A group of five students of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) will depart for Kathmandu, Nepal this Friday to carry out a high altitude research project around Mount Everest.
UTM deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Tajudin Ninggal said the group will be stationed at the Himalayan range for a month to kick start the research project.
"They will also undergo training in preparation for the UTM's prime mission to carry out research on top of the world's highest peak in 2014.
"They will also proceed to the Everest Best Camp to familiarise themselves with the weather and undergo technical climbing training in Labuche Peak and Island Peak with heights of 6,119m and 6,189m respectively," he said at the launch of the Perdana UTM de'Everest 2014 mission by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin here today.
Mohd Tajuddin said enroute to the Base Camp, the students, aged between 20 and 23, would also join UTM pro-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Mohd Nor and two other UTM officers to carry out community services in Khumjung, a small town in Himalaya.
He said they would also set up a reading station at Khumjung High School and present solar panel to generate power to the school, as well as audio visual devices and clothes to the students and people of Khumjung.
The five students are third-year computer science and information system students Azim Afif Ishak and Anis Zulaikha Zabani; second-year chemical
engineering student Siti Nur Izati Azmi; and second-year petroleum engineering and renewal energy students Nur Fadzillah Nawawi and Mohammad Syafiq Ab Rashid.
Azim, who is also the group leader, will carry out the 'Smart Traveller Diary' research using android technology to record the time, distance,
temperature, weather condition and accurate track for climbers, while Anis Zulaika will study suitable content for a website for mountain climbing
enthusiasts.
Muhammad Syafiq, on the other hand, will carry out a research on the quantity of carbon dioxide emissions for enhanced oil recovery purposes, while
Siti Nur Izati chooses to carry out a research on the use of biodiesel in the mountain areas.
Nur Fadzillah will carry out a research on the difference of weathering level between the cold and the tropical regions.
Source: Bernama
