Dr Fatimah Ahamad
- Senior Lecturer - Chief Scientist
- Planetary Health
Biography
Dr Fatimah Ahamad currently holds the position of Chief Scientist at the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, Malaysia. She obtained her PhD in Environmental Science from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and her primary research interest is in air quality. Her experience includes working on projects commissioned by the Department of Environment Malaysia and served as Subject Matter Expert for the concession company, Pakar Scieno Transwater Sdn. Bhd., which currently runs the national Environmental Monitoring Program for the Department of Environment Malaysia. She also runs AQ Expert Solutions, an enterprise committed to facilitating the understanding of environmental data.
Academic & Professional Qualifications
- PhD in Environmental Science, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (2016)
- MSc in Energy and Environment, Malaysia University of Science and Technology (2007)
- BSc in Chemistry and Biology, Campbell University, USA (2003)
Research Interests
- Indoor & Outdoor Air Quality
- Planetary Health
- Climate-chemistry Interaction
Teaching Areas
- Environmental Science
- Sustainability in Medicine
- Planetary Health and Sustainability in the Tropics short course
Notable Publications
Selected peer reviewed publications:
Chenappan, N.K., Ibrahim, Y.S., Anuar, S.T., Yusof, K.M.K.K., Jaafar, M., Ahamad, F., Sulaiman, W.Z.W. and Mohamad, N. (2024) Quantification and characterization of airborne microplastics in the coastal area of Terengganu, Malaysia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 196(3), p.242. (SDG 3)
Ahamad, F., Latiff, A.H.A. and Mahmood, J. (2023) Air pollution and allergy in Malaysia: The need for evidence and action. Asia Pacific Allergy, 13(2), p.85. (SDG 3)
Daniels, W.S., Buchholz, R.R., Worden, H.M., Ahamad, F., Hammerling, D. (2022) Interpretable models capture the complex relationship between climate indices and fire season intensity in Maritime Southeast Asia. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres,127,e2022JD036774.
Mohd Hanif, N., Limi Hawari, N.S.S., Othman, M., Abd Hamid, H.H., Ahamad, F., Uning, R., Ooi, M.C.G., Wahab, M.I.A., Sahani, M., Latif, M.T. (2021). Ambient volatile organic compounds in tropical environments: Potential sources, composition and impacts – A review. Chemosphere 285, 131355. (SDG 3)
Ahamad, F., Griffiths, P.T., Latif, M.T., Juneng, L., Xiang, C.J. (2020). Ozone Trends from Two Decades of Ground Level Observation in Malaysia. Atmosphere 11, 755
Other publications:
2025: Clean Air, Healthy Lives: A Policy Roadmap for Health Systems to Tackle Air Pollution https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Clean-Air-Healthy-Life-Report-1.pdf
2024: Global Planetary Health Roadmap and Action Plan - Planetary Health Alliance
https://planetaryhealthalliance.org/roadmap-action-plan/
Interviews:
2024: Health and climate risks overlap in coal-burning Southeast Asia
https://www.eco-business.com/news/health-and-climate-risks-overlap-in-coal-burning-southeast-asia/
2025: Majority of the world’s population breathes dirty air, report says
https://apnews.com/article/air-pollution-climate-change-asia-diseases-cancer-lungs-dc623f24dfab652ef06eca51cd4211e8
Achievements & Accolades
Current projects (2025):
- Tertiary Student Exposure to PM2.5: Will Intervention Campaign Significantly Reduce Traffic Related Air Pollutants in Campus?
- Indo-Pacific Initiative for Sustainable Animal Health Cooperation
- Regional Hub for Asia Climate Change and Health Consortium
