ISITI-CoERI

UNIMAS Solar Energy Electrification in Long Puah, Ulu Tinjar, Sarawak

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s (UNIMAS) Institute of Social Informatics and Technological Innovations (ISITI) has secured funding from the Grassroots Grant Assistance for Human Security Project from the Government of Japan . This grant assistance of US$ 52,480 (RM 168,200) is to finance the Solar Energy Electrification of Long Puah, a Penan Village in Ulu Tinjar, Sarawak.

This electrification project will be carried out using a people-centred participatory approach, where the Penan community of Long Puah will be involved in the deployment, and later in the management as well as the maintenance of the project. The project will be assisted by a multi-disciplinary team from ISITI, UNIMAS alongside members of the community and private industries.

Long Puah was selected mainly due to its remoteness and distance from the power grid. It is a remote rural community comprising a predominantly Penan population of about 250 people (27 families). Long Puah is located along the Tinjar river in Ulu Tinjar, Sarawak. It requires a 5-hour four-wheel drive from Miri to Long Aton village, followed by a 1-hour journey by boat from Long Aton to Long Puah. Long Puah has no 24-hour electricity supply from the grid. Only a handful of families have their own diesel-powered generators which are rarely used due to the high fuel cost.

This electrification project involves the installation of solar home lighting system. With this financial assistance provided by the Japanese Government, all 27 families living in the longhouse and the church will be lit. Through this project, a greener and environmentally friendly power system will also reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), thus reducing the level of pollution to the environment. In addition, the adoption of this home-based solar system will also help to educate the local community on a sustainable energy supply especially for those in the remote rural areas. The project is in line with the goals to raise the standard of living as well as to increase sustainable development in rural Sarawak.

The signing ceremony was held in UNIMAS between the Japanese Government, represented by the Head of Consular Office of Japan at Kota Kinabalu, Mr. Hirofumi Morikawa, and Vice-Consul Consular Office of Japan, Mr. Kenro Takahashi. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Professor Mohd Fadzil Abdul Rahman represented the UNIMAS Vice Chancellor at the event. Also attending the event were Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dr. Kopli Bujang, Director of Research and Innovation Management Centre UNIMAS, Professor Dr. Fasihuddin Badruddin Ahmad, and Director of ISITI, Associate Professor Dr. Alvin Yeo.

eTORO: Indigenous Botanical Knowledge Management System of the Penans won Bronze Medal at 65th International Trade Fair Ideas-Inventions-New Products (iENA)

eToro given a recognition with Merit Award Winner at the MSC Malaysia APICTA Awards 2013

The MSC Malaysia Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA), a jointly organised programme by the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) and the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (PIKOM), announced eToro project as Merit award winner for the "Best of e-Inclusion & e-Community".

The 17 individual category winners and 18 merit recipients have been recognised for their contribution in the respective categories. The 2013 APICTA Awards saw an increase in its popularity with submission rising up to 345 entries.

The Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology,Professor Dr. K. Narayanan was present at the event to receive the award. eToro is an engagement ICT project between the Institute of Social Informatics and Technological Innovations (ISITI-CoERI), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and the Long Lamai community. The project aims to facilitate the Long Lamai community in preserving their indigenous botanical knowledge and data for medicinal purposes using mobile technologies. The project was funded under UNIMAS DPI grant no. 02(DPI06)/822/2011 (06).

Coming this December, eToro will be representing Malaysia along with other winners and merit recipients at the Annual International APICTA Awards happening in Hong Kong, on 24-27 November 2013.

Unimas researchers excel at fair

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) researchers once again marked their excellence in the international exposition with an outstanding achievement at the Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF) 2013 held at Seoul Convention & Exhibition Center (COEX) from Nov 29 to Dec 2.

According to a press statement, the fair, organised by the Korea Invention Promotion Association (Kipa), is regarded as one of the largest invention fairs in the world.

Source: http://www.theborneopost.com/