VARSITY READY TO LEND EXPERTISE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

PENANG (Malaysia), Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Northern-based Universiti Sains
Malaysia (USM) is ready to share and lend its expertise to the state and
federal governments for sustainable development in the country.

USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Development) Professor Omar
Osman said sustainable development depended on economic growth, social progress
and protection of the environment and natural resources, hence conservation and
restoration of resources were vital.

He was speaking at the International Conference on Environment (ICENV) 2008
which was opened by the governor of this northern island state Penang, Abdul
Rahman Abbas here Monday.

When asked about hillside development in the country, he said the
government
should strike a balance between development and environmental management for
public safety.

Development should not endanger nature's system capacity nor compromise the
ability of the next generation to fulfil its own needs and aspirations, he
added.

He said the conference was aimed at highlighting environmental management
and protection as one of the most essential prerequisites for sustainable
development worldwide.

"This conference aspires to provide the foundation for future engineering
endeavours through the identification of new and innovative areas of
environmental engineering, research and development and professional practices
while maintaining sustainability in our enterprises," he said.

The three-day conference organised by USM's School of Chemical Engineering
is attended by about 300 participants from 24 countries.
-- BERNAMA