ALL-USM BIG APEX Leap Discussion

On Monday (4th October 2010), En. Wan Burhanuddin, representing the USM Bamboo Interest Group (BIG), gave a talk that was open to all in USM titled ALL-USM BIG APEX Leap Discussion.

Here is the link to the BIG website: http://www.hbp.usm.my/1b/buluh/
Most of what was shared by En. Wan can be found in the given site.

These are some questions thrown forward to En. Wan by lecturers and student (and possibly other attendees) regarding the talk that was given, and answers as well. Please note that they are summarized and rephrased:

Q1: How much bamboo do we have available in Malaysia? How about bamboo plantations?
A1: Bamboo makes up 10% of Malaysian jungle. Bamboo plantations in Malaysia is more to recreation (black bamboo). Harvesting bamboo is not easy because older bamboo is in the middle of the cluster and is difficult to access them.


Q2: How does this project carry APEX vision and how is it going to lead USM to achieve APEX?
A2: In order to advance, don't take a model as we will always fall behind the model. We should instead create something others don't have (for example innovative use of bamboo). We need to do what we have to do to produce a better tomorrow. We also need to be sensitive to nature. Talking about change, we are the ones we have been waiting for. Don't wait for anyone else.

Q3: What about other disasters? How come we are only looking at floods?
A3: This will be developed in the near future. An example is quake-proof shelters from bamboo, pioneered in Indonesia.


Q4: What is the lifespan of bamboo with or without preservatives?
A4: To answer this, we need laboratories and research - BIG does not know yet.

Q5: What is the application of bamboo in the medical field?
A5: One that I've heard is that bamboo can cure epilepsy. This needs more research but there must be some uses of it in medicine.