Irina Safitri Zen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Kulliyah Architecture and Environmental Design (KAED), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). As an academician, a registered Sustainability professional by International Sustainability Society Professional (ISSP), United State of America, (USA) and registered Technologist on atmospheric science and environmental technology (Ts) by Malaysian Board of Technology, she has an academic background in environmental management and ecology. Currently she is an Associate Fellow with Sejahtera Center for Sustainability & Humanity (SC4SH), IIUM and an associate fellow for Center for Asian Climate and Environmental Policies Studies (CACEPS). Canada

Over the 15 years of teaching experience, she has taught various environment subjects that include environmental studies, environmental planning and management, environmental workshop, planning and technique analysis, sustainable development and sustainability science. 

Expanding from the field, her research and consultancy projects explore the interrelated areas between environmental planning, policy and management, urban environment, sustainable consumption, climate adaptation, mitigation and governance, carbon management and planning, education for sustainable development and sustainability science.  

During her 10 years of administrative post as campus sustainability director and head of sustainability research unit, the research manifested on the application of environmental planning and management into low carbon campus, campus sustainability and campus living learning lab. Her research expanding through various research grants from local, national to international grant research funding. She has completed research projects on examining public opinion on various environmental management issues such as plastic waste, zero waste community, consumer behavior, community based conservation effort, climate change and environmental pollution, with an interest how to assess and came up with the solution in an interdisciplinary approach of sustainability science and the current context of sustainable development goals, SDGs. For the past few years, her research network and works collaborate extensively with several ‘living lab’ in Siam Reap, Cambodia, Bali, Indonesia and Johor, Malaysia with a close collaboration with various stakeholders concerning sustainable development.

 In Asia Pacific, she was previously involved in developing the module for the UNESCO MasterClass on the sustainable development and sustainability science under Japan Fund In Trust. She was previously involved in the sustainability science project in Bali, Indonesia, the low carbon campus with MalaysiaGreenTech, the climate change action plan report with the state of Melaka and education for sustainable development, sustainability science and leadership under the Leadership Academy of Ministry of Education, AKEPT. Prior to entering IIUM in 2019, Irina has work experiences in the consultant firm in Kuala Lumpur (2005 – 10) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (2010 – 2019). 

Dr Irina graduated three PhD, three master students and seventeen (17) undergraduates, co-authors for six books, seven book chapters, three policy papers, 11 technical reports, 22 journal publications (seven in Q1 journals Web of Science, ten in Scopus Index Journals), 30 refereed articles in conferences proceeding and 60 invitations as speaker / panelist at conferences, programs and seminar inside and outside Malaysia, reviewed 50 articles journals and conference papers, part of the editorial boards from six journals, local and international level. Currently she is associate editor for Frontiers in Sustainability which handle special section on Education for Sustainable Development (2019-22).

She involves in several institutional linkages such as MalaysiaGreenTech, Ministry of Energy, Green Technology & Water, AKEPT (Leadership Academy of Malaysia), Ministry of Higher Education, UNESCO Jakarta, Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific and Center for Asian Climate and Environmental Policies Studies. Canada and several universities in Asia Pacific. She was appointed as part of a member of the Malaysia SDSN Leadership Council under the Science Advisor of the  Prime Minister Office of Malaysia (2017 – 19), the Science Advisor for the Melaka Green Technology Corporation (2017 – 19), Head of atmospheric science and environmental technology working group, Malaysian Board of Technology (MBOT) (2021 - NOW), resources person in several UNESCO Meeting and Conference in Asia Pacific since 2014. 

She is among the recipient of the Top Research of IIUM in 2021, the High Impact Responsible Innovation Awards (Arts & Social Science) IIUM TAKRIM 2021, Board of Studies for Master Program for Science Communication and Public Engagement. Dept of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science and Technology. University Malaya (2021 – 24), Member of Establishment Committee for Postgraduate Study for Sustainability Science. Center for Postgraduate Study. International Islamic University Malaysia (2021 – 22) and the Best Researcher Excellence Award from UTM in 2018, among the most active blended learning and teaching in 2015 and 2017, the Gold medal recipient for Campus Learning Lab Project, from the International Conference of Innovative Practices in Education and Industry Exhibition (I-PEINX 2016), the recipient of UNESCO grant for  module development and execution on MasterClass on Sustainable Development (2015) and Sustainability Science (2017). Her area of interest covers Environmental Planning, Management, Policy & Governance, Urban Environment, Environmental knowledge, attitude and behaviour, Sustainability in Higher Education, Waste Minimization, natural resources economics and management, Education for Sustainable  Development (ESD), Sustainable Consumption, Sustainability Assessment and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Policy.                                                                                                                                                           

• Social Science ~ Social Science ~ Political Sciences and Public Policy ~ Governance
• Social Science ~ Social Science ~ Education ~ Other Education n.e.c. - Education for sustainable development
• Natural Science ~ Environmental Sciences ~ Environmental Issues and Assesment ~ Global Warming/Climate Change - Climate Change Assessment
• Economics, Business And Management ~ Economics, Business And Management ~ Accounting ~ Natural Resource Accounting
• Natural Science ~ Biological Sciences ~ Biodiversity and Conservation ~ Parks and Protected Areas Conservation
• Natural Science ~ Biological Sciences ~ Biodiversity and Conservation ~ Ecosystem Diversity - natural
• Natural Science ~ Biological Sciences ~ Advancement of Biological Science Knowledge ~ Other Advancement of Biological Science Knowledge n.e.c.
• Engineering Tech ~ Applied Sciences And Technologies ~ Urban Planning ~ Other Urban Environmental Planning n.e.c.
• Economics, Business And Management ~ Economics, Business And Management ~ Management ~ Environmental Management

• 2019 - 2022: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (member), International Sustainability Society for Profesional
• 2021 - 2022: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Ordinary Membership. Based on years of experience conduct teaching, research and provide trainning in environment sustainability related. Its a yearly annual memberships update), Member of Assoc. of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers (AMER) I Assoc. of Behavioural Researchers on Asians / Africans / Arabians (ABRA)
• 2022 - 2023: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Member), ISOCARP International Society of City and Regional Planners
• 2022 - 2023: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Member), Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences
• 2022 - 2023: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Technical Panel and member), Malaysia Board of Technologist

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