Biographical note

Chin Hua Chia, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Materials Science Programme, School of Applied Physics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) (also known as National University of Malaysia). He obtained his PhD in Materials Science (UKM, Malaysia) in 2007. His core research interests include developing polymer nanocomposites, bio-polymers, magnetic nanomaterials, and bio-adsorbents for wastewater treatment. He has published more than 120 research articles and more than 80 publications in conference proceedings. He is an Editor of Sains Malaysiana and the Editor-in-Chief of Polymer Research Journal (Nova Science Publishers). He has received the Best Young Scientist Award (2012) and the Excellent Service Award (2013) from UKM and the Young Scientist Award (2014) from the Malaysian Solid State Science and Technology Society (MASS). He has recently received the Distinguished Lectureship Award (2017) from Chemical Society of Japan (CSJ).

Chin Han Chan, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (MARA University of Technology) in Selangor, Malaysia. She has received many research grants, has published many articles in professional journals, has published chapters in books, and has presented at many professional conferences. Her field of interest includes epoxidized natural rubber-based nanostructured blends, thermoplastic elastomer, biodegradable polyester/polyether blends and solid polymer electrolytes.

Professor Sabu Thomas is the Director of the International and Interuniversity Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and full professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the School of Chemical Sciences of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. He is an outstanding leader with sustained international acclaims for his work in polymer science and engineering, polymer nanocomposites, elastomers, polymer blends, interpenetrating polymer networks, polymer membranes, green composites and nanocomposites, nanomedicine, and green nanotechnology. Professor Thomas has received a number of national and international awards, which include the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London; MRSI medal,; Nano Tech Medal; CRSI medal, Distinguished Faculty Award; and Sukumar Maithy Award for the best polymer researcher in the country. He is placed fifth on the list of the most productive researchers in India. Recently, Prof. Thomas has been conferred Honoris Causa (DSc) by the University of South Brittany, Lorient, France. Professor Thomas has published over almost 800 peer-reviewed research papers, reviews, and book chapters. He has co-edited 50 books and hold five patents. He has supervised over 70 PhD theses, and his H index is 80, with his work being cited over 30,000 times. Prof. Thomas has delivered over 300 plenary/inaugural and invited lectures at national and international meetings in over 30 countries.