Constructing Sustainable Semiconductor Manufacturing through Open Learning
More than 100 billion semiconductors (microchips) are used daily to power modern technologies. In recent years, the semiconductor industry in Malaysia has grown drastically as major European and US companies are establishing new facilities or expanding existing ones to build resilient global supply chains for the essential technological component. Dr Leo believes that as the industry expands, sustainability in semiconductor manufacturing should be improved by exchanging knowledge on sustainable innovation, standards and policy. Her work focuses on developing an open-learning model to construct sustainable processes in the engineering industry that can reduce carbon emissions and material losses while increasing operating profit.
Dr Cleo hopes that a peer-support network enhancing knowledge exchange between engineering experts and leaders can help to improve engineering capacity and talent in sustainable semiconductor manufacturing.
A Career in Chemical Engineering
Dr Leo was appointed associate professor in chemical engineering in 2016 by Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia. She started her engineering career as a technology development engineer before becoming a research officer in 2005. Her research subsequently focused on carbon capture and water recovery using 2D materials incorporated with semiconductors with scientific findings published in more than 130 indexed journal papers.
An Open-Learning Platform Promoting Sustainable Manufacturing Processes
Dr Leo’s ongoing DIA-supported project aims to strengthen sustainable manufacturing concepts and processes among engineering students, researchers, practitioners, and entrepreneurs. The project involves developing an open-learning platform through workshops and seminars to address the pain points in Malaysia's current semiconductor industry.
Introducing a life cycle analysis (LCA) in a learning model focused on constructing sustainable processes in semiconductor manufacturing, Dr Leo aims to promote the adoption of several innovative technologies for carbon and water footprint reduction in semiconductor manufacturing. The DIA grant allows her to collaborate with Dr Yu Kok Hwa and Ir Dr Mariatti Jaafar from Universiti Sains Malaysia to build a peer-support network among engineering communities that facilitates knowledge exchange and talent and capacity building in sustainable semiconductor manufacturing.
Joining DIA helps me to expand the impact of my project by connecting me with a broad international community and a network of excellent, diverse engineers across countries.”
Building an Inclusive Economy and Sustainable Society
Dr Leo believes that an open-learning platform focusing on sustainable semiconductor manufacturing processes can help to strengthen engineering education for building an inclusive economy and sustainable society. She is working on connecting engineering experts, policymakers and influencers in Vietnam, Malaysia and the UK to obtain and exchange learning resources on sustainable semiconductor manufacturing. This will help to facilitate international cooperation in identifying critical chemical engineering issues in the semiconductor industry and providing sustainable solutions to them.
Dr Leo’s ongoing collaborations with institutions focused on sustainable engineering such as the Malaysia Green Building Council create the potential for her DIA-supported project to attract researchers across other engineering sectors.