The UTM Odyssey Buddies Jamboree 2024 aimed to strengthen the bond between Buddies associations from various public and private universities while providing participants with an experience to remember. Through various activities and programs, the annual Jamboree facilitated student connections across institutions, fostering new collaborations and partnerships that will benefit their respective universities in the long run.
Students had the opportunity to gain insights into the latest trends, practices, and developments in the education sector, enabling them to refine their strategies and offerings.
One of the key highlights of this year’s program was the focus on environmental sustainability, particularly the treatment of polluted river water. As widely known, polluted rivers pose serious environmental risks, endangering aquatic life and human health. Conventional water treatment methods like coagulation-flocculation, chemical oxidation, and reverse osmosis have been employed with varying degrees of success. However, these techniques often come with high energy costs and the production of hazardous by-products.
In contrast, emerging technologies, such as the use of effective microorganisms (EM) and mudballs, offer more sustainable and eco-friendly solutions for treating polluted river water. Effective microorganisms consist of beneficial, naturally occurring microbes that enhance water purification by removing pollutants such as heavy metals, organic compounds, and pathogens through mechanisms like adsorption, precipitation, and biodegradation. Meanwhile, mudballs, traditionally made from a blend of clay, sand, and organic material, use physical and chemical processes to filter out contaminants, offering a simple yet effective method for water treatment.
Over 60 participants joined the Nature Bounty Quest session, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norahim Ibrahim, at the Living Lab of the Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). In collaboration with EM Research Organization (EMRO) Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., students learned about the environmental benefits of EM and how these microbes can be applied in everyday life. A hands-on workshop saw participants making over 600 EM mudballs, giving them a chance to reconnect with nature and contribute to sustainable environmental practices.
The enthusiasm and satisfaction of the students in this initiative reflect the importance of such educational programs, which are strongly supported by UTM and EMRO in their ongoing efforts to promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices.
