Chemical Engineering made interesting and fun

Insight 2019 launching gambit (from left): Dr Lim, Dr Ng, Chow, Lee, Prof Chuah, Prof Law, Dr Mah and Wong

UTAR Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) Chemical Engineering students came back with another instalment of Insight 2019 this year with a lot of fun and excitement. The one-week event was occupied with competitions, exhibitions, carnival, tachnical talks and gala night for the students. Organised by UTAR Institution of Chemical Engineering (IChemE) Student Chapter, Insight 2019 was held for the second time after its first success in 2018.

Insight 2019 saw nine teams competing with each other in the “Plant Process Design Competition”. Bearing the theme ‘Waste to Wealth’ the competition required the participants to design a process plant to recycle waste into useful materials. Other than that, the participants also had to put their brains together in the “Case Study Competition” where they were given two days to present their research on a case study, with the theme ‘Doctors Treat Diseases, We Treat Wastes’.

All nine “chemical plants” were on display for visitors to vote their preferred model

One of the groups presenting their research

Participants, committees and judges of Case Study Competition, namely (second row, starting fourth from left) LKC FES Assoc Prof Dr Gulnaziya Issabayeva, Division of Community and International Networking Director Dr Lai Soon Onn and Dr Katrina Shak Pui Yee

Present at the opening ceremony were UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, Deputy Chair of IChemE Malaysia Prof Ir Dr Law Chung Lim, Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA) Committee Member Lee Keat Leong, MARGMA Advisor Chow Yue Wah, MARGMA Executive Secretariat Carmen Yong, LKC FES Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Ir Dr Lim Jee Hock, LKC FES Head of Programme for PhD (Eng) and MEngSc Programmes Dr Ng Yee Sern, LKC FES Head of Chemical Engineering Department Dr Mah Shee Keat, participating companies, staff and students.

“Being an engineer myself, I realised that it is not just the technical skills that we need to know. There are other skills such as negotiation skills, cognitive flexibility skills, lifelong learning skills, leadership skills, organisational skills and cultural intelligence skills that we should learn,” said Prof Chuah. He also shared the feedback he received from the industry partners that UTAR students are very adaptive to the various working environments.

“IChemE has identified four main aspects in chemical engineering that matter in many different ways. They are water, energy, food and nutrition, and health and well-being. We foresee that these aspects are going to give a big impact on the quality of life all in one. As chemical engineering students, you will have to understand your role in all these four aspects in the future,” said Prof Law.

“IChemE sees the student group as the future force of chemical engineering. Therefore this institution is very supportive to all student chapters formed in Malaysia. From the beginning of 2009, the board members of IChemE in Malaysia have allocated RM500 for every student chapter to organise meaningful activities for the members,” he added.

“In the Plant Process Design Competition and Case Study Competition, participants are expected to showcase their technical knowledge, creative thinking skills and effective communication skills in generating and executing innovative solutions for global development issues and challenges,” said Insight 2019 Chairperson Wong Li Xuan during the opening ceremony.

The event was sponsored by MARGMA for the second consecutive year. MARGMA is a non-profit industry association that extends a range of services to members comprising Malaysian rubber glove manufacturers and associated suppliers and supporting organisations.

Participating in the exhibition were Master Jaya Environmental Sdn Bhd, NK Measuring Instruments Sdn Bhd, Cenergi SEA Sdn Bhd, Immortal Green Industrial Sdn Bhd, Biszon Flexipack Sdn Bhd, LELab Sdn Bhd, Elite Advanced Material Sdn Bhd, Arachem (M) Sdn Bhd, Newton Research & Development Centre Sdn Bhd, Endress+Hauser (Tenaga) Sdn Bhd, Malayan Flour Mills Bhd, IKA (Works) Asia Sdn Bhd and RGS Corporation Sdn Bhd. The exhibition aimed to provide more exposure to students on job opportunities available in the area of chemical engineering. It also aimed to provide company employers with the opportunity to recruit potential future engineers to join their organisations.

Aside from the exhibition, informative talks were also provided by some companies, namely Biszon Flexipack Sdn Bhd, Percetakan Tenaga Sdn Bhd and Cenergi SEA Sdn Bhd.

Prof Chuah visiting the booths of the participating companies

Cenergi Sdn Bhd Assistant Manager Vemal Nedumcharian giving a talk on sustainable energy development in Malaysia from Cenergi’s perspective

Dr Ng (left) giving a token of appreciation to speakers from Percetakan Tenaga Sdn Bhd

Fun games and activities were prepared for visitors at Insight 2019

The week finally drew the curtain with a gala night for the chemical engineering students. The Insight Appreciation Dinner was held at Le Quadri Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Also attending the dinner were CEO of MARGMA Chan Wone Fu, MARGMA Committee Members Lim Sing Poew and Ng Wee Chong, Dr Lim, Dr Lai, Dr Ng, Dr Mah and Yong. The programme included a sharing session by alumni and the announcement of competition winners.

The result of the two competitions is as follows:

Plant Process Design Competition

Champion (Cash Prize of RM750)

Team      : 5 Soulmates

Members : Vincent Loo Lien Kai

                 Chum Chinson

                 Mah Chong Weng

                 Low Pui Yie

                 Ho Jia Lynn

 

1^st Runner up (Cash Prize of RM550)

Team      : One in a Centillion

Members : Chung Wen Loong

                 Gan Jin Yee

                 Tan Yee Yen

                 Loo Wei Ting

                 Khor Jia Xuan

 

2^nd Runner up (Cash Prize of RM350)

Team      : 50 Shades of Green

Members : Lim Siew Che

                Tee Yong Yi

                Udayanair Balakrishnan

                Lean Chyng Yee

                Kong Jia Yee

 

Case Study Competition

Champion (Cash Prize of RM500)

Team      : WASTED

Members : Vincent Loo Lien Kai

                Dhivesh a/l MB Ramesh Kumar

                Wong Ken Yang

                Ong Jen Shyang

 

1^st Runner up (Cash Prize of RM350)

Team      : CSCL

Members : Tay Suet Yee

                 Jeremy Lim Chong Meng

                 Wong Sze Khai

                 Harresh a/l Loganathan

 

2^nd Runner up (Cash Prize of RM200)

Team      : Ez

Members : Yap Jun Weng

                 Lee Xi Him

                 Tang Xiao Dian

                 Chan Xu Yao

Wong (left) and Dr Lim delivering their opening speech

UTAR alumni Lai Jia Shern (middle) and Chew Pan Soon (second from right) shared their experiences and advices with the students

Sponsors and staff with the winning models (from left): Dr Lim, Dr Lai, Chan, Lim, Ng, Dr Mah, Dr Ng and Yong

The delegates from MARGMA and winners of “Plant Process Design Competition” (top) and “Case Study Competition” (bottom) posing with their mock cheques

Group photo of everyone who made Insight 2019 memorable