Institution news
What is SOfE?
Speak Out for Engineering (SOfE) is a competition for young engineers designed to help develop verbal and visual communication in explaining technical mechanical engineering related subjects, focusing on conveying a technical subject to audience from a non-technical background.
The annual competition is organised by the Young Members of IMechE. SOfE was originally established back in 1964 to challenge young engineers in proving that they could communicate effectively. The competition has been adapted over the course of time to allow for greater participation, but the original theme of “communicating effectively” remains the emphasis of the competition. In 2004, the competition changed its name to “Speak Out for Engineering” presentation competition.
For this year’s SOfE Malaysia, to ensure the safety of our participants, judges, IMechE members, volunteers and audience, and to ensure the recognition of the work of the competitors, a virtual finals competition and awards ceremony will be conducted due to the pandemic.
SOfE Malaysia 2021
With active support from IMechE Malaysia Branch, the event was led and managed by Ir. Dr. Chong Kok Hing, the committee of IMechE Malaysia YMS, Ms. Choong Pooi Ying, the chair of IMechE Malaysia YMS and Ms. Khei Yinn Seow, the honorary secretary of IMechE Malaysia YMS, who also served as the master of ceremony for SOfE Malaysia 2021. Assistance was also provided by Mr. Teoh Hsien Loong, the treasurer of IMechE Malaysia YMS during the event operation as the timekeeper of the event.
SOfE Malaysia 2021 Judges
Three judges from different industrial backgrounds were invited to assess the performances of participants in terms of communication skills during the convey of technical topics of engineering to a person of non-technical background. The judges for SOfE Malaysia 2021 were:
- Ir. Dr. Aidil Chee Tahir, a Corporate Strategy Consultant and Sustainability Advisor, and a Disciplinary Committee Member of Advocates & Solicitors Disciplinary Board (Malaysia Bar). He is also the Deputy Chairman of the Mechanical Engineering Technical Division of The Institution of Engineers (IEM), and a Council Member of IEM as well.
- Dr. Diana Jayasauri, a PROSCI® Certified Change Management Practitioner and an Associate of International Research Association for Talent Development & Excellence (IRATDE). She is also the Associate Member of Malaysian Institute of Management (AMIM). Dr. Diana is an experienced professional in project and strategy execution in the Upstream Oil and Gas, Public Sector (Government), Commercial Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Healthcare business sectors with extensive project portfolios in both governmental and private sector.
- Dr. Elaine Yeu Yee Lee, a Committee of Engineers Australia Malaysia Chapter (EAMC), a Sub-committee of student chapters, and a Sub-committee of Young engineers and women engineers. She is constantly involved in reviewing scientific papers, organising and conducting STEM activities. Dr. Elaine is also an Associate member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).
SOfE Malaysia 2021 participants
This year, SOfE Malaysia had six participants representing their universities respectively:
- Kiwan Richard from Heriot Watt University Malaysia, who presented on “Keep Moving Forward”, speaking about the three lessons he has recently learnt from an engineering design project to design an electricity energy grid on an island.
- Theng Zian Kao from the University of Southampton Malaysia, presenting about “Digital Transformation of Engineering”, who explained the concept of digital transformation and what impact it will bring to future engineers.
- Benjamin Ong from University Malaya, who talked about “Solar and Anti-Solar Panels: Generating Clean Energy Day and Night”. Benjamin explained about Solar, Anti-Solar technologies which produce electricity in absence of the sun, and a hybrid of them to solve the solar’s shortcomings.
- Mohamed Nazran Nazeer from Taylors University, who presented about “Cranioplasty Prosthetic Implant Materials and Manufacturing Approaches”. He focused on the prosthetic materials and manufacture methods for cranioplasty.
- Ammar Bin Zoheir from University Tenaga Malaysia, who talked about “Tesla Turbines: An Amazing Failed Invention”, covering the theory and application behind Tesla Turbines. He also showed a comparative between modern day bladed turbines and Tesla Turbines, as well as some applications of its concept.
- Rohit Udhwani from Asia Pacific University, with his presentation topic on “Transistors”, exploring the history, development, production, uses and the future of transistor.
As SOfE Malaysia 2021 was held virtually due to the pandemic, participants submitted their presentation videos in advanced, which were then uploaded onto IMechE Malaysia YMS’s YouTube channel, accessible to the judges and the public. On the event day, each participant was given a 1-minute pitching session for them to showcase their topics, followed by a 10-minute Q&A session for judges and audience to ask the participants questions regarding their presentation topics.
SOfE Malaysia 2021 results
This year’s champion for SOfE Malaysia 2021 is Benjamin Ong from University Malaya, with his topic “Solar and Anti-Solar Panels: Generating Clean Energy Day and Night”. The runner-up of the competition goes to Kiwan Richard, with his presentation topic “Keep Moving Forward”.
As such, both Benjamin Ong and Kiwan Richard will be competing in the upcoming Southeast Asia Regional SOfE 2021, representing Malaysia.
