Jennifer W. F. Chia

Jennifer Chia Wee Fern is a Doctorate student at the University of Tokyo, where she is doing research on improving the material value of non-recyclable PET bottles into activated carbon. She first realized the plastic crisis in her home country, Malaysia, where Malaysia had become a dumpsite for non-recyclable plastic waste due to lack of domestic recycling capabilities of the exporting countries. This became a motivation for her to pursue her doctorate degree in the Department of Environmental Systems after obtaining her master’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Chia received a scholarship grant from Honjo International Scholarship Foundation, a prestigious award for students with extraordinary achievements and capabilities. She also won the runner-up award in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition. Chia is a passionate student and a novice researcher who hopes to contribute to the research society.