PENANG, 16 June 2014 - A team of Penang Free School (PFS) students won the Innovation Challenge which was organised in conjunction with the Research University Carnival held at SAINS@USM Complex, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Bukit Jambul, recently.

The team took home a cash prize of RM5,000 after defeating 45 teams representing 15 secondary schools in the island, Kolej Matrikulasi Pulau Pinang and also Kolej MARA Kulim.

SMKA Al-Irshad won the second place while SMJK (P) Cina Pulau Pinang came in third, taking home RM3,000 and RM1,000 respectively.

The Innovation Challenge which took place over two days beginning from June 13, included three challenges comprising the IQ Challenge, Innovation Challenge and Accuracy Challenge aims to cultivate innovation and creativity, and foster students’ interest in science and technology.

“Students should be exposed to challenges such as this so that each theory learned in the classroom can be applied and practiced in producing innovations," said USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman.

The prize presentation ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Education II, Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh.

The Minister launched a bottle rocket to mark the launch of the Innovation Challenge which was held for the first time in USM involving more than 200 students.

“It is a wise move to organize such an event to expose our students early to science and technology as reflected in the saying, ‘bend the bamboo before it matures’,” said Minister of Education II.

The Research University Carnival was aimed to showcase the successes of the five research universities in the country, namely Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and USM. - Translation: Yong Check Yoon/Text: Nor Rafizah Md. Zain/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa