engineering - Afterschool

wednesday, may 2, 2012 new straits times | PAge 3undergraduate focusengineeringCAREERS in foCuSEngineeringperspectivesJaron ChenALTernATiVes: When the topic of engineering is put up for discussion,there is an assumption that the discussion is about the mainstreamfields in engineering which is civil engineering, mechanical engineering,electrical engineering and electronic engineering. Engineering is a widefield and there exists, for those who know not about these specific fields,other interesting fields that are as important as the mainstream engineeringfields.enVironmenTAL engineeringEnvironmental engineering is an important field that employs scienceand engineering to study and improve natural and urban environments.Environmental engineers are experts in land, air and water and their taskis to control pollution levels and maintain the sustainability of the environmentfor people to live in. Environmental engineers have to be awareof local and international issues revolving around the environment. Theymust be constantly concerned with acid rain, global warning, greenhouseeffects, vehicle emissions, ozone depletion and forest fires.When environmental engineers are not researching, they are workingwith teams of people both indoors and outdoors. Environmentalengineers will be on-site doing inspections and conducting tests on thesurrounding areas of projects. An environmental engineer’s responsibilityis the protection of the environment on a daily basis. Environmentalengineers are the game changers in environmental health. They are thedesigners behind water treatment and sewage plants. Laws and regulationsfor hazardous materials are products of their ideas as well.The range of work an environmental engineer can do is wide. Theymight be sent to sites to gather data, testing levels of pollution such asacid rain. On another day at the job, they could be at a construction site,sampling the organisms below and above ground to estimate effects thatthe proposed build would do to the existing environment. Besides that,they might be sent to participate in rescuing and preserving wildlife especiallyendangered species. This includes direct involvement in the rescue orlongterm planning for the survival of certain species. Widespread diseasesand infections worldwide involve environmental engineers too, besidesmedical staff. Environmental engineers help contain these diseases withtheir knowledge of organisms, air, land and water.Those who wish to make a difference in the world around them shouldconsider taking up this task of being an environmental engineer. However,this field is not for everyone. Only those who persevere and have strongpassion towards the environment would be able to enjoy the fruit of theirlabour. Environmental engineers hold great love towards the environmentand they pay great attention to details.EnvironmEntal EnginEEringLove the environment and constantly aware of environmental issuesworldwide.Works at sites measuring pollution, collecting samples and makingsure construction projects do not affect the environment negatively,aid in efforts to conserve wildlife.Questions aboutengineering? Ask us onwww.facebook.com/afterschool.myMore courses on Page 4

PAGE 4 | NEW StraitS tiMES WEdNESday, May 2, 2012undergraduate focus EnGinEErinGVarsity’s parabolicflight missiontHE Parabolic Team of Universiti Kuala Lumpur(UniKL) carried out parabolic flightsrecently over Nagoya, Japan. Parabolicflights are flights that simulate zero-gravity byflying more than nine kilometres, then droppingabout two kilometres to achieve weightlessnessfor 25 seconds for every parabola. A parabolicflight usually flies between 40 and 60 parabolicmaneuvers.The UniKL team endured hyper and microgravityconditions due to the extreme flightmaneuvers of a modified Japanese Space Agency(JAXA) jet to collect data of the rate of transferof moisture to the human skin.The team was led by Dr Mohd Harridon, andconsisted of two UniKL students: Zaim Ismailand Zaim M. Nor. The team was also accompaniedby Helmy Hashim, an expert in materialscience and also a veteran of microgravityExperiment from the National Space Agency ofMalaysia (ANGKASA) who acted as the teamconsultant.“Performing some tasks in zero-gravityconditions were not easy but we collected vastamounts of data during hyper and microgravityconditions. We even did acrobatic moves duringmicrogravity. Fully floating in the air is quite anexperience,” Zaim said.Zaim is proud to represent UniKL and Malaysiaas he and the team overcame difficultiesduring these flights to collect important data.“The UniKL team had a successful missioncollecting data and this shows that team workwill lead to success,” said Dr Mohd Harridon.CAREERS in foCuSnAnotEchnoloGyNanotechnology, the term itself creates theimplication of technology used in films such asThe Matrix, Star Trek. Nanotechnology has beenused widely in daily electronics such as computerchips and organic light-emitting diodes (OLED)in modern displays such as smartphones, flatscreenTVs and iPods. The ‘nano‘ word used inthe term indicates the reference of technologyon an extremely tiny scale. Nanotechnology isa heavily invested field in developed countriessuch as the US and Japan.Even though a developing countries likeMalaysia is comparatively slow to catch on thehype of nanotechnology, the country is catchingup and graduates in this field will be heavilysought after in a few years to come. Thiscan be seen through the implementations bythe Malaysian government. In Malaysia’s ThirdIndustrial Master Plan (IMP3), nanotechnologyis recognised as an emerging field for futureinvestments. Besides that, Malaysia erected theNanoMalaysia Centre complex at Senai High TechPart, Johor to spur further activities and awarenessin the country’s nanotechnology field.Nanotechnology was a part of the NinthMalaysia Plan in 2005. The following year sawthe launch of the National Technological Institutebut the hype went down for a few years.In 2009, realising the relevance of the field,the National Innovation Council launched theNational Nanotechnology Directory. This year,the Ministry of Science, Technology InnovationMalaysia unveiled the National NanotechnologyStatement, aiming to promote nanotechnologyculture, enhanced networking, regulations andacts and commercialisation and industrialisation.Nanotechnology growth in Malaysia is substantialand the numbers of graduates in this field areincreasing on an annual basis. Currently, there aremore than 300 Malaysian graduates researchingnanotechnology.The career option in nanotechnology is vast.Graduates can work in areas such as electronicsor semiconductor industries, materials science,auto and aerospace industries, sports equipment,pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, military andnational security. Nanotechnology is changinghow products and its manufacturing operates,having new materials created for the benefit ofhumankind.A few fields that will undergo explosive developmentsthrough nanotechnology are medicine,energy, robotics, manufacturing, commerce andspace exploration. As the world continues to relyheavily and becomes increasingly dependent onthe materials and products we manufacture,nanotechnology is the field that investors lookforward to sustain the depleting resources thatwe need dearly on a daily basis.NaNotechNologyA growing field in developed and developing countries.Has the government’s attention as a field to invest in for the future.Good job prospects in a few years‘ time.Wide range of jobs to go into.More courses on Page 11

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PAGE 6 | NEW STRAITS TIMES WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012NEW STRAITS TIMES | PAGE 7UNDERGRADUATE FOCUS ENGINEERINGUNDERGRADUATE FOCUS ENGINEERINGEngineers give their thumbs upQuestions aboutengineering? Ask us onwww.facebook.com/afterschool.myBuilding a career for the futureIT’s hard to imagine a world without engineers.Almost everything we see around uswas contributed one way or another by anengineer.The field of engineering has evolved significantlyin the last few decades, allowing itto continue to stay relevant. We talk to fourengineers who tell us why this field is still verymuch in demand.Ron YapRON YAP: Yap is a petroleum engineer whospecialises in the commissioning of offshore oiland gas facilities. Yap is a graduate of UniversitiTeknologi Petronas and says that one will needa degree in engineering which takes betweenfour and five years to specialise in this field.“A fresh graduate can earn betweenRM4,000 and RM5,000 on average as a technicalstaff in the oil and gas industry and themarket is very strong for fresh graduates,” saysYap.At present, Yap’s job entails the managementof offshore construction as well as thetesting, commissioning and start-up of offshoreoil and gas facilities. He says it takesbetween five and six years to be promoted toa senior engineer and then another five to sixyears to be promoted to a manager.“The field is very dynamic and has evolvedtremendously over the years. Newer technologiesand higher oil prices over the years havedriven the demand higher making it feasible tomonetise smaller oil and gas fields,” Yap says.He goes on to add that petroleum engineershave a bright future as they can branch out intoother fields including petroleum economics,project management, contracting and procurement.He also adds that petroleum engineersdon‘t need to venture too far for job opportunitiesas there are plenty of opportunities ripefor the picking in Malaysia.Yap’s advice to budding engineering students:“Select a course or a degree programme,which is heavy on industrial training, labsessions, site visits and so on as practical andhands-on training is highly important for engineers.”PROFESSOR MARK SPEARING: ProfessorSpearing is the Pro Vice-Chancellor Internationalat the University of Southampton in theUK. Prior to this Professor Spearing was theHead of Engineering Sciences at the university.Although he is now involved in academia,Professor Spearing’s specialisation is in theengineering of advanced materials for structuralapplication.“I was lucky to have inspirational lecturers inmy undergraduate degree in structural mechanicsand engineering materials. They alertedme to the very interesting developments inadvance materials. This in turn led me to seekout project work with advanced materials,which resulted in my pursuing a doctorate,”he explains.Professor Spearing says that the standardprofessional qualification for an engineer in theUK is a Masters of Engineering (M.Eng) whichis a four-year degree.“To conduct engineering research and toteach in a university usually requires a doctorate(PhD or Engineering Doctorate), which takesa further three to four years of study, usuallyaround a specific research project,” ProfessorSpearing further elaborates.Professor Spearing says that there is a globalshortage of engineers, so the job marketis good particularly for graduateswho are willing to travel toProfessor Mark Spearing“Select a courseor a degreeprogrammewhich is heavyon industrialtraining, labsessions, sitevisits and soon as practicaland hands-ontraining is highlyimportant forengineers.”Ron Yap Kai Renwhere the jobs are located anddespite the economic downturn,Engineering UK reported a buoyantdemand for engineers.He adds that it is very unusualfor someone to spend his or herentire career doing essentiallythe same job.“To some extent this hasalways been the case, but theneed for current graduates toupgrade and continually changetheir skill set throughout theircareer has never been more criticalfor success.”In his opinion, the most commonevolution of skills is forengineers to acquire increasingmanagement and leadershipskills, starting with small projectmanagement, progressingthrough group leadership and then taking onresponsibility for major projects and then toleaderships of entire organisations.“In my case I have worked in a number oftechnical sectors, including aerospace, microelectronicsand the energy sector. I have hadresponsibility for research projects, researchgroups, departments and now for the internationalportfolio for a world class researchuniversity,” Professor Spearing says.He believes that the engineering field willevolve greatly in the coming years. “I think thatthe current trends will continue to be important.I think that we will become more capableat making projections of the total life-cyclecost of engineering systems, including end-oflifedecommissioning and recycling, which willallow for more intelligent initial decisions tobe made.”He also believes that engineering will increasinglyplay a role in addressing the globalchallenges that we face including food andwater security, global healthcare, societaladaptation to climate change and coping withurbanisation.Professor Spearing views Malaysia, andmore broadly, South East Asia as having avery bright future. “A variety of factors havemade this region one of great economic andtechnological potential, and engineering is oneof the key disciplines that will be required toallow the country and the region to realise thispotential.”As such he strongly advises students to considera career in engineering.DR SIMON SUTTON: Dr Suttonstudied physics at the Universityof Reading and then proceededto do his doctorate in polymer.At present, he works with asupplier of plastic materialswhich are essential to makingunderground high voltagecables which supply power tohomes and businesses functionproperly.He says that most peoplewith a degree in electricalengineering would enter theelectricity industry, however, itis by no means essential as hisown career path shows.“I started as a physicist,joined an electricity transmissioncompany doing electricalengineering and now work fora chemical company doing marketing. Therehas been a common thread through all thesejobs, namely, insulating materials for electricalapplications, but each role brings new challengesand I’ve had to acquire new skills and knowledgeas my career has progressed,” explainsDr Sutton.According to Dr Sutton the energy sectoris a growth market at the moment. Thereis a vast interest in renewal energyincluding solar, wind, hydro and waveenergy with many countries investingheavily on it. New power generationneeds new power infrastructure tomove that energy to where peoplewant to use it.“In developed countries, theoriginal power grid is reaching theend of its life and needs replacing,whereas in the developing countriesof the world growingdemand for power is leadingto a huge investment inbuilding new electricityinfrastructure. Sowherever you are, theelectricity sector is agreat place to be atDr Simon Suttonthe moment and these investments are goingto continue for years to come,” he adds.Having worked in the field for 15 years, DrSutton has seen the field evolve greatly. He saysthat 20 years ago almost no one had heard ofclimate change but now the shift to renewableenergy is leading to major investments in theelectricity sector.Another example he cites is the deregulationof the energy markets in Europe whichhas led to many changes. “There are far moreparticipants in the market, many tasks havebeen outsourced and there has been hugeinvestment in upgrading the power grid.”He foresees that the field will grow tremendouslymainly due to environmental pressure,including climate change which will drive moresustainable solutions in energy delivery.“Also, people rely so much on electricityand they expect it to work when they flick theswitch. This pressure on utilities to build morereliable networks will continue,” he adds.In Dr Sutton’s opinion electrical engineershave a bright future the world over. “Malaysiais a growing economy with a thirst for energy;that can only be good for engineers withthe right skills. Nevertheless, I would say don’tdiscount working overseas. It’s a tremendousexperience and the skills and knowledge thatit gives you can be translated to all sorts ofjobs.”IR INDERJIT SINGH: Ir Inderjit obtained his Diplomain Electrical and Electronic Engineeringfrom the Technical College Kuala Lumpur (nowthe Universiti Teknology Malaysia) in 1969 andand his BSc (Hons) in Electrical EngineeringPower Systems from the University Of StrathclydeGlasgow in 1972.“At the time I graduated there was not muchdevelopment and no large infrastructure projectsand hardly any high rise buildings. Althoughthe number of engineering graduateswas small compared to now, it was also difficultfor fresh graduates to get jobs easily. So I joinedthe army and served in the Electrical &Mechanical Engineering Corps for seven years,”Ir Inderjit says.He now runs his own business in safety andcompliance of electrical installations. He alsoworks in the field of efficient managementof electrical energy carrying out safety andcompliance inspections for large electricalinstallations such as hotels, large commercialbuildings, hospitals, palm oil mills and watertreatment plants.He also carries out energy audits for largeinstallations where the electrical energy consumptionexceeds three million units over aperiod of six months to identify wastage andinefficient use of energy with the aim of reducingthe electrical energy consumption.Ir Inderjit believes that just because one hasa degree in engineering, he does not have tostick with that profession for the rest of hislife.“I know of cases where engineers havebecome lawyers and accountants. It is quitecommon for engineers to obtain MBA qualificationsand become managing directors oflarge corporations. In my case, I too have branchedout into the safety and compliance fieldas well as efficient management of energy,”he explains.He believes that students do not have togo far to excel in the field as the prospects forengineers in Malaysia are as good, if not better,than those overseas. “We are still a developingcountry that requires a lot of infrastructure andwill require tremendous engineering expertisein the coming years.”ANUSHIA KANDASIVAMPROSPECTS: Many young people outthere are aspiring engineers. There isno doubt why – engineering has alwaysbeen seen as a prestigious career. Engineersare the people that built the worldaround us, and they are the ones thathave a hand in the changing cityscapesand evolving landscapes around us.In Malaysian society, tradition has itthat engineering is one of the best careerchoices a young person can make. Butthe profession has surely changed andadvanced since our parents’ or grandparents’times. So what really are theprospects of engineering as a career?SUPPLY VS DEMAND: The simplestanswer to that question is that careerprospects for an engineer in the immediatefuture are very good. Malaysia isa developing country; right now, thegovernment’s Economic TransformationProgramme accounts for numerousdevelopment projects all over the country.Each of these projects requires engineersof different disciplines.There is a great number of engineeringgraduates in Malaysia each year– there were about 100,000 last year.But the supply is matching the demand.Most of these graduates have successfullylanded jobs.EVOLUTION: As a developing country,traditional disciplines such as civil andmechanical engineering will continueto be in demand for some time. Butas Malaysia’s economy and capabilitiesgrow more sophisticated, there isneed for chemical engineers, electricalengineers, and new and advanced engineeringdisciplines such as biomedical,marine, aeronautical and even nuclearengineering.“Matching the type of engineersto industry requirements is a constantjuggling act as demand shifts due to economic,geopolitical and other reasons.Universities will probably need at leastfour to five years to be able to adjustthe supply of the right type of engineersto meet any new demand,” saysIr Dr Cheong Thiam Fook, Chairman ofthe Institution of Engineers, Malaysia’sMembership Committee.Each engineering specialisation isequally important to the nation’s development,continues Ir Cheong, as contributionsfrom each field will go towardsbuilding the nation. What aspiring engineersshould look out for are new areasof interest that develop as the countrymoves forward – areas like green technology.Skill and experience: If there is a problemthat new engineers face, it is the factthat these rapidly developing industriesrequire experience. This is of course acatch-22: one cannot gain experiencewithout a job, but one cannot get a jobwithout experience.As the progression of our industriesgets more sophisticated, so too therequirement for highly qualified individualsgets more specific, says ProfessorDr Mohamad Kamal Harun, President ofthe Institute of Materials Malaysia. Thecountry’s industries have to develop toremain significant, and the country’sengineers have to possess the skillsthat come up to modern industry standards.A real life example is what is goingon in Malaysia’s oil and gas industrynow. This industry requires specialisedskills and knowledge combined withthe ability to meet stringent safety andquality standards. The industry oftenfaces a shortage of local engineers withthe requisite qualifications, and so hashad to resort to hiring engineers fromoverseas.The solution is for engineers, especiallynew ones, to take the initiative toupgrade their skills through continuousprofessional development courses orspecific skills training courses. Extra skillor knowledge can very easily be a steppingstone to career advancement.Engineering graduates are all trainedin the fundamentals of engineering, buttechnology moves very fast, so it wouldbe impossible for universities to reallykeep up with the latest advancements.“It is very important that engineers skillup a generic degree so that they can fitCalling students, parents to career talkSTUDENTS and parents who are interested in a highlyinformative talk on the fields of engineering should registerat www.afterschool.my/talk. There is no entry fee.The details are as follows:NST Undergraduate Professional Career TalkTopic: ENGINEERINGDiscussion: Is engineering the right course for you?Including studying engineering, specialisations and careerprospects.into technologically advanced industriesthat require highly skilled individuals,”says Professor Kamal.This up-skilling is slowly happening asmore and more Malaysian engineers takemore interest in specific skills or realisethat these extra skills can lead to careeradvancement. But until Malaysian engineersare sufficiently trained to meet thedemand, the industries will have to continueto depend on foreign engineers.WORDS TO THE WISE: To be a successfulengineer, one must of course be proficientin the basics of engineering. Beingable to apply this knowledge will alsoenable engineers to continue learningthroughout their career, and enablethem to easily update their knowledgeand expertise.However, the most important thingto have is passion. As with any field,students must have a passion for whatthey are learning. Without it, a personcould easily end up at shackled to soullessjob.Having passion also means that theperson will have the drive to push themselvesfurther into upgrading themselvesand their knowledge, and to build anexciting career for themselves.Aspiring engineers should not look atengineering just as a way to make money.“Engineering is a profession where thesky is the limit,” adds Ir Cheong. “To betruly successful, one must choose to dowhat you love and love what you do.”“Don’t see it as just job,” advises ProfessorKamal. “Build a career. Be open toany opportunities for betterment, andbuild your capabilities. With all this, andwith passion, a person can definitely besuccessful.”Panel: Representatives from Board of Engineering Malaysia,industry and academia will be in attendance.Who should attend: Students who are planning to pursueengineering coursesQ&A session: Students can ask questions during the sessiondirectly to panel members or by Tweeting with hashtag -#talkengDate: 12 May 2012Time: 10am to 12.30pmVenue: Level 5, Theaterate, New Straits Times. 31 JalanRiong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.

PAGE 8 | NEW StraitS tiMES WEdNESday, May 2, 2012undergraduate focus EnGinEErinGVarsity awaits first classachievers in engineeringIt was a proud moment for 11 First Class Honours engineering studentsfrom HElP College of arts and Technology (HElP CaT) whentheir names were read out at the recent convocation ceremony.Having completed their two-year Diploma in Engineering at HElPCaT, the 11 students were then accepted into the University of Hertfordshire,UK, as part of HElP CaT’s 3+0 programme with the University.Jayaseelan Marimuthu, Head of Centre for Engineering Studies, HElPCaT, says the diploma in both electronic and electrical engineering andmechanical engineering was designed based on the industry’s needsand incorporates the latest technology, increasing the marketabilityof students upon graduation.as part of the HElP CaT Diploma programme, students are requiredto complete an industrial-based final year project and also work for aperiod of three months, otherwise known as industrial placement. This isto ensure the engineering students are capable of meeting the needs oftheir workplace as a result of industry exposure prior to graduation.Jayaseelan says apart from industrial training students are encouragedto participate in various activities such as industrial talks. Studentswere also taken on a trip to agensi Nuklear Malaysia in Bangi to understandthe mechanics of a nuclear reactor for power generation and tolearn about Malaysia’s sources of power.For more information visit www.helpcat.edu.myvijEsh rAiREPoRTiNGfrom Kuala lumpurProgrammes that leadto promising careersNilai UC now offers degrees in the fields ofautomotive engineering, electrical and electronicengineering, and mechanical engineering. Diplomaprogrammes are available for the latter twoareas as well as in mechatronics engineering.“all the diploma programmes are accreditedby the MQa while the degree programmes havebeen approved by the Engineering accreditationCouncil (EaC). The diploma programmes providemore emphasis on hands-on training whilethe degree programmes are tailored to providesound knowledge and design background. Thisallows students taking engineering courses atNilai UC to experience the new and the latest,instead of outdated facilities, thus improvingtheir experience and education value,” says Drlogeswaran Rajasvaran, Dean of Nilai UC Schoolof Engineering, Science & Technology.Graduates from Nilai UC’s engineering programmescan also look forward to getting theirprofessional engineer status with the right to usethe prefix ‘ir’ and suffix ‘PEng’ to their name, afterobtaining the required work experience and professionalassessments by the Board of EngineersMalaysia. Graduates who join the institution ofEngineers, Malaysia may use the prefix ‘Engr’.“Whichever programme they choose to doat Nilai UC’s School of Engineering, Science andTechnology, students will be assured the properaccreditation and validations. Coupled with thefacilities we have on campus, rest assured studentswill be receiving a quality education,” saysDr logeswaran.For more information visitwww.nilai.edu.myDean of Nilai UC School of Engineering, Science & Technology, Dr Logeswaran Rajasvaran(second from left), briefing visiting secondary school students on the programmes available atthe faculty.

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PAGE 10 | NEW STRAITS TIMES WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012UNDERGRADUATE FOCUS ENGINEERINGA quality degree forquantity surveyingADVANTAGEOUS: Interpersonal and communicationskills are indeed important for quantitysurveyors, who are required to communicatewith anyone from architects and subcontractorsto engineers and planners to provide services thatcan maximise value and minimise risk for theirclients.Working closely and possibly for long periodswith other professionals, quantity surveyors alsoensure proper tender and procurement methodsand contractual procedures are adhered to, andthat resources are used effectively.A solid foundation in skills and knowledge forquantity surveying (QS) can be established at INTIInternational University (INTI IU), which is offeringstudies in QS at both diploma and degreelevels. The Bachelor of Science (Hons) QuantitySurveying is a comprehensive programme thatprepares graduates for the role of managing thefinancial and procurement processes of constructionprojects.It includes studies in cost planning, cost control,building development techniques, buildingresearch, computer software applications, measurementof quantities of building and infrastructurework and handling of construction legal issues.The programme’s highlights include field tripsand visits to construction sites, developers’ officesand the Public Works Department to exposestudents to the real working environment of aquantity surveyor. They are also provided internshipopportunities to gain practical experience.For more information visit www.newinti.edu.myA fun mixHAVING been pinned as one of the top 10professions in Malaysia by GTI Media inthe Sun newspaper, the job prospects forelectrical and electronics engineer is heighteningamid economic woes. The one key obstacle surroundingthe industry is, however, the shortageof qualified and trained professionals.Recognising the demand in the somewhatmeteoric industry, KBU International College isoffering an array of engineering programmeswhich does not only focus on theories and designworks, but is complemented with stimulations,case studies, practical laboratory sessions andprojects. The school promotes a fun, learningenvironment which involves the latest equipmentand hands-on training that shapes the engineersof tomorrow with skills to pioneer new developments;undertake design and supervise productionto market, install and operate equipment.The college’s School of Engineering and Computingprovides high quality courses that groomstudents to be successful engineering professionals.The interaction helps students to quicklygrasp skills, techniques and methods used in theindustry to face the ever evolving and competitivecorporate world.For more information visit www.kbu.edu.myA solid foundationFIRM GROUNDING: The Foundation in Engineeringprogramme offered by the University ofNottingham Malaysia campus is a passport tothe various undergraduate degrees offered bythe Faculty of Engineering.Students taking the Foundation in Engineeringwill be able to interact with lecturers with ahost of experience who will help students makean informed decision on the branch of engineeringthey should pursue.The programme provides students with abroad understanding of the fundamentals ofengineering and at the same time, gives thema solid grounding in mathematics and othersubjects that will allow them to proceed to theundergraduate level.Students will spend time performing lab work,participating in tutorials, written assignmentsand attending lectures. Strong emphasis will beplaced on learning mathematical and physical sciences.Additionally, students will also be exposedto computer language and programmes and alsostudy and research techniques.For more information, visit www.nottingham.edu.myUniversity collegewins best thesis awardEXCELLENCE: Gillian-Eve Rajasingham of KualaLumpur Infrastructure University College (KLIUC)won the coveted Gold Award for the Best ThesisAward in Water Resources & Hydrology 2011.The event was organised by the UNESCO-IHPMalaysia, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage(DID) and UNESCO-Humid Tropics CentreKuala Lumpur in conjunction with the nationallevelWorld Water Day 2012 recently.Gillian-Eve’s bachelor’s degree thesis entitledTreating Leachate with Plant was nominated bythe academic panel and won the Gold Awardduring the judging session held at Humid TropicsCentre.A total of 44 theses were submitted by boththe public and private higher institutions. Thenomination was endorsed by the Malaysia InternationalHydrological Programme (MIHP) in earlyMarch, which was chaired by the Director Generalof DID, Datuk Ir Ahmad Husaini Sulaiman.For further information, visit www.kliuc.edu.my

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012 NEW STRAITS TIMES | PAGE 11UNDERGRADUATE FOCUS ENGINEERINGCAREERS IN FOCUSBIOMEDICAL ENGINEERINGThe field of biomedical engineeringis a fresh industry that uses physics,engineering, chemistry and mathematicsto enhance medical practices.A biomedical engineer uses his knowledgeof engineering to help supportpatients through the enhancementof medical technology used in healthinstitutions. Biomedical engineeringhas a lot of subcategories where astudent can specialise into such as bionics,biomechanics, clinical engineering,orthopaedic engineering and biomechatronics.Below are a few examplesof what could be done in biomedicalengineering.As biomedical engineering is still anew field in Malaysia, local interpretationof the job is still vague and mostrefer it to clinical engineering. Clinicalengineering is a branch of biomedicalengineering that deals with medicalequipment and systems of health institutions.They maintain and upkeepequipment to ensure safe usage accordingto the needs of the medical staffand patients.Even though the biomedical field isbooming in developed countries suchas the US and Japan, Malaysia’s biomedicalfield has not expanded as much.Most biomedical engineering graduatesmay handle medical equipment andsystems in health institutions as thereis not much as research going on in thebiomedical industry currently. However,biomedical firms believe that thebiomedical industry in Malaysia holdsgreat potential to develop and will seemore job opportunities and researchgoing on in a few years to come. Forexample, in May last year, Malaysiaset up its first Industrial GMP PositronEmission Tomography (PET) Centre atSepang. The facility has an IBA CyclotronCyclone 18/9 that could produce18 MeV of proton beam energy forresearch.BionicsBiotechnologyBiomechanicsClinicalengineeringMedicalimagingBIOMEDICAL ENGINEERINGA field that is researched heavily indeveloped countries.Still new in Malaysia, however,there are projects starting toincrease popularity in biomedicalengineering.A lot of sub-disciplines to branchout to.Biomedical engineering holds alot of potential for development inMalaysia.People involved in bionics are specialists in artificial bodypart replacement. Prosthetic arms and legs, hearing orvisual aids are works of bionics.Biotechnology deals with tissue engineering, the creationof artificial organs through biological material fortransplants. Engineers in this field are researching andfinding ways to generate such organs.Using mechanical principles, biomechanics explainsfunctions and structures of the human body. For example,Newton’s laws have pioneered the creation of artificialheart and heart valves.A clinical engineer is the expert in the equipmentand systems used in health institutions. They are thetechnicians that carry out maintenance and makes surethese equipment are in excellent quality to aid the recoveryof patients.Medical imaging uses sounds, radiation and magnetism togenerate the image of the human body. They are extremelyuseful in studying human anatomy and assisting medicaltreatments.

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