Tunku Putra-HELP presents inaugural award to student par excellence
KUCHING: Local teenager Joseph Chung Ming Chong received the inaugural Tunku Putra-HELP Young Innovator & Researcher Award from HELP Education Group chief executive officer Datin ChanLow Kam Yoke.at the school on Friday.
“This award is the culmination of years of hard work and a thirst for learning and innovation. These characteristics have been nurtured by my teachers at Tunku Putra-HELP, pushing me to achieve great things. I am excited and look forward to my next adventure,” said Chung in a press statement from the school yesterday.
The 18-year-old and his team designed a prototype device called a ‘Smart e-Saver’ using thermal sensors attached to the engine to detect the presence of children inside a car. Once the car stops, the sensors alert the driver to the presence of a child.
The innovation which was the team’s response to unattended children dying in parked cars from heatstroke and others has caught the interest of many in the international community.
Chung was invited to the Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, hosted by Sweden in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) from Feb (From left) HELP Education Services chief executive cum HELP University Faculty of Behavioral Sciences Education and Languages dean Dr Gerard Louis, HELP International Corporation executive director Adam Chan, Chan-Low, Chung, Dowling, Ibraco Berhad managing director Datuk Chew Chiaw Han and Tunku Putra-HELP principal Phang Chun Yow pose for a photo.
19-20 in Stockholm with 1,700 delegates from 140 countries comprising ministers from United Nations (UN) member states, senior officials from UN agencies, and representatives from civil society, academia, and private sectors.
Chung had the opportunity to meet Zoleka Mandela, UN Road Safety Ambassador, and granddaughter to the late Nelson Mandela.
“We are indeed proud of
Joseph. It is without doubt that before us stands a young man who is going to be a name of the future, in the field of science and technology,” said school principal Julie Dowling.
Chung has many accolades in innovation and research at local, state, national and international level including 2017 Sime Darby gold medalist at national Young Innovators Challenge and in 2018 his team won the national champion title.
In 2019, he interned at The Genomics Research Centre, Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan on research into DNA extracts and mutations from neuron cells linked to Ogden Syndrome.
In recognition of his accomplishments and as inspiration to other students, the school’s Board of Governors and Senior Leadership Team voted to present Chung this inaugural award.