Lots in store for visitors to Curtin Sarawak Open Day’s Innovation Expo

Miri – 22 September 2015 – Visitors attending the Open Day of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) on 26 September 2015 can look forward to viewing interesting showcases of the university’s two faculties, graduate school and research institute at the event’s Innovation Expo.

Students of local schools and members of the public with a fascination for science and engineering, or who would like to know more about the world of business and other fields, can visit the Innovation Expo that will stretch across three venues at the campus – the Library & Auditorium Complex (also known as The Chancellery), Harry Perkins Lecture Theatre Foyer and the Borneo Pavilion.

The Faculty of Engineering and Science’s showcase will feature projects based on the environmental theme ‘Don’t Waste, Replace’. Among them will be a 2-metre high Transformer made from used electronics waste, chemical bottles, mechanical metals, civils cement and other waste.

It will also feature physics, mathematics and programming projects by Foundation Engineering students, and a novel low-cost handmade air-conditioner by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The department will also showcase projects relating to magnetic levitation, gaming, basic programming and WiFi hacking prevention.

The Department of Civil and Construction Engineering will conduct a ‘space egg’ game, while the Department of Petroleum Engineering will screen a reservoir simulation video and display crude oil, processed oil and core samples.

Other highlights will include hydro-powered car and soap-making demonstrations by the Department of Chemical Engineering, a demonstration of the crash behaviour of thin-walled vehicle structures for crashworthiness improvements and an anthropomorphic robotic arm and hammer by the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The Department of Applied Geology, meanwhile, will demonstrate mini volcano eruptions and exhibit a reservoir model and minerals.

The Faculty of Engineering and Science showcase will also feature the first large-scale Science on Wheels – Tech Mentor programme where 20 teams from local secondary schools will use their basic programming skills and electronic knowledge to design solutions to a real-life problem. Prizes will be awarded for the most innovative designs.

The Faculty of Business and Humanities’ showcase promises to be equally intriguing with a colourful exhibition of its activities and achievements in research and development, teaching and learning and community outreach.

According to the faculty’s Innovation Expo coordinator, Tharshni Kumarasamy, the showcase will have a carnival atmosphere, including ‘Legoland’ and ‘Pirate’ themes and students in costumes to lend a festive mood.

On top of that, the faculty’s marketing students will put their skills to good use by selling carnival-type food to visitors and the proceeds will go to the Miri Old Folks Home.

A combined showcase by the Curtin Sarawak Graduate School and Curtin Sarawak Research Institute (CSRI) will feature research projects by postgraduate students. They include projects entitled ‘A New Occurrence of Parasitic Isopods from the Miri Coast’ by A. Anand Kumar; ‘Enhanced Synthesis and Delivery of MgO Nanoparticles for Reverse Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes’ by Jaison Jeevanandam; and ‘Characterisation and Optimal Production of Ligninolytic Enzymes from Thermophilic Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Compost Bacteria’ by Carol Lai.

Other research works to be presented are ‘Aptamer-based Biosensors for Rapid Pathogen Detection and Screening’ by Caleb Acquah; ‘Aptameric Formulation for Enhanced Cell Targeting and Pharmaceutical Delivery’ by Tan Kei Xian; and ‘Enzyme-immobilized Polymeric Capsules for Continuous Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Treatment’ by Evelyn Chiong Tung.

The faculties, graduate school and research institute will be competing to win the coveted PVC’s Innovation Showcase Challenge Trophy and other related awards, which are awarded annually by Curtin Sarawak’s pro vice-chancellor for the most outstanding Innovation Expo showcases.

The prize-giving for the competition, as well as for Science on Wheels – Tech Mentor programme, will be at 2.00 pm on the event day.

For further information on Curtin Sarawak Open Day 2015, visit its website at openday.curtin.edu.my or Facebook event page (Curtin Sarawak Open Day 2015), or call its secretariat at 085-443 806, or email corpcomm@curtin.edu.my.

Large crowd at last year’s Innovation Expo.

Visitors can expect to see interesting and highly educational exhibits.