KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah school won the hearts of the judges of an innovation competition with their invention of a solar lamp that could be beneficial to people in rural areas.
Five students from SMK Pamol in Sapi Nangoh about 250km from here came up with the idea of the EcoBright solar lamp (ESL) after seeing the problem of irregular electricity supply in interior areas.
For their efforts, Shymelysney Mooney, Susanna Qwek San San, Siti Rafbiyatul Adawiyah Josmin, Margarcesybell Safrese and Muhammad Roufieq Romena Nasir took home the gold award in environmental innovation category in the InoBorneo2023 competition.
The event was organised by the Tawau Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) campus and the Education Ministry in the Semporna district early last month.
School principal Sanaleh Daud said the students will now represent Malaysia at the Asia Pacific Conference Young Scientists (APCYS) 2023 in Hermosillo, Mexico.
The international competition will be held virtually.
The EcoBright solar lamp lighting up the bridge at Kampung Pamol.
“It’s a proud moment for the school,” Sanaleh said, in a statement.
He explained that the ESL was a lamp made from recycled plastic bottles based on the 3R concept (reduce, reuse and recycle) and utilises solar power to produce electricity.
“The objective of this invention was to help people in interior areas who have problems getting electricity.
“Besides that, it could also contribute towards minimising the effects of global warming in the country through the use of solar power,” he added.
Sanaleh said a prototype of the ESL has been utilised to light up a bridge in Kampung Pamol as well as the SMK Pamol main entrance.
“The school is also planning to use the ESL as decoration lamps at the main entrance soon,” he said.
He added the InoBorneo 2023 competition saw 152 entrants.
“We took on the challenge despite being a rural school of which the nearest town is some 106km away at Beluran town,” he said.
