SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

4th International Conference on Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering (ICCBPE 2012)

Malaysia is the 4th most biodiverse nation in Asia. however, the utilization of biodiversity is relatively untapped in Malaysia compared to countries like the USA and Europe. By introducing new method and technologies in the bioprocessing of existing natural resource in Malaysia, we can expect to see a synergistic cimbination that promises great things. As an example of Malaysian biodiversity, Sabah is a potential hub for biotechnology industries with its diverse flora and fauna. The bottle-neck of the acceptance of innovative value-adding processes into industry in palm oil, rubber, seaweed and renewable energy has been identified as lab-to-pilot plant field trials, human resource pool of skills, and infrastructure. Not only limited to its abundant resource of biodiversity, Malaysia rank 12th in the league of Gas World Gas Reserves and Sabah has about 11 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas and 1.5 billion barrels of oil in its reserves, representing about 12 percent and 25 percent of Malaysia's gas and oil reserves respectively. Therefore, it is expected that ICCBPE 2012 will be a platform for the exchange of ideas and thoughts from all participants, directly or indirectly, in discussing issues related to process development of current industries.

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RUMAH ANAK YATIM TAMBUNAN SABAH: A community service project had been conducted by 10 UMS Civil Engineering students at Rumah Anak Yatim Tambunan on 11^th and 12^th November 2011. It is an environmental based community project to encourage students to take part in any volunteering projects and is under the subject course of Environmental Engineering.

The project was an important exposure especially for civil engineering of ums students in integrating theoretical and practical skills by extending outreach programs to people in rural area of Sabah. “It is important to integrate values such as participation, awareness, skill, knowledge, and attitude (PASKA) into students of higher learning institution to prepare them for future careers,” said Dr. Nurmin, the lecturer for the taught subject. She also added that the community service is very beneficial and recommendable since promotes a win-win situation between the students and the orphanage.

The environmental community service also serve as a framework for the quality assurance of university students for developing intra and inter personal skills. Through a wide range of activities organized, the environmental awareness can be promoted. It is a good starting point to convey message to the public to take the community service as a meaningful activity

The Ustaz of the orphanage, Mr. Saifudin Rusiman welcomes future community service to the orphanage. He also stated that the activity benefits the orphanage as it indirectly inculcates environmental awareness through the environmental talk organized by the student.

The service was conducted through activities such as gotong-royong, environmental talks, exhibition and coloring competition. The community service was conducted for a period of two days and ends with closing ceremony with speeches from organizing committee and orphanage staff.

The success of the activity is a commitment from all the parties involved. Working as a team and based on heart-to-heart basis, it is a privileged to learn and interact with the orphanage and thus should be promoted.

“The project community service is a good motivation for future similar works to be carried out. Such project should be implemented in the school curriculum as well.” said Ustaz Saifudin Rusiman.

 (By NB and Lip KH)