MIRI: Nearly 100 secondary school and university students showcased their engineering prowess in a spirited test of innovation and problem-solving at Curtin University Malaysia’s annual Civil Engineering Competitions last week.
Organised by the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering in collaboration with the university’s Office of Learning and Teaching and the Domestic Student Recruitment Department, the event featured two flagship contests: the Road Safety Awareness ePoster Competition and the ever-popular Spaghetti Construction Challenge.
Participants from seven local secondary schools including SMK Chung Hua Miri, SMK Riam, SMK Dato Permaisuri, SMK Baru, SMK Taman Tunku, SMK Pujut, and SMK Lutong, joined Curtin Malaysia undergraduates in applying classroom theory to real-world scenarios, with a focus on design, safety, and resilience.
“The scale of road accidents in Malaysia demands urgent attention,” said senior lecturer Meheron Selowara Joo during the ePoster judging.
“By engaging young minds now, we’re investing in a safer future,” he added.
The digital campaign competition encouraged students to propose creative, research-backed road safety solutions to tackle one of the country’s most critical public health issues.
Meanwhile, in the Spaghetti Construction Challenge, teams were tasked with building the strongest possible bridge using only dry spaghetti and glue.
The competition culminated in a dramatic ‘build-and-break’ finale, where each structure was stress-tested to destruction.
“When structures fail, lives are at risk. Whether it’s a bridge, a stage, or a scaffold, good design saves lives,” said Dr. Lee Yeong Huei, who supervised the competition.
For many students, the experience was eye-opening.
“It was a thrilling mix of creativity and physics,” said one participant. Watching our bridge collapse was heartbreaking, but it showed us exactly where we went wrong and that’s the best way to learn.”
In closing the event, Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science, urged participants to carry forward the lessons they had learnt.
“Problem-solving doesn’t end with competitions, it’s the foundation of innovation,” he said, adding, “Apply this mindset in everything you pursue.”
Professor Tang Fu Ee, Dean of the Office of Learning and Teaching, echoed the university’s commitment to connecting knowledge with community needs.
“Through initiatives like Community Engagement Learning (CEL), we empower students to become changemakers in their communities,” he said.
