Teams show their mettle in Curtin Croc Challenge

Miri – 23 October 2017 – There was keen competition between the 26 teams participating in the Curtin Croc Challenge 2.0 held during the eleventh open day of Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) on 14 October 2017. All the teams showed their mettle with highly innovative system designs and presentations.

Droves of visitors were seen making their way to the competition venue to view the teams’ project showcases and show their support for their favourite teams.

The Curtin Croc Challenge is Curtin Malaysia’s iconic ‘crocodile electronic early warning system design competition’ organised in conjunction with its annual open day since 2016. It is organised by the university’s Faculty of Engineering and Science and Office of Research and Development, and this year, had the support of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Miri Branch.

Aimed at encouraging critical thinking through a real-life design case study (sensing and warning of the presence of crocodiles), the challenge exposes participants to the practical application of electronics and basic programming in both an educational and fun way.

The participating teams were from SMK Chung Hua Miri, SMK Riam, SMK Dato Permaisuri, SMK Merbau, SMK Pujut, SMK St. Columba, SMK Lutong, SM Sains Miri, SMK Taman Tunku and PACTS Education. The open category teams comprised Secreed (SMK Riam), The Croc Trappers (SMK Riam), Bing Bong, The Frix (SMK Riam), Elektronik PPKS Miri, Danger No More, and Risks.

Coming out tops in the schools category were SMK Lutong (Team 1) and SMK Merbau, winning RM1,000 each, followed by SMK Chung Hua Miri and SMK Dato Permaisuri (Team 2) in second place and receiving RM500 each; and third place winners SMK Riam (Team 1) and SMK Dato Permaisuri (Team 1) bagging RM250 each. The remaining teams won consolation prizes of RM50 each.

In the open category, team Bing Bong walked away with the RM1,000 top prize, followed by team NaviGators winning second prize and RM500, and team Risks coming in third and winning RM250.

The schools category was open to students in Forms 3 to 6 while the open category was open to people of all ages and walks of life, including tertiary students and working adults.

Competition coordinator Dr. Wong Wei Kitt commented that this year’s competition was by far the best so far and the organisers, visitors, parents, teachers and judges were all very impressed with the entries. He said Curtin Malaysia is looking forward to organising the next competition, in which it hopes to attract participation from other cities and towns in Malaysia and from neighbouring Brunei.

Meanwhile, Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski congratulated the Faculty of Engineering and Science and Office of Research and Development for making the competition a huge success. He also congratulated the electrical and electronic engineering student tech mentors from Curtin Malaysia for doing an excellent job coaching the teams.

“It was great to see the amount of thought and ingenuity that went into the teams’ projects, and the eagerness of the students in showcasing them. It was also good to see many of their teachers, parents and schoolmates giving their support at the event,” he said.

In his speech during the prize-presentation ceremony, Professor Mienczakowski said that making Sarawak’s crocodiles the focus of the challenge was all part of Curtin Malaysia’s academic and research interests in indigenous wildlife and its commitment to helping preserve the state’s endangered crocodiles.

“Regardless of how people perceive crocodiles, they are an important part of Sarawak’s ecology and culture, and rather than view them as a menace, we should learn to appreciate them for the magnificent beings they are and to co-exist with them,” he remarked.

Also present were Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science Ir. Professor Lau Hieng Ho, and Dean of Research and Development Professor Clem Kuek.

Over 4,000 visitors visited Curtin Malaysia Open Day 2017, which was geared to offer visitors a fun, hands-on learning experience in a festival-like atmosphere. It gave them an exciting taste of life at Curtin University’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia. It was also a chance for potential students to explore the campus and learn about the courses offered.

Teams demonstrated their system designs with working models and posters.

Students pitching their designs to judges.

Professor Mienczakowski addressing the participants.

Schools category winners SMK Lutong (Team 1) and SMK Merbau with Prof Mienczakowski and Ir Prof Lau.

Second place winners SMK Chung Hua Miri and SMK Dato Permaisuri (Team 2).

Third place winners SMK Riam (Team 1) and SMK Dato Permaisuri (Team 1).

Consolation prize winners in schools category.

Open category winning team Bing Bong with Prof Giridharan and Ir Prof Lau.

Representative of second-place winner NaviGators receiving prize from Ir Prof Lau.

Third-placed team in open category, Risks receiving prize from Ir Prof Lau.