Engineering Identity Development: A National Responsibility

Today, after lunch, I set aside time for a PhD consultancy session with my engineering education student, Izwan. He has been a full-time PhD candidate for the past three years, and his research focuses on the development of a framework for Engineering Identity Development (EID) within the Malaysian context.

Our discussion today reminded me of how critical EID is for our younger generation. In recent years, we’ve seen a worrying trend: a decline in student interest in STEM, particularly engineering. This shift has become even more apparent with the rise of social media, which often pulls young minds toward instant gratification and away from long-term, intellectually challenging pursuits like science and engineering.

This begs the question: Are we, as a nation, doing enough?
Are we on the right track, as a government, ministry, school system, teachers, parents, and as a community?

We must not take this lightly. Engineering is not just another field; it is a pillar of national development. Engineers are the ones who build, design, and solve the grand challenges of our time. If we fail to inspire our youth to pursue engineering, we risk weakening the very foundation of our nation’s future progress.

That’s why developing a strong engineering identity among students must be a collective priority. We need more programs, more initiatives, more mentorship, and more exposure to real-world STEM experiences at all levels—from primary school to university. We need to celebrate engineers, share their stories, and let students see how science and technology can shape a better Malaysia.

It’s time we all do our part, in whatever capacity we can, to reignite the love for STEM and ensure our next generation proudly identifies as engineers, scientists, and innovators.

Other tasks today include managing AJEE submissions and reviewing.

#20242025 Day 032

#Friday

Message From UTM Vice Chancellor Day 4 – Work From Home

Day 4 (21 Mac 2020) – Sabtu

Assalamu’alaikum, Salam Sejahtera Warga UTM,

Pertamanya saya mendoakan semoga seluruh warga UTM, ahli keluarga kita, sahabat handai dan seluruh warga Malaysia dan lain-lain negara yang menghadapi ancaman COVID19 terpelihara dari musibah. Hari ini hari ke 4, Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) dan UTM sedang melaksanakan perintah ini.

  1. Pertamanya mohon semua warga UTM terus mematuhi PKP.  Kita semua maklum, laporan yang dikeluarkan oleh KKM, keadaan masih sangat kritikal. Kita boleh berperanan memutuskan rantaian jangkitan ini insyaAllah, dengan mematuhi PKP. Seperti mana pesan YAB Perdana Menteri, ‘stay where you are’
  2. Bagi makluman bersama, team PKU UTM masih bekerja keras menguruskan kes yang ada risiko kepada UTM. Risiko masih besar sekiranya kita tidak bertindak pantas. Saya kongsi di sini betapa sukarnya menguruskan sesuatu kes. Supaya kita memahami kesukaran dan cabaran team PKU. Dan betul2 mendisiplinkan diri kita mematuhi segala arahan Kerajaan.
  3. Saya bersama mereka setiap hari dari hari pertama UTM mengendalikan COVID19. Pada peringkat awal COVID, kita membuat tindakan pencegahan mengendalikan pelajar dari negara China dan warga UTM yang pulang dari negara berisiko. Ketika itu pengurusan lebih mudah. Membuat pemeriksaan dan setiap mereka ini perlu diletak dibawah ‘home surveillance (HS)’ selama 14 hari-untuk pelajar antarabangsa di S47, dan bagi staf di rumah masing-masing. Ketika HS ini pelajar dipantau setiap hari sebagaimana SOP KKM.
  4. Apabila timbul gelombang kedua, UTM juga ada kes ‘close contact’ dan perlu diuruskan dengan kaedah HS dan perbersihan tempat2 dimana mereka yang dalam kategori PUI berada. Cabaran besar ialah menguruskan kebimbangan warga UTM dan memberi informasi yang tepat dan telus. PKU terpaksa mencari mereka yang dalam kategori ‘close contact’ untuk dibuat pemeriksaan dan jika perlu menjalani HS.
  5. Apabila timbul cluster Sri Petaling keadaan lebih membimbangkan dan pengendalian kes berkaitan masih berjalan di UTM. Kita telah maklumkan satu kes positif pelajar PhD dan lanjutan kes ini seorang HS telah menjalani HS di rumah selama 14 hari. Dan alhamdulillah telah tamat tempoh 14 hari tanpa ada symptom. Pembersihan bilik-bilik terlibat juga telah dibuat.
  6. Saya berkongsi maklumat ini bagi menyedarkan kita semua betapa sukarnya mengendalikan risiko COVID19 di UTM. Team PKU terpaksa berhempas pulas mengendalikannya bagi mempastikan tiada risiko yang berlaku kepada warga UTM.
  7. Kita boleh bayangkan kesukaran dan cabaran yang dihadapi oleh team KKM dalam mengendalikan kes COVID19 ini. Dan kita maklum team PKU UTM adalah kecil berbanding bilangan staf dan pelajar yang perlu dikendalikan. Dan mereka juga terdedah kepada risiko yang tinggi berdepan dengan pesakit yang berkunjung ke PKU.
  8. Kita hanya perlu lebih berdisiplin, bertanggungjawab, sentiasa berhati-hati dan mematuhi sepenuhnya arahan Kerajaan dan SOP yang disediakan. Jangan ada sikap mengambil mudah sehingga akhirnya menyusahkan semua pihak termasuk keluarga dan sahabat handai kita sendiri.

Sekian terimakasih. Mohon doakan yang baik-baik.

‘Stay where you are’

Wahid

36, TSPP

(Day 4 work from home)

Engineering capability review raises safety concerns

The Article which was categorized under Risk and Safety section was written by Adam Duckett and published in The New Chemical Engineer Online portal on the 16th of March 2020.

FATALITIES and accidents at work are likely to increase, and a better understanding of engineering capacity and capability is needed for engineering to intervene, says a report from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Global Engineering Capability Review, the first report from a new £15m (US$18.7m) partnership between RAEng and Lloyds Register, reviews the ability of 99 countries to conduct key engineering activities in a safe and innovative way. It notes that around 1,000 people die every day due to an accident at work, and that data from the International Labour Organization shows that fatal accidents are on the rise in many developing economies as more money is pumped into new infrastructure projects and upgrades.

Continue reading the full article from the link below:

https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/engineering-capability-review-raises-safety-concerns/

Ejen Viral memang awesome

Day 71 Task – Done Reviewing 2 Technical Papers for ICPEAM2020

Read all my “1 Official Task Per Day Record Challenge for 2020” —> https://people.utm.my/zakiyamani/category/1-activity-1-day/

Penyerahan Borang Penyertaan Anugerah Buku PNM 2020 ke Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia

Setelah menerima satu email dari Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia beberapa minggu lepas berkenaan Anugerah Buku PNM 2020, saya dengan  penuh rasa rendah diri mengisi borang penyertaan untuk buku saya yang bertajuk Ramblings of A Chemical Engineer. InsyaAllah, kiranya ada rezeki, ada lah tu. Kalau takde, tak mengapa. Yang penting saya dah berusaha mengisi dan menghantar borang.

BORANG PENYERTAAN Zaki Yamani Zakaria

Engineering 2 Volleyball Team @ UTM Interdepartment Sports

Today is the day – the volleyball inter department game and Engineering 2 team that comprises School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, School of Civil engineering and School of Biomedical Engineering will compete against other departments.

All the best to our women team yeahhh…

 

Regional Conference in Engineering Education (RCEE) & Research in Higher Education (RHeD) 2020

If you are an engineering educator and would like to share your scholarly contribution and improvement that you have made in your engineering teachings, this is a spectacular platform for you!

Just prepare an extended abstract (2 pages only) and submit before 10 February 2020.

My Typical Day As A Chemical Engineering Lecturer

My typical day in office when not in class, meeting or others. Shot was taken last Sunday.

https://youtu.be/2j18gYEq3dQ

Quantum Computings Potential Impact on Chemicals

The chemical industry is poised to be an early beneficiary of the vastly expanded modeling and computational capabilities of quantum computing. Companies must act now to capture the benefits.

Over the past several years, quantum computing has been the subject of a lot of hype. Work underway in the field at tech giants such as IBM and Google has been extensively reported, and this interest has been mirrored by investments in the quantum-computing field by players from a broad array of industries, including the chemical industry. We have been following these developments, and our assessment is that quantum computing could potentially be a game changer for chemical companies.

Continue reading this informative article here: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/chemicals/our-insights/the-next-big-thing-quantum-computings-potential-impact-on-chemicals

Workbook for Basic Calculations in Chemical Engineering

Fresh from oven, i meant fresh from printing today. Will be used tomorrow in class. By using workbook, students actively participate in class by doing series of exercises in the workbook. It will be a guided teaching process and after each chapter, students will be asked to write reflection. We created ample space for them to write or scribble their reflection.