‘Scientific Splendour’ Camp gives Bintulu students insights into engineering studies

Bintulu – 19 August 2016 – The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Student Branch of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) recently organised a one-day ‘Scientific Splendour’ Camp for secondary school students in Bintulu.

Held at the Bintulu Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the camp saw the participation of 100 Form 5 students from various secondary schools throughout Bintulu.

Aimed at promoting chemical engineering studies at university, the event included an engineering talk and workshop, as well as SPM Chemistry and Physics revision sessions conducted by qualified SPM teachers, and a session of fun and games.

The engineering talk entitled ‘Is Engineering a suitable course for me?’ delivered by third-year student Justine Chang gave the students information they needed to make informed decisions on pursuing engineering studies, including career opportunities in various industries, particularly the Oil and Gas industry. Chang also shared his experience as an engineering student at Curtin Sarawak.

To introduce the students to simple engineering concepts, problem-solving activities such as the ‘Spaghetti Tower’ were carried out where the students had to build towers out of strands of spaghetti capable of withstanding the weight of a marshmallow.

Fun games and activities were also carried out to illustrate the importance of teamwork and effective communication in achieving a common goal, much like in a typical working environment in the real world.

Organising chairperson Yeo Bee Yin said the camp was a great success due to the strong support and participation of the schools, as well as the support of the university’s Marketing Department, and the IChemE Student Chapter looks forward to organising more of such events in the near future.

Meanwhile, the academic advisor to the student chapter, Dr. Bridgid Chin, remarked that the camp was highly effective in serving as a career guide and providing introductory engineering insights for secondary school students.

The Curtin Sarawak IChemE Student Chapter serves as a platform to promote awareness among students of the latest updates and advances in the field of chemical engineering, as well create opportunities for students to expand their professional networks. For more information on the student chapter, email csichemesc@gmail.com or visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/curtinsarawakichemesc/.

‘Scientific Splendour’ Camp organising committee and participants at the Bintulu Chinese Chamber of Commerce.