KUCHING – Four schools in the city were each presented with a desktop computer by Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, recently.
The gift from the university was in appreciation for SK Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, SK Batu Lintang, SK St Joseph and Lodge Primary School providing participants in a research study managed by Swinburne Sarawak’s Research and Consultancy Office for the Brain Sciences Institute (BSI) of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia.
Nowadays, a large range of breakfast cereals and drinks containing various degrees of carbohydrates are available in the market. There are good reasons to suppose that the cognitive performance in children should benefit from a carbohydrate drink. The BSI wanted data based on Malaysian children in order to investigate this hypothesis.
The study involved 60 school children aged 10 to11 years, who came to the Sarawak campus to participate in the tests.
In the study, the cognitive skills of the children were evaluated via computer tests prior to taking the drinks. After consumption of the drinks, the children performed some exercise activity after which they are again tested for their cognitive skills. The result of these tests is currently being analysed.
In appreciation for their participation, each of the children will be presented with a book voucher worth RM150.00.
Professor Helmut Lueckenhausen, the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Swinburne Sarawak, who presented the computers, said that university continually seeks to engage the community that it serves with its various projects and activities.
Professor Con Stough, Project Leader from BSI, commented that “It is good for Swinburne University to involve the next generation that will join us (the university) in the near future.”