KUALA LUMPUR STUDENTS LEARN ABOOUT WATER CULTURE
25 October 2004 - Schlumberger

Secondary school students from two Kuala Lumpur schools recently learned about water culture and hygiene through a two-week water issues program sponsored by Schlumberger Excellence in Educational Development (SEED). The learning while doing program immersed the 15- to 17-year-old students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pandan Indah and Sekolah Menengah (L) Methodist, Sentul, for a week each. Subjects ranged from water culture and water hygiene to watershed and water quality. The program included field trips to Sungai (Hulu) Langat river and Sungai Batu river.

'Seeing the students enjoying themselves throughout the week and then being able to creatively present their results in front of their peers, teachers, Schlumberger SEED volunteers and the press was truly a satisfying feeling,' said Lee Meng Keong, school champion for Sekolah Menengah (L) Methodist. 'As an ex-MBS Sentul student myself, I am both happy and proud at the level of commitment and enthusiasm that they have shown.'

Important indicators of water quality, such as concentrations of oxygen, nitrates and phosphates, were measured and compared based on water samples collected in upstream and downstream locations. Tests of bacterial contamination (i.e., Escherichia coli [E. coli]) were also undertaken. During a laboratory session, the students built a water-filtration device, investigated the aquatic wildlife with a microscope that takes digital images and connects straight to a computer, and performed experiments to measure the porosity and conductivity of different soil types.

'The SEED Water Project is ideal in that we are able to go to the schools and provide the students with a project that has a direct relevance to their daily lives,' said Keith Jesudasan, personnel manager, Schlumberger Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. 'These projects, together with the invaluable commitment of our SEED volunteers, ensure we continue to play an important part in the education of our future generation here in Malaysia.'

This month, SEED is sponsoring two teachers and four students from two Malaysian schools to attend a global forum on Innovation for Sustainability. There they will present on water issues and exchange ideas with other attendees. The forum's theme is using sustainable business practices as a means for driving innovation, efficiency and economic growth as well as environmental and social prosperity.

To learn more about the Schlumberger nonprofit community development program, which provides educational programs and grants, visit the SEED Web site at www.seed.slb.com

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