KOTA KINABALU: A rural school in Sabah has impressed the judges by winning an innovation competition with their solar lamp, which has the potential to assist thousands of people residing in remote areas.
SMK Pamol, a school located in the remote area of Sapi Nangoh, approximately 250km from Kota Kinabalu, saw five students develop the EcoBright solar lamp (ESL) after witnessing the issue of irregular electricity supply in interior areas.
Shymelysney Mooney, Susanna Qwek San San, Siti Rafbiyatul Adawiyah Josmin, Margarcesybell Safrese, and Muhammad Roufieq Romena Nasir, students from SMK Pamol, secured the gold award in the environmental innovation category at the InoBorneo2023 competition, organized by the Tawau Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) campus and the Semporna district Education Ministry.
School principal Sanaleh Daud announced that the students would represent Malaysia at the Asia Pacific Conference Young Scientists (APCYS) 2023 in Hermosillo, Mexico, which will be held virtually. He expressed great pride in the school’s accomplishment.
The ESL, made from recycled plastic bottles based on the 3R concept (reduce, reuse, recycle), utilizes solar power to generate electricity. The primary goal of this invention is to aid those in interior areas struggling with electricity supply and to help reduce the effects of global warming through the use of solar power,” Sanaleh said.
Sanaleh also mentioned that a prototype of the ESL had been utilized to illuminate a bridge in Kampung Pamol and the main entrance of SMK Pamol. The school plans to use the ESL as decoration lamps at the main entrance in the near future as well.
The InoBorneo 2023 competition attracted 152 participants, and Sanaleh highlighted the school’s determination to participate despite being a rural school situated 106km away from the nearest town of Beluran.
