There is Halley’s Comet and the dwarf planet Ceres, and shortly two 16-year-olds from a faculty within the Malaysian state of Penang will find their names among the many celestial bodies, reports The Star Online.
The asteroid might be named in honor of scholars who emerged as champions within the chemistry category on the 2019 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) within the United States.
Melwin Cheng Choon Lei and Tham Yong Shiang of SMJK Chung Ling have successfully processed raw cinnamon extract into a cheap and eco-friendly larvicide that could be used to regulate and do away with Aedes mosquito larvae.
And for his or her efforts, they’ll have an asteroid named after them.
Tham said the international event has 24 categories and added that the primary and second winners will get a probability to have their names etched within the universe.
“However, asteroid naming could have to undergo certain procedures and we can have to attend one other 12 months before an asteroid is known as after us.
“The name of the asteroid could have to comply with the rules of the International Astronomical Union,” he said yesterday.
Fourth grade students discovered that raw cinnamon had pesticide properties and decided to rework the extract right into a larvicide, which they believed was 90% cheaper than a commercially available pesticide.
They are currently working on publishing their research results before submitting a patent application.
Cheng and Tham earned a spot within the Intel ISEF after winning the gold award last November on the National Science and Engineering Innovation Challenge (Pistek) in Kuala Lumpur.
Intel ISEF, the world’s largest international science competition for higher education students, took place this 12 months from May 11-18 in Arizona and featured 1,800 finalists from 80 countries.
Cheng said they decided to create an eco-friendly larvicide because dengue is an alarming health problem in Malaysia.
“We are honored to win this award and have our names immortalized by having an asteroid named after us,” he said.
They are the third Malaysians to win the Intel ISEF, after Sarawak’s Faye Jong-Sow Fei, who won the environmental stewardship award in 2015.
The duo also thanked their teacher Heah Whey Cheng for teaching them scientific research methods and guiding them along the way in which.
Principal Soo Seng Poh said the varsity feels committed to nurturing talent in science and arithmetic amongst its students, provided that Malaysia is among the many countries which might be moving forward towards Industrial Revolution 4.0.
“At school, we began the I-Creator Club, of which Cheng and Tham are members.
“Students have the chance to develop their interests and show creativity during extracurricular activities.
“It is an effective way to build a common knowledge base and increase students’ confidence in sharing information and presentations,” he said.
