Kuala Lumpur, 04 March, 2011 - Students from the School of Engineering won yet another award for their innovative ideas. The UCSI University Greeneration team, led by Lim Bee Nee, together with her peers, Tan Ying Hua and Loo Hoe Fieh won the Honourable Mention Award in the Digi Social Venture Challenge for Change Competition 2010/2011 for their project titled “Green Energy for Telecommunication Towers and Community Broadband Centres (CBCs)”, with a cash prize of RM2000. The team created a hybrid energy system consisting of solar, wind and hydro energy that effectively reduced energy consumption in all CBCs while boosting the economic and social development of the surrounding communities.
The team, who first heard about the competition last year in September, was advised by their lecturer, Engr. Rodney Tan Hean Gay. According to Lim, it was the competition’s emphasis on green technology that especially attracted them. “We strongly believe that with real application of green technology, we each could play a part in reducing global warming to improve the climate for a better tomorrow.” With this strong belief, the team tried incorporating green technology into all of their projects.
The team conducted a study combining photovoltaic, hydro and wind energy on a sample area at Kampung Teriang Besar in Mersing, Johor. They discovered that the stand alone energy management system was able to save up to 75% of the total electricity bill compared to the current energy consumed by such telecommunication towers and the CBCs.
“The background studies done at Kampung Teriang Besar were truly challenging, as we also had to ensure that the project could sustain itself by involving the surrounding community. This included cultivating and promoting the use of green energy in a rural area.”
UCSI University’s Greeneration team was among the ten finalists chosen across Malaysia to submit their proposals on proof-of-concept Renewable Energy Solutions for Underserved Malaysian Communities. During the development phase, the finalist teams worked with their DiGi mentors and participated on a study trip to an underserved community as the background study for the team’s project.
This competition succeeded in highlighting the skills, knowledge and initiative of UCSI University’s scholars. Lim Bee Nee and Tan Ying Hua, both scholarship students under the University, demonstrated that the University’s scholars are high achievers both in and out of their fields.
“It was indeed a challenge for us to score a balance between academics and the curriculum, while simultaneously facilitating the University in many other aspects as a scholar. We were exposed to information and knowledge that weren’t found in the textbooks with time management, determination and commitment being crucial elements throughout the process. We were happy to have managed to strive through successfully.”
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Centre of Biodiversity Research Agriculture Technology Seminar Series II
Sustainable Aquaculture and Management of Aquatic Resources
Centre for Biodiversity Research had successfully organized the second part of its Agriculture Technology Seminar Series recently, with the theme "Sustainable Aquaculture and Management of Aquatic Resources". Held on Saturday, 13th November 2010 at the UTAR Perak Campus Auditorium A003, the seminar saw the participation of about 70 people from the public, industry and universities. With a good mix of speakers from the academia, industry and government, the seminar saw an active deliberation on the use of recirculation aquaculture systems, re-utilization of ex-mining ponds and land, and other related issues that are of concern to the aquaculture community, industry and interest groups in Malaysia.
The seminar started off with a welcoming speech by the Vice President of UTAR (R&D and Commercialization), Prof. Dr. Lee Sze Wei, who commented that the organizing of these Agriculture Technology Seminar Series is not only timely to address the nation?s concern to increase food yield, but also in line with UTAR?s mission to launch its Agriculture Bachelor?s degree programme at the Perak Campus in year 2011.
Vice President of UTAR (R&D and Commercialization), Prof. Dr. Lee Sze Wei, giving the welcoming speech.
UTAR advisor Prof. Emeritus Dr. Yong Hoi Sen then chaired the first session of the seminar, by first giving an overview what aquaculture is all about. He then welcomed the first plenary speaker, Ms. Erin Tan Chung Wei from Syndel Asia Sdn. Bhd., to give a talk on ?Sustainable Aquaculture: Is Malaysia Ready?? Ms. Erin stressed on the importance of good environmental management for a long term sustainable aquaculture industry in Malaysia. Next on the list was an academician from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Associate Professor Dr. Alexander Chong Shu-Chien, who gave a talk on the utilization of biotechnology in aquaculture nutrition research. He gave the example of formulating fish feed with highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), not only for the proper development, growth and reproduction of the fish, but also to create fish that are nutritious for human consumption.
Ms. Erin Tan from Syndel Asia giving her Dr. Alexander Chong from USM, emphasizing
talk on sustainable aquaculture. the importance of proper feed formulation for the fish.
The next speaker was from the government agency, represented by Mr. Chin Thiam Hin of the Department of Minerals and Geoscience, Malaysia. He first gave an overview of the distribution of ex tin-mining lands in Malaysia, mainly in Klang and Kinta Valley, and how these lands had been transformed into other productive and successful landuse. He then gave some examples of activities conducted by his department which included aquatic farming and water surface farming.
Mr. Chin Thiam Hin of the Department of Minerals Professor Dr. Chong Ving Ching from Universiti Malaya,
and Geoscience, Malaysia. giving his talk. who spoke on converting palm oil mill effluent (POME)
After breaking from lunch, Associate Professor Dr. Alan Ong Han Kiat, chairperson of the organizing committee, took turn to chair the following sessions. He first welcomed another academician, Professor Dr. Chong Ving Ching from Universiti Malaya, who spoke on converting palm oil mill effluent (POME) as a feed for phototrophic bacteria, which in turn serves as a feed for the high-value fish, marble goby, or more commonly known as ketutu or soon hock. Ending the line of speakers for the day was Mr. Bluey Chew and Mr. Lor Kar Loon, from Recirculation Aquaculture Systems Sdn. Bhd. They gave an alternative aspect of fish farming - the usage of a recirculating aquaculture fish tank system, which could greatly reduce land and water requirements, while also offering a high degree of control of the culture environment at the same time.
Ending the seminar was a lively discussion between the floor and the panel led by Tuan Haji Rosly Hassan from the Fisheries Research Institute, Penang and Professor Emeritus Dr. Yong Hoi Sen, both sides sharing their insights, trials and tribulations of the aquaculture industry in Malaysia.
Systems Sdn. Bhd., explaining the RAS system. and the floor, ending the seminar for the day.
Solar Ranger 2 Ready to Dominate World Solar Challenge 2011, Australia
Putrajaya - Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) will once again be participating in the World Solar Challenge 2011, a 3,000 km Solar Car Race from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Adelaide in South Australia.
Other participants include universities all over the world such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University in the USA, Tokai University, Japan and New South Wales, Australia.
UNITEN Solar Ranger 2 (UNITEN SR2) was officially launched by Dato' Sri Che Khalib bin Mohamad Noh, President/Chief Executive Officer of Tenaga Nasional Berhad at Dewan Seri Sarjana, UNITEN on 28 July 2011.
In conjunction with the launching of UNITEN SR 2, UNITEN and Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM) signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to mark the collaboration between the two parties.
Through the MoU, both AIM and UNITEN will work together in developing the Innoaccelerator Project for the Green Technology sector. AIM will facilitate in the grouping of key players in the project and both parties will work on a plan for training of school and university students.
UTP Centre of Innovative Nanostructure & Nanodevices (coin) Becames a National Centre of Excellence in Nanotechnology (15-16 June 2011)
Nanotechnology Centre at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Centre of Innovative Nanostructures & Nanodevices (COINN) headed by Prof Norani Muti Mohamed has been selected as one of the five National Centres of Excellence (COE) in Nanotechnology out of 17 universities submitted. The centre is recognised for its continuous effort in R&D on nanotechnology, focusing on alternative and renewable energy sector. Awards to NanoMalaysia COEs were presented during NanoMalaysia Summit and Expo 2011 which was held on 15 to 16 June 2011 at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) the Minister of Science Technology & Innovation, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili. Earlier, the Minister had launched the NanoMalaysia Centre, NanoMy and Nano COEs. The 2-day summit was organised by National Nanotechnology Directorate (NND), Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI) consisted of programmes and activities focusing on the latest development in nano science and technology in Malaysia.
With the appointment as one of the NanoMalaysia COEs, COINN will lead the R&D in the area of renewable energy for the country. The R&D carried out at the centre will be enhanced as part of the national programme including human capital development. The centre will propose R&D programmes as well as activities to NND for top-down research and operation grant. NND is now implementing the NanoMalaysia Programme (2011-2020) which include the development of NanoMalaysia Center at Iskandar Malaysia and NanoMalaysia Berhad, its commercial arm.
The other 4 COEs in Nanotechnology are from UKM, UTM, UNIMAP and MIMOS.
Teknologi Hijau: Initiatif Penyelidikan
SHAH ALAM – Universiti Industri Selangor, UNISEL berbesar hati atas kesudian Kerajaan Negeri Selangor memberi sumbangan Geran Penyelidikan berjumlah RM 500 Ribu Ringgit untuk program penyelidikan Teknologi Hijau dan Pertanian Bersepadu UNISEL. Majlis penyerahan cek ini akan disempurnakan Exco Pendidikan, Pendidikan Tinggi dan Pembangunan Modal Insan, YB Dr. Halimah Binti Ali kepada Presiden dan Naib Canselor UNISEL, Datuk Dr. Rosti Saruwono.
Sebagai sebuah institusi akademik di Malaysia, khususnya di Selangor, UNISEL akan melaksanakan beberapa projek penyelidikan yang berteraskan teknologi-hijau dengan menebus guna tasik-tasik dan kawasan-kawasan tanah terbiar di kampus UNISEL Bestari Jaya. Projek-projek ini akan dijadikan “teaching factories/laboratories” bukan sahaja kepada warga UNISEL, tetapi juga kepada rakyat negeri Selangor yang berminat dengan teknologi-hijau.
Tiga projek telah dikenalpasti bagi menjayakan teknologi-hijau yang telah pun dibincangkan. Projek penyelidikan alam sekitar yang melibatkan akuakultur akan diutamakan, di mana projek ini akan menggembelingkan tenaga pakar daripada UNISEL, dalam Negara dan juga peringkat antarabangsa. UNISEL juga telah pun membangunkan program akademik akuakultur di peringkat diploma, di mana pensyarah dan pelajar di bidang ini akan mendapat faedah secara langsung. Tiga Projek yang dimaksudkan ialah:
1. Projek Penyelidikan I
Kajian tentang sumber-sumber akuatik di persekitaran berhampiran kampus Bestari Jaya. Bertujuan untuk mengumpul data saintifik bagi mendapat informasi tentang keadaan tasik-tasik dan sungai-sungai di Bestari Jaya, terutamanya di dalam kawasan kampus dan persekitarannya. Data sainstifik ini sangat penting bagi perancangan untuk pembersihan dan penggunaan sumber air berkenaan. Jangka masa projek ini adalah selama 9 bulan.
1. Projek Penyelidikan II
Kajian tentang tanah, flora dan fauna di sekitar Bestari Jaya. Bertujuan untuk mengumpul data saintifik bagi mendapat informasi tentang keadaan kawasan tanah yang terbiar di sekitar Bestari Jaya, terutamanya di dalam kawasan fasa II kampus dan persekitarannya. Data sainstifik ini sangat penting bagi perancangan pertanian untuk menghasilkan sumber makanan manusia, haiwan dan perikanan. Jangka masa projek ini adalah selama 9 bulan.
1. Projek Penyelidikan III
Penubuhan “teaching laboratory/factory” bagi projek akuakultur di tasik-tasik dan kawasan di sekitar tasik kampus Bestari Jaya berteraskan teknologi-hijau. Akuakultur dalam konteks ini berteraskan teknologi-hijau meliputi:
Sebagai sebuah institusi akademik di Malaysia, khususnya di Selangor, UNISEL akan melaksanakan beberapa projek penyelidikan yang berteraskan teknologi-hijau dengan menebus guna tasik-tasik dan kawasan-kawasan tanah terbiar di kampus UNISEL Bestari Jaya. Projek-projek ini akan dijadikan “teaching factories/laboratories” bukan sahaja kepada warga UNISEL, tetapi juga kepada rakyat negeri Selangor yang berminat dengan teknologi-hijau.
Tiga projek telah dikenalpasti bagi menjayakan teknologi-hijau yang telah pun dibincangkan. Projek penyelidikan alam sekitar yang melibatkan akuakultur akan diutamakan, di mana projek ini akan menggembelingkan tenaga pakar daripada UNISEL, dalam Negara dan juga peringkat antarabangsa. UNISEL juga telah pun membangunkan program akademik akuakultur di peringkat diploma, di mana pensyarah dan pelajar di bidang ini akan mendapat faedah secara langsung. Tiga Projek yang dimaksudkan ialah:
1. Projek Penyelidikan I
Kajian tentang sumber-sumber akuatik di persekitaran berhampiran kampus Bestari Jaya. Bertujuan untuk mengumpul data saintifik bagi mendapat informasi tentang keadaan tasik-tasik dan sungai-sungai di Bestari Jaya, terutamanya di dalam kawasan kampus dan persekitarannya. Data sainstifik ini sangat penting bagi perancangan untuk pembersihan dan penggunaan sumber air berkenaan. Jangka masa projek ini adalah selama 9 bulan.
1. Projek Penyelidikan II
Kajian tentang tanah, flora dan fauna di sekitar Bestari Jaya. Bertujuan untuk mengumpul data saintifik bagi mendapat informasi tentang keadaan kawasan tanah yang terbiar di sekitar Bestari Jaya, terutamanya di dalam kawasan fasa II kampus dan persekitarannya. Data sainstifik ini sangat penting bagi perancangan pertanian untuk menghasilkan sumber makanan manusia, haiwan dan perikanan. Jangka masa projek ini adalah selama 9 bulan.
1. Projek Penyelidikan III
Penubuhan “teaching laboratory/factory” bagi projek akuakultur di tasik-tasik dan kawasan di sekitar tasik kampus Bestari Jaya berteraskan teknologi-hijau. Akuakultur dalam konteks ini berteraskan teknologi-hijau meliputi:
| i | . | Menerajui penyelidikan penternakan ikan air tawar di Selangor dan kawasan yang berhampiran. |
| ii | . | Memajukan industri makanan ikan air tawar melalui aktiviti R&D di Unisel. |
| iii | . | Menjalankan penyelidikan pembenihan ikan yang berkualiti. |
| iv | . | Pemeliharaan ikan air tawar seperti ikan keli, puyu, talapia, patin, dan lain-lain jenis yang mempunyai harga pasaran yang baik dan sesuai diternak di sekitar Unisel. |
| v | . | Pemasaran ikan dan anak ikan yang dipelihara. |
| vi | . | Memajukan industri hijau dan menggalakkan pertumbuhan dan perkembangan usahawan tempatan dalam bidang berkaitan dengan ternakan ikan air tawar. |
| vii | . | Menggalakkan graduan Unisel menyertai program pembentukan usahawan kelompok. |
| viii | . | Menjalankan program-program berkala bagi penternak ikan air tawar berskala kecil. |
UNISEL dalam pada itu mensasarkan projek ini dijangka berupaya menjana pendapatan bagi bagi proses kelansungan tanpa bantuan kewangan selepas satu tahun ianya beroperasi.
Teknologi-hijau atau juga dikenali sebagai teknologi-bersih atau teknologi-alam sekitar adalah suatu applikasi sains dan teknologi bagi memelihara sumber dan persekitaran semulajadi; di samping juga menghindar kesan negatif ke atas alam semulajadi yang diakibatkan oleh angkara manusia sendiri. Pembangunan terpelihara dan “sustainable” adalah teras kepada teknologi-alamsekitar. Pembangunan ekonomi yang dapat mengekalkan alamsekitar mestilah (Honkanen and Olsen, 2009; Olsen, 2008; Schacht et al. ,2010) “Socially equitable, Economically viable and Environmentally sound”.
Selain daripada pengekalan alam sekitar, produk yang dihasilkan mestilah boleh ditebus guna sepenuhnya atau dipakai semula. Yang paling penting di dalam pelaksanaan teknologi-hijau adalah pengurangan pencemaran, inovasi, dan penghasilan teknologi alternatif yang tidak memberi kesan negatif kepada kesihatan dan persekitaran. Teknologi-hijau akan menghasilkan produk yang boleh memberi faedah kepada persekitaran dan memperkenalkan kerja-kerja baru yang betul-betul boleh menyelamatkan planet bumi. Kesedaran betapa pentingnya pendidikan bagi teknologi-hijau amatlah penting bukan sahaja kepada warga UNISEL atau Selangor khususnya, tetapi juga kepada seluruh Negara amnya.
Robots thrill MRSM students at Swinburne Sarawak
UCHING – Students from the Robotics Club of Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Kuching were thrilled by robotic projects when they visited Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus today, (29 April, 2011-Friday).
The 24 Forms 1, 2 and 4 students were treated to a view diverse range of engineering projects that were designed and built by the university’s final year students. These included a self-balancing suspension for vehicles, prototype of a hover craft and submersible vehicle as well as robotic arms.
The secondary school students were on campus to learn more about robotics and mechatronics engineering in anticipation of their participation in the Robofair competition which will be held in Perak in July.
Robofair is an annual exhibition that is aimed at creating awareness and interest in robotics.
“It has been interesting and I’m very impressed with the window cleaning robot,” said Mohd Arafi Bin Abdul Taib, 16, referring to a brick-sized robot that was designed to climb and clean windows on high-rises.
“We’ve always looked at the function of robots but today we learned how they are designed,” he said.
Having developed an interest in robots since he was 10 years old, Arafi said he is keen on pursuing studies in electronics and mechatronics.
Jamilah Mohammed Jamil, advisor of the MRSM’s five-year-old Robotics Club, found the program for their visit “very comprehensive” and was impressed with the laboratory facilities.
“The labs are really good and it was also good exposure for the students. It gives them an idea of what to expect at university level,” said Jamilah.
Professor Nazim Mir-Nasiri of Swinburne Sarawak’s Robotics and Mechatronics program presented a short talk on the program and showed video footages of some final year student projects, much to the excitement of the audience.
The 24 Forms 1, 2 and 4 students were treated to a view diverse range of engineering projects that were designed and built by the university’s final year students. These included a self-balancing suspension for vehicles, prototype of a hover craft and submersible vehicle as well as robotic arms.
The secondary school students were on campus to learn more about robotics and mechatronics engineering in anticipation of their participation in the Robofair competition which will be held in Perak in July.
Robofair is an annual exhibition that is aimed at creating awareness and interest in robotics.
“It has been interesting and I’m very impressed with the window cleaning robot,” said Mohd Arafi Bin Abdul Taib, 16, referring to a brick-sized robot that was designed to climb and clean windows on high-rises.
“We’ve always looked at the function of robots but today we learned how they are designed,” he said.
Having developed an interest in robots since he was 10 years old, Arafi said he is keen on pursuing studies in electronics and mechatronics.
Jamilah Mohammed Jamil, advisor of the MRSM’s five-year-old Robotics Club, found the program for their visit “very comprehensive” and was impressed with the laboratory facilities.
“The labs are really good and it was also good exposure for the students. It gives them an idea of what to expect at university level,” said Jamilah.
Professor Nazim Mir-Nasiri of Swinburne Sarawak’s Robotics and Mechatronics program presented a short talk on the program and showed video footages of some final year student projects, much to the excitement of the audience.
UTAR wins 'Best Robot Idea' award
A Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) team competed with 35 other teams and won the 'Best Idea' award in Malaysia Robot Contest (ROBOCON) 2011 hosted at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia from 13 to 18 June 2011.
The winning UTAR team, comprising students from the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Yap Choon Kiat, Low Jeng Lam, Cheng Xuan Teng, Kuang Hong Yaw, Daniel Yong Yew Rong, Chew You Sheng, Khor Wei Peng, Soh Ying Wei and Puang En Yen, was led by head of the Department of Mechatronics and Biomedical Engineering Dr Tan Yong Chai and tutor Danny Ng Wee Kiat.
The robot contest, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Radio Television Malaysia and SIRIM Berhad, aimed to promote the creativity of undergraduates in the field of robotics. Themed 'Bunga Raya: Unity for 1 Nation' this year, contesting teams raced, using their three robots, to assemble the Malaysian national flower bunga raya or hibiscus from four pieces of sepals, petals, stamens and stigmas to achieve the mekar or full bloom.
ROBOCON originated by Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in 2000, has been an annual competition held in its member countries. The Asia-Pacific level contest, ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2011, will be held in August in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 'Best Idea' award and the UTAR's robots
The winning UTAR team, comprising students from the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Yap Choon Kiat, Low Jeng Lam, Cheng Xuan Teng, Kuang Hong Yaw, Daniel Yong Yew Rong, Chew You Sheng, Khor Wei Peng, Soh Ying Wei and Puang En Yen, was led by head of the Department of Mechatronics and Biomedical Engineering Dr Tan Yong Chai and tutor Danny Ng Wee Kiat.
The robot contest, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Radio Television Malaysia and SIRIM Berhad, aimed to promote the creativity of undergraduates in the field of robotics. Themed 'Bunga Raya: Unity for 1 Nation' this year, contesting teams raced, using their three robots, to assemble the Malaysian national flower bunga raya or hibiscus from four pieces of sepals, petals, stamens and stigmas to achieve the mekar or full bloom.
ROBOCON originated by Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in 2000, has been an annual competition held in its member countries. The Asia-Pacific level contest, ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2011, will be held in August in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 'Best Idea' award and the UTAR's robots
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