YOUNG INVENTORS WIN AWARDS FOR INNOVATIVE IDEAS

Some day, Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers doing guard duty will thank Peh Yong, if her invention is ever adopted by the military.

The six-year-old has invented a 'cooling umbrella', which uses a simple system of plastic straws, thread and a water container to cool the area beneath it.

In her cooling umbrella, straws are connected to a water container with threads in it. The threads then absorb moisture from the water container and water vapour is released through holes in the straws that line the umbrella.

The same concept can be expanded and applied to sentry posts, making them cooler to stand under.

"I got my inspiration when I stood under the tree and began to wonder why it was cooler underneath it." she said.

"After that, I spent one month creating and improvising on the umbrella."

For her effort, Peh Yong was awarded an Encouragement Award in the defence science category of the annual Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors Award on 28May.

The Award, which is in its 25^th year, aims to stimulate creativity and innovation among Singapore s youth. This year s event at the Singapore Science Centre was jointly organised by the Tan Kah Kee Foundation and the Defence Science & Technology Agency.

For the first time, DSO National Laboratories joined the collaboration to strengthen the support for the defence science category.

A total of 1,059 entries were submitted for the competition, of which 65 won awards.

Four of these, including Peh Yong s cooling umbrella, were awarded for their inventions in the defence science category.

Another winner in this category is Lance Corporal (LCP) (NS) Warren Lim,whose invention stems from his National Service experience.

The former plant operator from the Singapore Combat Engineers designed a modified version of the SAF's entrenching tool that is used for digging trenches and personal shelters in the ground. The device can turn a hoe into ashovel within seconds.

The soldier just has to remove the blade bracket from the handle of the hoe and attach it to the other end. With the help of a retro fitting device to lock the blade bracket into place, the soldier can start using the tool as a spade to shovel away the soil more easily and quickly.

The invention won LCP (NS) Lim a merit award, which was the highest achievement for this year s defence science category.

"My inspiration came when I went back for in-camp training last year and saw my buddies still using the hoe," said LCP (NS) Lim.

"To me, it was a simple idea but perhaps that is why the judges liked it."

Guest of Honour and President of Nanyang Technological University, Dr Su Guaning, was impressed by the award winners. In his keynote address, Dr Su praised their creativity and urged them to take on more sophisticated and diverse problems.

"This is only the beginning of your journey and discovery; press on and pursue your passion," he said.

Peh Yong is already looking forward to next year s competition, hoping to better her achievement this year.

She said: "I am interested in defence and I want to be an inventor when I grow up".