Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

The Malaysian contingent at the Intel ISEF 2008

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), the world’s largest science competition for students in grades 9-12, was held last week in Atlanta , Georgia in the USA . Intel provides awards totalling US$4 million in scholarships and prizes. This year, 10 Malaysian students are attending, presenting six projects.

The projects are:

• Using salt water as an alternative electrical energy supply;
• Research into the medical benefits of the common plant kadok;
• Potential of the plant “Neolamarkcia cadamba” to treat gout;
• A “Betternet” system designed to improve security standards on the Internet);
• System to communicate the deaf and mute community without using sign language; and
• A hybrid electromagnetic drum brake system (HEDBS), an improved, cheaper and more environmentally friendly car braking system.

There is also an Intel ISEF Malaysia Facebook group open to all new and past Malaysian contestants, MOE or MARA officers accompanying the competitors and their friends and family.

Intel ISEF has a YouTube video providing an overview of the event and highlights from last year’s show. There is also an official Intel ISEF blog.

The Malaysian student team did very well at Intel ISEF this year. Four out of the 10 Malaysian students have won awards - one was for an individual award and the other was from three students that worked on one project together.

The awards are as follows:

1. AWARD (INDIVIDUAL):

Student name: Syed Mohd Esmat Hussaini Syed Mohd Ridzuan
High School: Mara Junior Science College, Taiping
Project: Hybrid Electromagnetic Drum Brake System

Project details:

The Hybrid Electromagnetic Drum Brake System (HYBRID EDBS) is the product of detailed studies in various scientific fields such as electromagnetism and mechanical engineering. This system is developed based on the conventional Hydraulic Drum Brake System (HDBS) to improve the operation of the present drum brake system. The main purpose is to increase performance of terms of effectiveness, sensitivity, consistency, simplicity, lightweightedness, cost effectiveness and environmental friendliness.

Tests on its effectiveness and sensitivity were conducted and results showed that the HYBRID EDBS was more effective as it reduced the initial speed of the same car by approximately 36.4% compared to the conventional HDBS, the speed of which was reduced by only 28.3%. The HYBRID EDBS costs 27.5% less than the HDBS and is much lighter by 46.7%. The HYBRID Electromagnetic Drum Brake System can be applied in other fields of transportation, machinery and automotion. These positive features make it the true breakthrough brake system of the future.

Award won:
National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance /The Lemelson Foundation
Scholarship Award of $1,000

Prizes are awarded for creativity, technological innovation and commercial promise. The National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance will award prizes in 11 different categories, which recognize innovation and invention that addresses critical basic human needs. An additional six prizes will be awarded to one project in each of the following areas: Engineering, Chemistry, Microbiology, Medicine & Health and Computer Science.


AWARD (TEAM):

Student names:

• Syahrina Hafiza Ahmad Salim
• Nur Farawahidah Mohd Yusof
• Fadhlina Abdul Bashir

High School: Tunku Kurshiah College , Seremban
Project: Kadok (Piper sarmentosum) as an anti-ulcerogenic agent

Project details:

Our research is exploring the hidden potential of our common plant, kadok that can be used for preventing and healing stomach ulcer, a major and common disease worldwide. By conducting scientific investigations, the chemical constituents from the root of the plant are proven to be used for that purposes.

Award won:

Team projects – presented by Science News
Third Award of $1,000

(Intel will present Best of Category Winners with a $5,000 award and an Intel® Centrino™ Duo Mobile technology-based notebook computer. Additionally, a $1,000 grant will be given to their school and the Intel ISEF Affiliated Fair they represent).

Congratulations to all the students above!! Keep it up! ;-)