CITREX 2019 promotes innovative culture among young researchers

The Creation, Innovation, Technology and Research Exposition (CITREX) 2019 has entered into its ninth edition with Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) seen as a platform that promotes and nurtures innovative culture among researchers, be it the academic staff or students.

The competition involved three of its research partners from the technical university networking (MTUN) - Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM).  

It was held on February 13 and 14 at UMP Sports Complex, Gambang Campus and this year, the competition attracted 407 entries which was an increase of 20% as compared to 355 in 2018. It also introduced a new category this year – the secondary school category.

The initiative was part of the efforts taken that supported UMP’s initiative to communitise technology through STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) programme.

According to UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim, a total of 203 entries were from staff, 13 from the technical university network (MTUN), 173 from UMP students and 18 from secondary schools comprising excellence cluster schools, residential schools, technical schools and MARA Junior Science College (MRSM).

“School students are also invited to take part in other competitions such as the National STEM Colloquium, Pahang Hackathon and Pahang Fox Hunting to be held middle of the year in UMP,” he said, adding, more opportunities were available in the International Festival of Innovation on Green Technology (iFINOG) scheduled on April 19-21.

Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir also presented prizes to the winners of CITREX 2019. Also present at the event were Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), Professor Dato’ Dr. Mashitah Mohd Yusoff and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), Professor Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff.

Among the winners were UMP student Nurul Jannah Baharuddin and team of researchers comprising Puteri Nur Najihah, Faris ‘Imadi Shamsul, Muhammad Zulhilmi Shamsul Amran, Edward Ang Sheng Hui and Dr. Muchamaf Oktaviadri who won a gold medal and Best Research (Student Category) for their project titled, ‘Seal Strength Tester Machine (SSTM)’. The project involved a testing mechanism that would automatically check a package for any leakage.

UMP lecturer Nor Azhar Ahmad from Faculty of Computer Systems & Software Engineering (FSKKP) also won a gold medal and Best Research (Staff Category) for creating ‘Hee Doo - Sensing Made Easy’ which was an air quality detector using a device that was cheaper and more accurate as compared to other products in the market.

It was interesting to note that the research was able to analyse air quality and make recommendations on making improvements through an application.

The team members were Dr. Rahmah Mokhtar, Fauziah Zainuddin, Roslina Abd Hamid, Amirul Husni Abdul Ghaffar, Khairul Adlan Ismail, Lai Mom Cin, Chia Zhen Hon and Nazira Azman.