Faculty: Morris, Kenobi (PhD., CEng, MIMechE)

kmorris@ashesi.edu.gh

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, University of Nottingham
• BEng in Mechanical Engineering, University of Nottingham

Teaching Statement

I favor a student-centered learning approach where learning is seen as a contract between the students who play an active role in their own learning and the instructor who act as a facilitator of the students’ learning process and development as ethical and vibrant leaders. As an instructor with the department of Mechanical Engineering at Ashesi University College, I tap into the ingenuity of the students by motivating them with real life applications of what is taught in the classroom. This way, the students can easily relate what is learnt to the real world with such an orientation as to provide sustainable and resilient solutions to real problems in society, especially in the African continent.

It is my obligation to help students gain problem-solving and critical reasoning skills through hands-on experience in addition to confidence in their potential to take on the real world. Moreover, I am committed to helping students develop the ability to work and adapt to different work environment with emphasis on teamwork and community service.

Courses taught at Ashesi University

• System Dynamics

Research Statement

My research interest cuts across several endeavors such as Heat transfer; Remote sensing and geographic information systems, GIS; Agrometeorology – effect of climate/climate change on agricultural produce; Atmospheric fluid dynamics – climatology and climate change research, interaction of human-induced climate change and natural climate variability, climate change impact assessment, adaptation, and resilience; and the economics of climate change on developing countries. Some of my interests are captured in my ongoing research.

Continual development and research collaboration are essential to conducting research that provides answers to some of the challenges, either by human-induced or natural occurrence, faced today. As such, I have research collaborations that cut across different continents.

Selected Publications

PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL PAPERS

• K.I. Morris, A. Chan, K.J.K. Morris, M.C.G. Ooi, M.Y. Oozeer, Y.A. Abakr, M.S.M. Nadzir, I.Y. Mohammed, H.F. Al-qrimli. Impact of urbanization level on the interactions of urban area, the urban climate, and human thermal comfort. Applied Geography (ELSEVIER BV), 79, pp. 50 – 72, 2017. (Q1, IF = 2.687)
• I.Y. Mohammed, Y.A. Abakr, J.N.X. Hui, P.A. Alaba. K.I. Morris, M.D. Ibrahim. Recovery of clean energy precursors from Bambara groundnut waste via pyrolysis: Kinetics, products distribution and optimisation using response surface methodology. Journal of Cleaner Production (ELSEVIER BV), 164, pp. 1430 – 1445, 2017. (Q1, IF = 5.715)
• K.I. Morris, A. Chan, K.J.K. Morris, M.C.G. Ooi, M.Y. Oozeer, Y.A. Abakr, M.S.M. Nadzir, I.Y. Mohammed. Urbanisation and urban climate of a tropical conurbation, Klang Valley, Malaysia. Urban Climate (ELSEVIER BV), 19, pp. 54 – 71, 2017. (Q1, IF = 2.09)
• I.Y. Mohammed, Y.A. Abakr, S. Yusup, P.A. Alaba. K.I. Morris, Y.M. Sani, F.K. Kazi. Upgrading of Napier grass pyrolytic oil using microporous and hierarchical mesoporous zeolites: Products distribution, composition and reaction pathways. Journal of Cleaner Production (ELSEVIER BV), 162, pp. 817 – 829, 2017. (Q1, IF = 5.715)
• M.C.G. Ooi, A. Chan, M.Y. Oozeer, K.I. Morris, M. Ashfold. Numerical study on effect of urban heating on local climate during calm inter-monsoon period in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Urban Climate (ELSEVIER BV), 20, pp. 228 – 250, 2017. (Q1, IF = 2.09)
• F.Z. Hiung, H.F. Al-Qrimli, K.I. Morris. Implementation of XFEM in the study of gear crack propagation behaviour using the SIF on different moments. International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling (INDERSCIENCE PUBLISHERS), 12(3/4), pp. 362-368 2017. (Q3, IF = 1.36)
• K.I. Morris, A. Chan, M.C.G. Ooi, M.Y. Oozeer, Y.A. Abakr, K.J.K. Morris. Effect of vegetation and waterbody on the garden city concept: An evaluation study using a newly developed city, Putrajaya, Malaysia. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems (ELSEVIER BV), 58, pp. 39 – 51, 2016. (Q1, IF = 2.659)
• K.I. Morris, A. Chan, M.C-G. Ooi, S. Aekbal Salleh, Y.A. Abakr, M.Y. Oozeer. Numerical study on the urbanisation of Putrajaya and its interaction with the local climate, over a decade. Urban Climate (ELSEVIER BV), 16, pp. 1 - 24, 2016. (Q1, IF = 2.09)
• M.Y. Oozeer, A. Chan, M.C-G. Ooi, A.M. Zarzur, S.V. Salinas, B-N. Chew, K.I. Morris, W-K. Choong. Numerical Study of the Transport and Convective Mechanisms of Biomass Burning Haze in South-Southeast Asia. Aerosol and Air Quality Research (AAGR ) 16(11), pp. 2950-2963, 2016. (Q2, IF = 2.606)
• K.I. Morris, S. Aekbal Salleh, A. Chan, M.C.G. Ooi, Y.A. Abakr, M. Y. Oozeer, M. Duda. Computational study of urban heat island of Putrajaya, Malaysia. Sustainable Cities and Society (ELSEVIER BV), 19, pp. 359 – 372, 2015. (Q1, IF = 1.777)
• K.I. Morris, S. Aekbal Salleh, A. Chan, M.C.G. Ooi, Y.A. Abakr, M.Y. Oozeer, M. Duda. Integrating Weather Research and Forecasting Model, Noah Land Surface Model and Urban Canopy Model for Urban Heat Island Effect Assessment. British Journal of Environment and Climate Change (SCIENCEDOMAIN International), 5(3), pp. 231 - 253, 2015.
• S.A. Salleh, Z.A. Latif, A. Chan, K.I. Morris, M.C.G, Ooi, W.M.N.W, Mohd. Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) Model Modification of Land Surface Albedo Simulations for Urban Near Surface Temperature. The 2015 International Conference on Space Science and Communication (IEEE IconSpace2015), pp. 243-247, 2015. 

• K.I. Morris, A. Chan, K.J.K. Morris, H.F. Al-Qrimli, M.C.G Ooi, M.Y. Oozeer, Y.A. Abakr, M.S.M. Nadzri. Sustainable urban development strategies in a tropical urban climate – Klang Valley, Malaysia: A compromise between economic cost, thermal comfort, and ambient temperature reduction in ASEAN cities. R & D Congress on Sustainable Urbanization in the Course of ASEAN Economic Integration, 26 – 30 June, 2017, Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Manila, Philippines.
• M.Y. Oozeer, A. Chan, M.C.G. Ooi, K.I. Morris. A case study of the uncharacteristic June 2013 haze episode: effect of tropical cyclone. 10^th 7SEAS Annual Workshop: International workshop of Technologies and Science on Transboundary Haze, 2016, National Space Agency (ANGKASA), Banting, Selangor, Malaysia.
• M.C-G. Ooi, A. Chan, S.A. Salleh, M.Y. Oozeer, K.I. Morris. Temperature response of boundary layer schemes on urbanization level of Klang Valley, Malaysia. 12^th Annual Meeting: Asia Oceania Geoscience Society (AOGS) Together with 7^th APHW, 2015, Singapore, pp. AS28-A022.
• Morris, K.I. M.C-G. Ooi, A. Chan, Y.A Abakr, S.A. Salleh, M.Y. Oozeer, M.Duda. Numerical study on urban heat island of the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using weather research and forecasting (WRF) model. Urban Environmental Pollution 2014: Climate Change and Urban Environment, 2014, Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Canada, pp. P2.05.
• M.Y. Oozeer, M.C.G. Ooi, K.I. Morris, A. Chan, A.M. Zarzur. A numerical study of the transport and convective mechanisms of biomass burning haze in South Southeast Asia. Urban Environmental Pollution 2014: Climate Change and Urban Environment, 2014, Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Canada, pp. P1.05.
• M.C.G. Ooi, K.I. Morris, M.Y. Oozeer, A. Chan, S.A. Salleh. Investigation of urban heat island phenomenon and ozone formation in Putrajaya, Malaysia using multiple regression analysis and numerical weather prediction (WRF-CHEM). Urban Environmental Pollution 2014: Climate Change and Urban Environment, 2014, Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Canada, pp. P2.07.
• Morris, K.I. M.C-G. Ooi, A. Chan, Y.A Abakr, S.A. Salleh, M.Duda. Urban heat island of Putrajaya. In Proceedings of 2^nd Postgraduate Colloquium for Environmental Research 2013 (POCER2013) held in Genting Highland, 28^th – 29^th June, pp. ID-083. Awana Hotels and Resorts, Genting Highland, Malaysia.
• Morris, K.I. M.C-G. Ooi, A. Chan, Y.A Abakr, S.A. Salleh, M.Duda. Influence of Urbanisation on Urban Heat Island Effects in Putrajaya, Malaysia. In Proceedings of 12^th International Conference on Atmospheric Sciences and Applications to Air Quality held in Seoul, 3^rd – 5^th June 2013, edited, Chung, Y.S. & Yoon, S.C., pp. S8-1. Seoul, Seoul National University and Korea Centre for Atmospheric Research.
• Morris, K.I. M.C-G. Ooi, A. Chan, Y.A Abakr, S.A. Salleh. Urbanisation and Urban Heat Island (I): The Putrajaya case study. Poster presentations, Malaysia Aerospace Mission Workshop, March 18-22, 2013, KLTC Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.