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The School of Mathematical Sciences at Sunway University recently hosted its 2nd Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Talk, featuring a presentation by Dr Wooi Chen Khoo, the Head of the Department of Applied Statistics. The talk, titled "From Data to Decision-Making: Empowering Sustainability Development through Statistical Inferences," highlighted Dr Khoo's research work that directly addresses several SDGs, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Dr Khoo's research focuses on providing evidence-based answers to pressing questions related to sustainable development. During her presentation, she delved into specific case studies that exemplified the practical applications of statistical modelling in addressing complex challenges. Her work encompasses many topics, from estimating the severity of infectious diseases like hand-foot-mouth disease to identifying sections along a bus route with timeliness issues. Additionally, she has contributed to estimating the duration of unemployment in Malaysia, where official data is lacking, and determining the most suitable Employment Insurance Scheme for individuals across different income brackets.

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Dr Khoo's research focuses on providing evidence-based answers to pressing questions related to sustainable development. During her presentation, she delved into specific case studies that exemplified the practical applications of statistical modelling in addressing complex challenges. Her work encompasses many topics, from estimating the severity of infectious diseases like hand-foot-mouth disease to identifying sections along a bus route with timeliness issues. Additionally, she has contributed to estimating the duration of unemployment in Malaysia, where official data is lacking, and determining the most suitable Employment Insurance Scheme for individuals across different income brackets.

One of the case studies Dr Khoo presented revolved around hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), a highly contagious illness primarily affecting young children. Her research sought to estimate the disease's likelihood, frequency, and severity while identifying factors that could contribute to outbreaks. By applying various statistical methods such as distribution fitting and regression modelling, Dr Khoo could understand the impact of climate factors like temperature, rainfall, and humidity on the spread of the disease. Her findings indicated that temperature had a significantly higher influence than other factors. She also discovered regional variations in temperature patterns, suggesting the need for closer observation and increased public awareness before HFMD outbreaks occur.

In another notable study, Dr Khoo delved into the complex issue of unemployment in Malaysia. Despite the lack of official data, she developed models to estimate the duration of unemployment and identify critical determinants. Her research showed that individuals over 37 were less likely to be unemployed, while males had a higher chance of leaving the state of unemployment than females. Furthermore, she found that the absence of formal education certification significantly impacted unemployment, emphasising the need for technical and vocational training in line with industry demands. Dr Khoo provided valuable insights into the employment landscape of an upper-middle-income developing country by quantifying the likelihood of unemployment and conducting comparative analyses with developed countries such as Australia and the United States.

Dr Khoo's presentation demonstrated the power of statistical modelling and analysis in advancing sustainable development goals. Her research effectively harnesses data-driven approaches and contributes to evidence-based decision-making processes that can lead to meaningful change. Attendees of the SDG Talk were enlightened about the role of statistical analysis in addressing complex societal challenges and were inspired to consider its potential in their respective fields.

The School of Mathematical Sciences at Sunway University continues fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and research to tackle pressing global issues. The 2nd SDG Talk, featuring Dr Wooi Chen Khoo, showcased the school's commitment to promoting sustainable development through statistical analysis. The school aims to create a more inclusive and prosperous future aligned with the SDGs by empowering individuals and organisations with statistical tools and knowledge.
 

Dr Khoo Wooi Chen
School of Mathematical Sciences
Email: @email