LKC FES students won Best Integrated Design Project Award 2022

Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) students Chew Ee-Er, Neeshallini Govindan and Nishanthini Murugasu won the Best Integrated Design Project Award 2022 for their project titled "Development of Greenhouse Prototype for Drying Wet Paperboard”. The trio walked away with RM300 cash prize and certificates each. They were supervised by LKC FES academics Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Yew Ming Chian and Dr Ting Chen Hunt.

Organised by the Material Engineering Technical Division (MaTD) of The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM), this competition aimed to recognise creative and innovative talents in resolving material engineering related problems. The competition was opened to both public and private Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs). All the entries were assessed by a panel of five judges, consisting of academia (from overseas IHLs) and industrial experts.

Speaking of their winning entries, the trio said, “The goal of this study is to investigate the optimal drying process method of recycled wet paperboard in a greenhouse, which can save money and time. The study's primary objectives were to propose how to increase the efficiency of the drying process for the wet paperboards in the greenhouse by considering innovation, environmental-friendly, material selection, cost-effectiveness, sustainable development, and safety.”

“This IDP competition is a great platform to gear up creative and innovative talents and work as a team in resolving engineering-related problems. We are really thankful to LKC FES DMME and Everlantern Sdn Bhd for the support and encouragement in participating the Integrated Design Project competition 2022. Besides, we are fortunate to have had Ir Ts Dr Yew and Dr Ting Chen Hunt as our mentors for the IDP Competition. Their knowledge, patience and guidance, as well as humour, inspired us to do better and reach a level of excellence. Our IDP was enriched by their presence and gentle approach towards engineering, science and technology,” enthused the trio. This award is presented to a group that exemplifies innovation and sustainable development goals to research through a demonstrated interest in developing new technologies, processes and services in resolving materials-related problems.

The research complies with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) because it focuses on constructing flexible infrastructure, maintaining industrialisation, and cultivating development; Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) as the research utilised the renewable energy such as solar energy acts as the heat source for the drying process where the heat production increases by using reused steel plates; Goal 13 (Climate Action) where the actions are taken to tackle climate change and its impacts, and the solar energy is used in the proposed design instead of fossil fuels; and lastly Goal 15 (Life on Land) which is to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, and reverse land degradation.

The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) is a learned society, which is established for more than 63 years. It aims to promote and advance science and profession of engineering in any or all its disciplines and facilitate the exchange of information and ideas related to engineering. Material Engineering Technical Division (MaTD) is one of the Technical Divisions under IEM with the objectives of promoting and advocating the importance of material engineering as an interdisciplinary engineering field for the development and advancement of Society.

Click here to read the research.