Principal Investigator: Dr. Oh Wen Da
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr Ng Si Ling
Introduction
Water pollution stands as one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, encompassing a range of pollutants with diverse characteristics that complicate removal efforts. Pollutants are generally categorized into emerging contaminants, pathogens, suspended solids, and nutrients, each requiring distinct approaches to mitigation due to their unique properties. Many of these pollutants arise unintentionally from everyday activities; for instance, disposing of grease down drains can lead to fat buildup, blocking sewers and drains. This project aims to develop future leaders equipped to educate the public—especially university students—to recognize and understand the sources and impacts of water pollutants within their environment. As such, the objectives of this project are to (i) provide education/leadership training through seminars and workshop on identification and understanding of water pollutants in the environment and (ii) provide a guide to reduce unintentional generation of water pollutants.
Methodologies
The workshop of identifying and understanding water pollutants in the environment was conducted at USM to educate university students to become leaders who can assist in educating the public on the importance of reducing unintentional generation of water pollutants in their daily activities. Through the workshop, a module consisting of theory and practical knowledge on the types of water pollutants, sources, approaches to reduce the water pollutant generation was designed by the university students. Various interactive activities were also developed by the university students. Using these contents, these university students conducted their own workshops to educate children and the underprivileged on the importance of identifying water pollutants and water conservation.
Achieved output/outcomes
A total of 34 university students were successfully empowered with knowledge to educate the public on the importance of taking precaution and reducing unintentional water pollution in daily activities. The university students took the lead to conduct several workshops (involving 50 children and 20 underprivileged at Little Genius Jelutong and Rumah Kebajikan Seri Cahaya Pulau Pinang, respectively) which have increased the public awareness on the negative impact of uncontrolled water pollution and provide possible solutions to mitigate future water pollution issues.
Conclusions
Overall, the training of trainers has accomplished the objectives and successfully trained 34 university students to become future generation of leaders who can guide the new generation on identification and understanding of water pollutants in the environment, and the importance of water conservation. Aside from that, the 34 university students have successfully trained 70 participants through a series of workshops.
Final Report
| Training in progress (13 June 2024). |  |
| With another team of the university students, trainer of the children (13 June 2024). |  |
| With the person in charge of little Genius Jelutong (13 June 2024). |  |
| The university students giving educational talk to the underprivileged at Rumah Kebajikan Seri Cahaya (22 June 2024). |  |
| With the university students, ready to educate students (22 June 2024). |  |