UiTM x SKBA: KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PROGRAM

Ten students, accompanied by five teachers from Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Anggerik, Section 6, Shah Alam, participated in the Knowledge Transfer Program: Preparation of Organic Insect Repellent Spray (SOPES) at UiTM Shah Alam. This program was jointly organized by the School of Chemistry and Environment (PPKP) and the Research, Industry Networking and Alumni Office (PJIA) of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, UiTM Shah Alam. The participants of the program were given information, guidance and hands-on sessions with lecturers from the School of Chemistry and Environment, consisting of Dr. Sharil Fadli Mohamad Zamri, Dr. Sabrina M Yahya, Dr. Shadatul Hanom Rashid and Puan Norjanah Yuri. This one-day program exposed students and teachers to the introduction and effects of the use of pesticides on the environment and health. Insecticides are widely used in agriculture to control, prevent and destroy pests affecting agricultural production. However, excessive and uncontrolled use can cause various negative effects such as food poisoning in humans, complications to the skin, nerves and human body systems, pollution of clean water and air sources and harm to the environment. Innovations in reducing the risk of pesticide use have begun to receive everyone's attention. One of them is the preparation of organic insect repellent sprays (SOPES), which have been produced by researchers at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, UiTM Shah Alam. SOPES was developed to provide effective protection to plants and homes without harming beneficial insects and is environmentally friendly and reduces the use of chemicals. The highlight of this program was a hands-on session in preparing organic sprays from natural ingredients as an alternative to insecticides. The students were taken to the Chemistry laboratory at the Faculty of Applied Sciences and taught to prepare the organic spray. The excitement of the students in the laboratory in trying to produce organic insect repellent spray products, can be seen. It is hoped that the experience and knowledge gained from this program can be practiced by students at school and in their daily lives and disseminated for the benefit of all in general.