On July 7th, 2023, UiTM-Materials Lecture Competition (UiTM-MLC) 2023 hosted a culminating selection event to choose a representative for UiTM. Prior to this final stage, several series of events were conducted. In other words, the Materials Lecture Competition is a national event mainly organized by the Institute of Materials, Malaysia, IMM, and the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining, IOM3-UK. This national-wide competition is an initiative intended to enhance awareness among young material scientists and engineers in Malaysia on the importance of materials engineering and sustainability in the advancement of technology and humankind.
The event was jointly organized by UiTM-Institute Materials Malaysia 2023 (UiTM-IMM 2023) and UITM-IMM Student Chapter, with co-organization by the Engineering Postgraduate Society College of Engineering (ENGINES). It is organized virtually on the Webex platform commencing with an opening speech from Ts. Dr. Nik Roselina Nik Roseley, the director of UiTM-IMM 2023, at 9:00 am. The competition is open to all postgraduate students (aged 28 or under) who want to showcase their innovative materials research.
Following the opening speech, the event proceeded with a briefing session for the competition judges, all of whom were industry professionals. In total, there were four participants vying for the final stage selection. Participants must deliver a 15-minute presentation on a topic related to materials or minerals science and engineering, followed by a 5-minute Q&A session with the panel of judges. The topic may cover the participant’s current research work or project from the following areas of interest (but not limited to) materials development, characterization, processing and applications, minerals, and geologically related disciplines. Selected participants are eligible for IMM’s Membership free registration. All presentation were judged against the following criteria: (i) Structure of the presentation and clarity of explanation and argument, (ii) Standard of presentation, (iii) Personal enthusiasm for the subject, (iv) Ability to deliver presentation spontaneously, (v) Technical content of the presentation, (vi) Clarity & relevance of any visual aids used, (vii) Ability to deliver a concise and meaningful summary at the end of the presentation, (viii) Ability to present within the specified time allocated, and (ix) Ability to handle judges’ questions.
The event concluded at 12:00 pm, announcing Baiq Rusma Jatuwita Amalin as the winner from the Faculty of Applied Science. Her presentation titled “Powering Sustainable Solutions: Microwaved Oil Palm Frond Carbon As A Game-Changer In Dye Removal” that’s secured her position as the representative of UiTM for the upcoming national-level stage, scheduled to be held on August 28, 2023, at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Moreover, the winner will have the opportunity to represent Malaysia and compete at the Young Persons’ World Lecture Competition (YPWLC) organized by IOM3 UK in November 2023. The winner of Malaysia will be fully sponsored by IOM3-UK to attend a series of events in YPWLC and have a chance to compete for cash prizes amounting to RM3000.
In conclusion, it is evident that this program has significantly contributed to the enhancement of the university by fostering the development of public speaking skills among engineering students. The acquisition of valuable experiences by all participants, including those who were not selected, has proven instrumental in bolstering their confidence during interpersonal engagements, particularly with industry professionals.