UMS receives exhibits from National Science Centre to expand student interest in STI

KOTA KINABALU - Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) received 30 units of interactive exhibition material worth RM1.5 million from the National Science Centre (PSN) in Kuala Lumpur to heighten the young generation’s interest in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in the state.

Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Arthur Kurup said with the handing over of the exhibits to teach the concepts of astronomy, mental challenges and physics, the UMS Science Centre (U-Science), here, is set to be established as Sabah’s venue for the PSN Satellite Programme for two years.

He hopes that with the scientific exhibition, U-Science and UMS will become a prime destination for study tours for students in Sabah to nurture their interest in the field of STI.

"The collaboration between the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) and U-Science is to make UMS one of the leading Stem (Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology) learning centres in Sabah. The federal and state governments are also in the discussion stage of establishing a PSN in Sabah.

"Accordingly, as a temporary measure, the PSN Satellite Programme at U-Science was created to ensure that all levels of society can take advantage of STI technology, products and services to further attract the interest of our young people to the Stem field,” he said.

He said this when speaking at the handing over of PSN’s Mobile Thematic Exhibition (MTE) to U-Science at UMS here today.

On the physics and mind games items, Arthur said that they were developed by the NSC to test the understanding and creative thinking in solving simple problems through interesting techniques, while the astronomy materials allow visitors to experience outer space exploration by learning the phases of the moon, constellations, and phenomena that occur in the universe, among other things.

Meanwhile, he said the Survey of Public Awareness of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia last year found that the main reason for the low enrolment of students in the science stream was because students’ interest tends to lean towards non-science-based fields, as science is difficult to understand and to master causing them to lose interest.

Arthur said the findings also noted that interest in STEM fields among students was low at only 40 per cent.

He said 81.1 per cent of the respondents suggested combining practical activities in class as one of the best ways to increase interest in science, besides creating awareness of science early in primary school and giving more exposure to the wonders of science in everyday life.

"Therefore, the cooperation of various strategic partners is significant to ensure that Stem returns as a field of choice for students. I am confident that this effort is also being implemented continuously through the PSN Satellite Programme between the NSC and U-Science,” he said. - BERNAMA