PEREKA 2009: satu refleksi

10-11 Julai 2009 (Dewan Canselor, UMS): Sekolah Sains Sosial sekali lagi mengukuhkan reputasi sebagai teraju penyelidikan berinovasi dalam bidang sains sosial dan kemanusiaan di UMS, dengan kemenangan 15 pingat dalam Pertandingan Penyelidikan dan Rekacipta (PEREKA) 2009. Daripada 23 penyertaan, SSS berjaya memperoleh 2 pingat emas, 6 pingat perak dan 7 pingat gangsa. Tahniah kepada semua pemenang (klik sini untuk senarai penuh)!

The next step is to translate this big win into something more meaningful. How? By working harder to secure more research fund, managing smarter and more effectively the existing and ongoing projects (reports on time, please!) and pushing harder to improve the quality of outputs (e.g. publication, conferences and connection with society). Having passion in what we are doing — that is the key. Research (of any kind) is a long journey. The only way to maintain our intensity in keeping the momentum going (yes, at a consistent pace) — is by enjoying every bit of the journey itself. There is no other way.

Penerima pingat emas: Oliver Valentine Eboy (CeRGIS, Geografi) dan PM Dr. Balakrishnan Parasuraman (Hubungan Industri)

Penerima pingat perak: Azizan Morshidi (Hubungan Industri), PM Dr. Balakrishnan Parasuraman (Hubungan Industri), PM. Dr. Fadzilah Majid-Cooke (UPEP, ANSOS), Mustapa Abd Talip (CeRGIS, Geografi), PM Dr. Rosazman Hussin (UPEP, ANSOS) dan Roslee Hj. Abbas (ANSOS)

Penerima pingat gangsa: Dr. Aliakbar Gulasan (Geografi), PM Dr. Fadzilah Majid-Cooke (ANSOS), PM Dr. Jacqueline Pugh-Kitingan (Kursi Kadazandusun, ANSOS), Lee Kuok Tiung (Komunikasi), Dr. Mohammad Tahir Mapa (Geografi), Mustapa Abd Talip (CeRGIS, Geografi) dan Yusten Karulus (Hubungan Antarabangsa)

Sebagai Timbalan Dekan (P & I), saya pernah ditanya seseorang (bukan dari kalangan warga SSS): “Pentingkah semua ini? Berbaloikah pelaburan masa, tenaga dan kewangan semata-mata untuk memenangi pertandingan yang bersifat kosmetik begini?” Honestly, I can’t answer these questions for others. Jawapannya terletak pada si penanya itu sendiri. Kita semua harus menjawabnya untuk diri sendiri. Tepuk dada, tanya selera. It’s about individual perspective, and how you set your own outlook (in life). If you see negativity in everything — then, what will get you are obviously all the negative things. Tuhan maha adil, dan pemurah. You get what you are looking for (in something).

To me (and you don’t have to agree), PEREKA is more than just all those sparkling medals (it is nice to win one, though!). It is not about seeking someone’s approval of how good we are. Why should we? More importantly, PEREKA is an opportunity for everyone to develop ’strong passion’ in research. Inilah (salah satu) medan untuk menjana momentum dan atitud yang positif terhadap budaya penyelidikan. Maksudnya, ia adalah proses pembudayaan penyelidikan. ‘Medal’ dan ‘karnival’ itu hanyalah alat. Bukan matlamat. You must learn how to see beyond the medal and competition — for you to appreciate what PEREKA really means. Dalam konteks makro — PEREKA sebenarnya mencabar kita untuk menjadi penyelidik yang lebih baik dan inovatif; yang berani keluar dari kepompong konvensional.

Those are the reasons why I personally take PEREKA quite seriously. Kerana saya menghayati dan menghargai impak tersirat di sebaliknya. Some may argue, this is only cosmetic-lah! Why not save the effort for something ‘more real’? Of course, people see thing differently. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. But more often than not, these people who don’t have passion in ‘cosmetic things’ — actually don’t have passion in anything. Mereka tidak peduli pada hal-hal remeh yang kecil begini. Dan, mereka juga tidak pernah prihatin pada perkara-perkara besar yang lebih penting.

They save a lot of energy not participating in this so-called ‘less real’ event — but do they really invest the saved energy into something more real? In most cases, NO. In fact, they are not even good in anything. Excuses are always cheap for anyone who lives a sad life. But seriously, we can’t stop people from having such negative outlook. Can we? It’s a personal choice.

Imbauan lama: PEREKA 2007 (klik sini) dan PEREKA 2008 (klik sini)