M’sian Students Win 2024 James Dyson Award for Innovative Cooling Bricks

By Subaashinee Kupusamy,

20 SEPTEMBER: Two students from Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU), Chee Kin Chong (Wayne) and Kah Zun Ng (Nixon), have won the 2024 James Dyson Award in Malaysia with their sustainable invention, Brikoole.

This passive cooling system aims to reduce the need for air conditioning by offering an eco-friendly alternative to regulating building temperatures. Their tagline, “Revolutionising home cooling the natural way. No electricity, no noise, just Brikoole,” reflects their mission to promote sustainable living.

The duo’s innovation is particularly timely as heatwaves are increasingly affecting Malaysia. For their achievement, the team has been awarded RM29,300 and now awaits the global stage, where Dyson engineers will shortlist 20 inventions on October 16. James Dyson himself will announce the global winners on November 13.

In addition to Brikoole, two runner-up teams also impressed the judges. NEAR Exergame, developed by students from Universiti Sains Malaysia, helps stroke survivors with rehabilitation through a gaming-based therapeutic device. Meanwhile, Floodsack, created by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia students, is a buoyant storage bag designed to protect valuables during floods.

These student-led innovations show promising steps toward sustainable solutions for real-world problems as stated in Vulcan Post.