Lots in store for public at first state-level STEM Playground in Miri on 4 and 5 August

Miri – 31 July 2018 – Students and members of the public of all ages are invited to learn more about the marvels and advances of science and technology by visiting Miri first state-level STEM Playground on 4 and 5 August 2018.

A nationwide programme to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the STEM Playground is being introduced in Miri for the first time with support from with the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research (MESTR) and Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Bumiputera Sarawak (TEGAS).

Themed ‘Innovating the Future through Science and Technology’, it is being staged in conjunction with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE) Science and Technology Exhibition organised by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE) Student Branch of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia).

Both exhibitions will be open from 9 am to 5 pm over the two days at Pustaka Miri and Miri City Fan.

Other collaborators include the All Aboard Young Leaders Center (AAYLC), Association of Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI); IEEE Curtin Malaysia Industry Application Society (IAS), Women in Engineering (WIE) and Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) Student Chapter; Curtin American Chemical Society (ACS) Student Chapter; AIESEC Curtin Malaysia; Leo Club of Curtin Malaysia; and IEEE Humanitarian Activities Committee (HAC).

According to the IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Chapter, the IEEE Science and Technology Exhibition, as well as the STEM Playground, are aligned to Sarawak’s digital economy and Industry 4.0 initiatives and will provide an innovative and interactive platform to generate interest in STEM amongst students and members of the public in Northern Sarawak.

They aim to spark the public’s curiosity and interest through interesting demonstrations and showcases, giving insights into current and future trends in STEM to create a future generation of tech-savvy thinkers and technology makers.

The IEEE Science and Technology Exhibition also aims to instil a sense of volunteerism among students, encouraging them to reach out to local communities and helping them solve problems affecting them through the innovative use of science and technology.

The exhibition will comprise three zones – STEM Challenge Zone, STEM Hideout Zone, and Humanitarian Interactive Zone.

The STEM Challenge Zone will feature competitions such as the Chumbaka Young Innovators Challenge, ASTI Young Inventors Challenge, TEGAS Drone Challenge, Junior Innovate and IEEE Series 4 Championship. All will require participants to demonstrate their creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills in projects using open source hardware, digital embedded systems and basic programming.

A large number of teams will be showing their mettle in the various competitions, including 80 teams in the secondary school category of the Chumbaka Young Innovators Challenge and 10 in the open category, and 45 teams in the ASTI Young Inventors Challenge.

Meanwhile, the STEM Hide-out Zone will feature interactive STEM showcases staged by students of Curtin Malaysia with help from industry collaborators such as Petronas Petrosains, TEGAS, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Chumbaka, DreamCatcher, Planetarium Sultan Iskandar and Pustaka Negeri Sarawak.

It will be a platform for visitors to grasp STEM concepts and develop an interest in digital building and programming by playing interactive games and engaging in fun activities at Thymio Autonomous Bot, Chemistry Playhouse, Geopyrology, Mechanical Experience Playground, Chromatography DIY Bookmark, and Curtin Foundation Playground showcases.

In the Humanitarian Interactive Zone, attractions will include a Creative Corner, Kidzania, Think Big Corner, and showcases of the university’s Light Up Borneo/Light Up Miri community programmes.

The Creative Corner, organised by the Leo Club of Curtin Malaysia, will allow children to exercise their creativity and imagination in fun hands-on activities such as sculpting. Kidzania, meanwhile, will be run by secondary school students where children can take part in role-playing activities designed to pique their interest in STEM and future careers in science and technology.

Light Up Borneo and Light Up Miri are community outreach programmes run jointly by AIESEC Curtin Malaysia and the IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch to provide off-grid rural communities renewable energy solutions such as the use of solar-powered lamps. They also promote the importance of proper education for rural children by conducting education-related community projects and awareness campaigns with villagers.

Students and members of the public of all ages are in for a fun and engaging learning experience at STEM Playground and IEEE Science & Technology Exhibition.

IEEE Science & Technology Exhibition will feature various tech competitions with inter-school and open categories.