AS a kid, Robiah Ibrahim dreamt of helping the world through science. She knew she could help solve a lot of problems through science, specifically physics.
“However, as the youngest and only daughter in my family, my parents had reservations about me taking up science. They wanted me to be a teacher instead. Besides, there were very few women in science then,” said the Johor-born Robiah.
But she was determined to make a career in science.
A bright student, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in electronic and electrical engineering at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
A fascination for lightning
It was while working as an engineer at a telecommunications company in Johor that she developed an interest in lightning.
The 62-year-old mother of seven had been fascinated by lightning strikes and its effects on buildings, especially tall structures.
“My research on lightning started years ago when I wanted to learn more about lightning- protection methods in building structures.”
She said her research was initially a collaboration with her husband, Hartono Zainal Abidin, 62, whom she met almost 40 years ago when they were working in the same company.
“He provided me with a lot of scientific magazines as reading material,” she said.
When her husband was transferred to Kuala Lumpur, she followed as she wanted to focus on her research.
“What we found out was that Malaysia, or more specifically the Klang Valley, has the most cases of lightning strikes.”
In her research on lightning strikes at tall buildings, she visited buildings in the city and collected photos of the structures before and after a thunderstorm.
“It is easy to identify how structures are damaged when struck by lightning. You observe the corners of buildings. If they are chipped, it means that they have been struck.”
She found lightning rods, which were supposed to prevent lightning strikes, were being placed randomly on many buildings. Some buildings had no lightning rods.
With her knowledge of lightning and its capabilities, she came up with Collection Surface Method (CSM), an approach to help protect high-rise buildings from lightning strikes using air terminal placements.
This was a vital discovery, considering that Malaysia had the third highest number of fatal lightning-related cases in the world, she added.
She said CSM allowed one to predict where a lightning would strike on a building.
Following this, lightning rods could be placed precisely where they were needed to ensure the building was protected, she added.
CSM provides up to 98 per cent protection against direct lightning strikes. It reduces the risk of structural collapse or damage during the monsoon season.
Local and international recognition
In 2003, the principles of CSM were included in the Australian lightning protection standard, AS1768, and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). In 2006, the method was included in the new international lightning protection standard, IEC62305. A year later, Malaysia’s Science Technology and Innovation Ministry approved the international standard as the new Malaysian lightning protection standard, MS-IEC62305.
She began to receive attention from experts worldwide due to the CSM approach.
Among those who took notice was an expert from the University of Queensland in Australia, Professor Mat Darveniza, who suggested that CSM form the basis of a new lightning rod placement method for modern, complex-shaped high-rises.
Being the first Muslim woman to achieve recognition in the field of lightning protection, Robiah was invited by the Pakistan National Centre of Physics to give a talk at the 36th International Nathiagali Summer College on Physics and Contemporary Needs in 2011.
She and Hartono were the first Malaysians to lecture at the college set up by the late physician and Nobel Laureate Professor Abdus Salam.
setting up a firm
She holds the post of vice-president of Lightning Research Sdn Bhd, a consultancy firm she set up with her husband to give talks and advice to academicians and students on her favourite topic — lightning.
Their clients include oil and gas companies, airports, and public and private companies that need advice on lightning-protection methods.
She said there were many challenges on her road to success, particularly in convincing her own countrymen to accept her research findings.
More local industries needed to be convinced about the benefits of the research and the cost-effective benefits of CSM, she added.
For those who wanted to pursue an education or career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, she advised them not to be discouraged if they faced setbacks.
“Do not be discouraged by those who disagree with you.
“Be honest and truthful in your work and continue to seek knowledge, even after graduation. Be up to date by reading journals, scientific magazines and books on the subject matter that interests you.”