Interviewed with Dr. Nelly Isigi Kadagi (left), the Director of Education for Nature Program and Conservation Leadership, WWF
“I’m beyond grateful for being selected as one of the grant recipients for 2023 WWF EFN Sustainable Food Systems Trudy Fellowship. With this funding, I’m motivated to explore the food system transformation at national and global levels during my postgraduate studies,” said Chew Zhi Ling, “It will greatly boost my credibility in delivering conservation outcomes and ensuring the long-term sustainability of my work. I’m really proud and excited to be part of the EFN global network.”
She would also like to acknowledge her supervisor Dr. Kua Yin Leng, Dr. Terri Lee Zhuan Ean, Dr. Tan Khang Wei (XMUM), Dr. Yong Yoong Soon (UCSI University), BioLoop Sdn Bhd for the continuous support in her research work thus far.
Chew Zhi Ling is a master's student under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Dr. Kua Yin Leng from the XMUM School of Energy and Chemical Engineering. She has received multiple awards for her sustainability-related projects since joining XMUM, including the 6th International Conference & Postgraduate Colloquium for Environmental Research, 5 Minutes Tech Splash, Sustainability Challenge, and IChemE poster competitions. Her research interests are food processing and waste valorization, oil and fats technology, Green Chemistry, environmental conservation, and sustainability.
Through Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN), WWF has been providing financial support to conservation leaders in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to gain the skills and knowledge they need to address the conservation challenges in their home countries. EFN supports biodiversity conservationists within the WWF-US priority countries to pursue their graduate-level studies, attend short-term training courses, and train local communities.