KUCHING –Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus has recently appointed a senior academic to head its chemical engineering program. The university plans to offer a chemical engineering program next year.
Professor Alexander Gorin, a New Zealand permanent resident, received his doctorate in Engineering Science from the Supreme Qualification Committee, Council of Ministers, Russia, in 1983.
In recognition of his achievement in research and teaching he was awarded a Higher Doctor of Science degree in physics and mathematics (Thermophysics and Molecular Physics) from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, Moscow, in 1999. The following year, he was awarded the title of Professor (Thermophysics and Thermal Engineering) by the Ministry.
For more than three decades Gorin has been actively involved in teaching about 30 engineering courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, mostly in the areas of chemical and mechanical engineering.
He has taught at top universities in Russia such as The Novosibirsk National Research University and Tomsk State University.
Gorin was Head Research Fellow with Geothermal Institute, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, New Zealand, from 2001 to 2003, and Head of Department, Head of Laboratory and Principal Research Fellow with the Institute of Thermophysics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, from 1989 to 2000.
Under his supervision, 16 students have successfully completed their PhD, including one from The University of Auckland and three from Curtin University. He currently supervises two postgraduate students.
Gorin has authored and co-authored more than 170 publications. He is the associate editor of the International Journal of Energy and Technology, and a member of the editorial board for the International Journal of Power Control and Optimization.
With Swinburne Sarawak making preparations to introduce chemical engineering next year, students who complete the foundation studies in engineering and science will have an additional engineering major to choose from.
“Like specialists in all engineering fields, chemical engineers employ physics, mathematics, and engineering principles to solve technical problems. Yet, chemical engineers apply a knowledge of chemistry in addition to other engineering disciplines to solve a wide range of technical problems,” said Gorin.
This, he said, brings the power of classic sciences to form fundamental principles of chemical engineering underlying technological processes.
“These principles extend well beyond the boundaries of the chemical industry. This makes chemical engineering very unique in the fields of science and technology, and chemical engineers are in great demand and are employed in a range of operations outside traditional areas.
“It is customary for the chemical engineer to be described as the ‘universal engineer’ due to their background and ability to be comfortable with a wide spectrum of processes and phenomena,” Gorin said.
In addition to the large number of traditional industries such as the chemical, and oil and gas, and energy production, modern industry requires specialists with chemical engineering background with specialization in areas not traditionally considered as chemical engineering. Among them are biotechnology and the metals processing industry, which includes light metal manufacture to separation of rare metals, he said.
Gorin said that to widen the horizons of chemical engineering, Swinburne Sarawak plans to offer a range of elective courses allowing specialization in biotechnology or metallurgy.
“This will also make Swinburne Sarawak graduates more universal with better opportunity for employment. Also of great importance is that such an approach meets expectations of local industry,” he said.