Invention of sandfly repellent earns SMK Lutong spot in Petronas’ AAY 2017 grand finale

Chloe (front, centre) and her team show the processes involved in making their organic sandfly repellent during the state-level AAY 2017 round in Miri.

KUCHING: Necessity is indeed the mother of invention, as demonstrated by 16-year-old Chloe Yeo Lok Yee and her SMK Lutong team.
The Form 4 student, whose school is just a stone’s throw from the sandfly-infested Lutong beach in Miri, is allergic to the insect’s bite.
It is because of this that she has been avoiding the beach.
“I get skin inflammation every time I get bitten. The repellents available in the market are not effective.”

Student inventions AIR-MACS, Aelius have potential to be commercialised

Rakin (second row centre), flanked by Ekni (on his right) and Mohd Dzul, together with Hasimah (right) and Salmah (left) gesture during the presentation of AIR-MACS.

MIRI: Two projects undertaken by students under Petronas All About Youth (AAY) programme this year would provide cheaper and eco-friendly alternatives to air conditioners and powerbanks if they could be refined and patented.
AIR-MACS, an alternative to air conditioner was invented by 20 students from SM Sains Miri while Aelius, an alternative to powerbank is a project of 20 students from Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang.

Blue Tears – a concern to nature watchers

MANY Mirians and tourists to the Resort City, especially photographers, were bedazzled by the discovery of ‘Blue Tears’ — a sparkling bioluminescent — at Tusan Beach, some 40km from Miri, a couple of years ago.
Since then, the beach has gained a reputation as one of the must-visit tourist spots in Miri.
Visitors flock to Tusan Beach every day. They come with their best photography equipment — even on the darkest night — just to catch a glimpse of the sparkling blue lights from the sea. The beauty of Blue Tears, as many have described it, is rather magical.