Curtin Sarawak to host inaugural Miri Youth Green Symposium

Miri – 28 June 2010 – Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) will be hosting the first-ever Miri Youth Green Symposium involving some 100 secondary school students from six schools in Miri at its campus on 30 June 2010.

The event, which is being organised by The Learning Centre of the university as part of its ongoing OutReach Programme initiatives, is being held to commemorate Miri’s fifth anniversary as a resort city, as well as raise awareness in young people of the role society has in preserving our natural environment and the efficient use of our natural resources.

It is also part of Curtin Sarawak’s support for Miri City’s efforts in trying to create a new Malaysian record as the country’s very first Green City.

The symposium’s opening ceremony in the university’s Harry Perkins Lecture Theatre will be officiated by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, who is also the Minister of Tourism and Heritage and Minister of Industrial Development, as well as the chairman of the Curtin Sarawak Council.

The Miri Youth Green Symposium will provide an opportunity for young people to contribute to environmental issues, such as climate change, nature conservation, energy, pollution, waste management and resource management; including management and decision-making, and providing innovative ideas on addressing these issues.

In addition, it will be an effective platform for interactive discussions between youth, environmental experts, governmental bodies and non-governmental organisations on topics relating to the environment, as well as facilitate collaboration in environmental action between the symposium participants and relevant interest groups.

The participating schools are SMK Lopeng Tengah, SMK St. Joseph, SMK Riam, Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Hj. Bujang, SM Sains and SMK Pujut.

During the symposium, participants are required to develop an understanding in selected environmental issues, and conduct oral presentations of their opinions. They are also expected to be creative and share innovative ideas to overcome environmental issues.

OutReach Coordinator Dayang Siti Asmah says it is imperative that young Malaysians nurture and develop a culture of sustainability.

“It is only through becoming a knowledgeable community that we can truly value and implement best practices to address the necessity of a balanced ecosystem. We hope that by raising awareness in our youth through this symposium, we can help them to relate issues like global warming to everyday things like reducing waste and conserving energy,” she said.

“We hope to see many innovative ideas coming from the students regarding steps we can all take to maximise resource usage, reduce wastes, and use energy efficiently. Hopefully, the ideas generated can be applied to the Miri community at large, and together we can be successful in building a community that truly takes to environment to heart,” she added.

For further information on the inaugural Miri Youth Green Symposium, contact Dayang Siti Asmah at 085–443939 or e-mail dayangasmah@curtin.edu.my.