SDG 6 is the Sustainable Development Goal 6 established by the United Nations (UN) which concerns the issues on Clean Water and Sanitation, with the mission statement to "Ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all." Universiti Sains Malaysia becomes the first university in the country to be awarded the “UNESCO Chair on Ecohydraulics for Sustainable Water Infrastructures for SDG 6 in Asia and the Pacific Region”. Under the framework, selected actions and commitments related to the global education, community development and international volunteering under the Sustainable Development Goals will be highlighted. Among them are the Malaysia UNESCO Cooperation Programme (MUCP) and UNESCO workshops, which gathered experts throughout the world to contribute to the building of a culture of peace, the eradication of poverty, and intercultural dialogue through education, sciences, culture, communication and information. In parallel with the revolution of nanotechnology development, the key advance of microwave technology as a green, rapid and efficient strategy for activated carbon preparation and regeneration; upgrading of natural clay minerals into low cost, active functionalized adsorbents; and green synthesis of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as new class of organic-inorganic hybrid crystalline porous networks; a new insight for the innovative conversion of bio ashes into highly valuable nanocomposites; as well as the preparation of cellulose nanocrystals, from the natural polymers commonly found in forest wood, plant residue and agro-biomass have been emphasized. Moreover, the accomplishment of the soilless cultivation practice, together with the practical application of Bio-ecological Drainage System for the quantitative and quality water runoff management will be systematically elucidated.

Prof. Dr. Foo Keng Yuen is the UNESCO Co-Chair on Eco-hydraulics for Sustainable Water Infrastructures for SDG 6 in the Asia and the Pacific Region. His research interests are environmental engineering, waste utilization, water treatment technology, catalysis, food security and toxicology, and environmental health. He has involved in different kinds of university, national and international research grants, amounting to approximately RM 10 million. His aptitude for high quality research of international standing has been supported by the consultancy projects of exceeding RM 3 million, more than 200 international publications, with a total citation of exceeding 20,000, and an author h-index of 53. In term of Intellectual Properties, he holds 3 patents, 1 trade secret and 1 trademark. Foo’s scholastic achievements and thought leadership are recognized locally and internationally. He is honoured to be the Top 2% Scientists in their Respective Fields and Top 2% Highly Cited Scientists in the world by the Stanford University, California consequentially for 8 years. Foo has been nominated to be the honoree of the Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians (TOYM) 2022, Top Research Scientist Malaysia (TRSM) 2019, National Young Scientist Award 2017, International Young Inventor Award, Marquis Who's Who in the World, Top 100 Engineers, and Honorary Doctorate of Letters by International Biographical Centre Cambridge, England, and special award or medal winners in International Inventions, Competitions and Exhibitions. He serves as the Editor, Editorial Board Members, Scientific Adviser, Technical Committee, Review Committee, Keynote and Invited Speakers in international scientific journals, conferences, and research seminars. Foo has been nominated as the Chief Consultant for several UNESCO’s international workshops, connecting with more than 30 industrial partners, currently has been appointed as the technical consultant for TG Ocean Health Food Industries Limited Company and research and development (R&D) consultant for Gold Choice Food Industries Limited Company.