Latest news with #FacultyofScienceandTechnology
Ya Biladi
6 days ago
- Science
- Ya Biladi
Moroccan students win global innovation Grand Prize at Huawei ICT competition in China
A team of Moroccan students won the Grand Prize in the Innovation category at the Huawei ICT Competition 2024–2025 during the global finals held in Shenzhen, China, from May 19 to 25. Announced by Huawei Morocco in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, this achievement marks a historic first for Morocco in this prestigious competition, which annually brings together top global talents in information and communication technology (ICT). According to an official statement, the Moroccan team consisted of Ayman Amokrane, Maryeme Hassani, and Ibrahim Lamrabet, all students at the Faculty of Science and Technology in Errachidia, under Moulay Ismaïl University. Guided by Professor Yousef Farhaoui, the team developed NovaOr, a digital solution for intelligent hospital management. «Thanks to its decision support system, NovaOr reduces processing times, alleviates congestion in healthcare services, and streamlines resource allocation, thereby enhancing coordination and optimizing the patient experience», the statement explained. The journey of the laureates—from registration in September 2024 through national and regional selection stages—was highly praised by the international jury and experts. For Huawei Morocco and the ministry, this success underscores «the academic excellence of Moroccan universities» and reflects Huawei's commitment to «integrate digital technology into university curricula and stimulate innovation among young talents, in line with technological transformation and digital sovereignty». Both parties emphasized that this recognition, «achieved against teams from the world's leading universities, not only demonstrates the high level of preparation of Moroccan students but also their capacity to propose innovative solutions with significant added value».
The Star
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Strict vetting can save lives
PETALING JAYA: Thorough background checks should be carried out on those seeking jobs as commercial vehicle drivers, say road safety experts. Malaysian Road and Transportation Safety Association president Md Hairolazaman Muhamed Nor called for enhanced screening and monitoring measures to be taken. 'Ongoing monitoring, including drug and alcohol testing as well as performance evaluations, is important,' he said. However, he said it could be discriminatory to impose a blanket ban on former convicts looking for employment in the sector. 'It may unfairly exclude responsible and reformed individuals from job opportunities. 'Instead, policies that disqualify persons with recent serious or violent offences can be implemented. 'Comprehensive assessments rather than blanket bans should be used to evaluate each driver's suitability,' he added. Md Hairolazaman proposed the mandatory use of dashcams and CCTVs inside heavy vehicles. 'Continuous recording of driver behaviour and vehicle conditions can also assist investigations and promote accountability,' he said, adding that it should be done alongside regulatory measures, driver training, infrastructure improvements and enforcement. He also proposed increased adoption of ISO 39001 due to the recent spate of road crashes involving heavy vehicles. ISO 39001 is an international standard for road traffic safety management systems, providing a framework for organisations to reduce and prevent road fatalities and injuries. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Dr Nurrul Hafeezah Sahak called for a zero-tolerance approach, such as immediate suspension, for drivers found taking banned substances. 'Screenings should be conducted at the pre-employment phase and also at periodic intervals,' said the Faculty of Science and Technology lecturer. She said public involvement is equally crucial in enhancing road safety, adding that unsafe lorry driving should be reported immediately. 'Transport companies must ensure timely and appropriate investigations of complaints addressed against them as well,' she said. Universiti Putra Malaysia's Prof Dr Kulanthayan KC Mani said road crashes are preventable and that the probability of technical issues in heavy goods vehicles can be reduced if they are well maintained. 'These vehicles are highly used, so maintenance requirements must be met. 'When heavy vehicles carry loads, the total weight also increases, which can make it harder to control. 'Driving fast makes the situation even more challenging,' said Kulanthayan, who heads the Putra Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Group. He said it is important to monitor drivers, adding that companies should take responsibility too. 'The installation of systems like dashcams can possibly reveal how an incident happened, enhancing crash investigations. 'With more vehicles having dashcams, it can also enhance driving etiquette, as the chances of being seen committing violations will be high,' he said, adding that the idea also applied to private vehicles. A lorry carrying gravel rammed a truck carrying nine Federal Reserve Unit personnel on Tuesday, resulting in their deaths. Preliminary investigations revealed that the lorry had a malfunction causing its steering system to fail. Perak police chief Datuk Comm Noor Hisam Nordin said the lorry driver had six prior criminal cases mostly related to narcotics and had multiple outstanding traffic summonses.
New Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Experts warn of EV battery pollution risks amid surge in EV adoption
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must be prepared to manage the anticipated surge in electric vehicle (EV) battery disposal, in line with the government's target of having 1.5 million EVs on the road by 2040. Environmental non-governmental organisations and experts have raised concerns about the potential chemical pollution risks associated with EV battery waste, particularly over the next eight to 10 years. An expert from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Professor Dr Marlia Mohd Hanafiah, said Malaysia's current EV battery disposal facilities require serious attention. She stressed the need for the government to take proactive measures to ensure the proper management of EV battery waste. "One of the major environmental risks from landfill disposal of EV batteries, which contain heavy metals, is the leakage of toxic electrolytes and the release of metal ions into the soil. "This can lead to groundwater contamination if batteries are discarded in landfills without proper treatment," she said. According to a report by BIMB Securities, mass EV adoption in Malaysia could begin as early as next year. Previously, it was reported that Malaysia aims for EVs to account for around 15 per cent of new car sales by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050 — part of the country's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Marlia also warned that incineration could release toxic fumes, posing health risks to nearby populations. She added that EV batteries are at risk of fire or explosion when exposed to heat, and that discarding rather than recycling these batteries results in the loss of critical rare earth elements, increasing the demand for unsustainable mining. To address this, Marlia proposed that the government establish centralised EV battery collection centres, managed either by the government or authorised vendors, to ensure safe collection and inventory tracking. She added that the government could work with EV manufacturers to implement battery take-back schemes. "The government could also establish dedicated recycling and material recovery plants for EV batteries. "This would involve hydrometallurgical processing — using acid leaching to extract cobalt and lithium — as well as pyrometallurgical methods, which use high-temperature smelting to recover metals," she said. Marlia noted that this recycling technology may require international cooperation for technology transfer and to build local capacity. She also called for an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy for EV manufacturers and importers, along with a digital life-cycle tracking system. "This would mean every EV battery produced is registered in a centralised digital tracking system that monitors the battery from production to end-of-life, ensuring traceability," she explained. Meanwhile, Malaysian Ecological Association president Professor Ahmad Ismail said that while the widespread use of EVs benefits air quality and reduces carbon emissions, there are significant environmental risks if EV-related activities are not managed holistically. He highlighted the issue of expired batteries and their disposal methods as a major concern, affecting both the environment and human health. He noted that although Malaysia has clear regulations on scheduled waste, effective enforcement is key. "The main issue lies in the disposal mechanism for EV batteries. The country must implement a systematic and controlled disposal system. "This includes increasing the capacity and availability of disposal facilities. EV batteries contain materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, mercury, lead, and copper, which can contaminate the environment and accumulate in aquatic animals, especially through the food chain," he said. Ahmad warned that without proper guidelines, EV users may dispose of batteries incorrectly, due to lack of awareness and potentially harm the environment. He explained that the primary materials in EV batteries — lithium, manganese, copper, and cobalt — if not properly handled, can cause toxicity, neurological issues, organ failure, and even cancer, affecting both humans and wildlife. "This is why public awareness, especially among EV users, is crucial so that they can responsibly manage their battery waste," he said. Ahmad said Malaysia already has policies in place to drive EV development and infrastructure, through tax incentives, investments, and partnerships aimed at achieving 20 per cent EV sales by 2030 and 38 per cent by 2040. He noted this aligns with the National Energy Policy 2022–2040. "In line with this, the government must also prepare to address the hazardous waste issues from the EV industry, including battery disposal. "Educational programmes, training, and research on EV batteries should be implemented immediately to align with national targets," he said. Ahmad added that the growth of EV production and usage requires skilled talent capable of managing hazardous materials to prevent environmental pollution. "According to the Global EV Outlook 2024, EVs accounted for 20 per cent of global vehicle sales, totalling 17 million units. The Malaysian Investment Development Authority projects Malaysia's battery market will grow 5.28 per cent annually from 2022 to 2027. "Malaysia's target of having 1.5 million EVs on the road by 2040 is achievable, given rising demand, national climate commitments, and the 286 per cent increase in EV sales in 2023, which saw 10,159 units sold," he said.
