2026 MILESTONES
Jan 2026 Appointed to the WFO End of Life Committee under the Royal Academy of Engineering / Engineering X.
Apr 2026 Elected Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (FASc), Engineering Sciences.
Jul 2026 Elected to the Council of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) for a three-year term.
2026: A Year Of Recognition
For Professor Dr. Omar Yaakob, 2026 has become a defining year. In April, he was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (FASc) under the Engineering Sciences discipline, recognizing a career of outstanding contribution to engineering and science. Just months later, he was elected to the Council of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), beginning a three-year term on 1 July 2026. These honours are more than titles: they reflect decades of research, leadership and service to the maritime community.
Building Malaysia’s Maritime Knowledge
Professor Omar joined UTM in August 1983 as an Assistant Lecturer in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. He was part of the pioneering team that developed UTM’s Marine Technology curriculum, Marine Technology Laboratory and marine-related research activities. His early work focused on naval architecture, ship design, hydrodynamics, marine transportation and ship operations. By the early 2000s, he helped open a new research frontier in Malaysia: ocean renewable energy and the marine environment.
Research That Meets Real-World Needs
Professor Omar’s research has always been closely connected to real-world challenges in the maritime and marine environment. His work initially covered ship design, hydrodynamics, marine transportation and ship operations, before expanding into ocean renewable energy and the marine environment.
He has since led research projects addressing practical challenges such as ship energy efficiency and emissions, ballast-water treatment, ship hydrodynamics and safety, marine current and wave energy, offshore wind resources, and the environmental impacts of maritime activities. Through this combination of fundamental engineering, applied research, and collaboration, Professor Omar has sought to develop technologies and knowledge that meet the needs of Malaysia and the wider maritime community.
From UTM to the World
His expertise has also carried Malaysian maritime knowledge onto international platforms. He has represented Malaysia in discussions on ocean renewable energy and marine environmental protection, including engagements linked to the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization. In January 2026, the Royal Academy of Engineering also appointed him to the WFO End of Life Committee, where his experience contributes to work on international regulation, standards, benchmarking and material-flow forecasting.
A Legacy That Keeps Moving Forward
More than four decades after beginning his academic career, Professor Omar continues to show that meaningful research is built over time – through curiosity, persistence, collaboration and relevance to society. His journey reminds young engineers that a single question about the sea can grow into research that influences laboratories, industries, professional institutions and future generations.
Beyond The Laboratory: A Public Voice
Few engineers write as regularly for the public as Professor Omar. Since 2012, he has contributed opinion pieces and commentary to national outlets including The Star, New Straits Times, Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia, Bernama, Malaysiakini and Free Malaysia Today, and has appeared on Astro Awani. His topics range from ocean energy and maritime safety to education policy and research integrity in universities, a reminder that expertise built in the laboratory can also inform public debate.
