Curtin Sarawak chemical engineering students win in national-level competition

Miri – 16 September, 2009 – Students of Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) have done their university proud by emerging amongst the top contenders in a competition held in conjunction with the recent National Chemical Engineers Symposium (NACES 2009).

The competition saw Lim Yii Mei, a third-year Bachelor of Chemical Engineering student, winning in the Technical Essay Writing category with her essay, ‘New Perspective Towards Future Global Threat: Water’.

A Curtin Sarawak team comprising Yong Hui Li, Veronica Yeo Shu Phing, Melissa Kho Xiao Ching and Liew Sing Yee, meanwhile, was declared second runner-up in the Power Point Technical Presentation category for its presentation on ‘Clean Water Converting Scarcity into Abundance’.

Curtin Sarawak sent a total of ten students to take part in three categories – Power Point Technical Presentation, Technical Plant Design and Technical Essay Writing.

This year’s symposium held at Universiti Malaysia Sabah carried the theme ‘Global Water Crisis: What Can We Do?” and aimed to promote awareness of water crises, particularly the shortage of clean water. It also served as a platform for students to critically analyse current water issues and offer innovative solutions.

NACES is held every year to promote integration among chemical engineering students of different races and provide exposure to issues and challenges faced by chemical engineers in the era of globalisation and in the development of the nation.

“We are delighted with our students’ performance in the competition. They participated with tremendous optimism and their hard work paid off. By finishing ahead of so many other universities and competitors, they have also helped put Curtin Sarawak on the national map,” said Dr. Hannah Ngu, a lecturer in Curtin Sarawak’s Chemical Engineering Department who accompanied the students to the symposium.

Over 400 delegates from 14 public and private universities around Malaysia participated in NACES 2009.

“It was a good experience for the students as it not only encouraged them to work as a team, but also gave them the opportunity to learn new things beyond the classroom,” added Dr. Ngu.

The students themselves were overjoyed with their performance, saying they were very grateful for the opportunity to join NACES 2009, and though they did not have high expectations entering the competition, they were very happy to achieve something for Curtin Sarawak. They described the experience as a lot of fun and one they would not mind repeating.

The team that emerged 2nd runner-up in the technical presentation

category (L-R: Melissa Kho Xiao Ching, Yong Hui Li,

Veronica Yeo Shu Phing, Liew Sing Yee).

Nine of the ten Curtin Sarawak students who participated in NACES

2009 competition with accompanying lecturer Dr Hannah Ngu (5th left).