KUCHING: The Malaysian Institute of Chemistry (IKM) Sarawak Branch will hold a one-day Malaysia Chemistry Carnival for eight secondary schools in Betong Division at Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Betong on 11 April.
The event is held in collaboration with State Education Department, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and Chemistry Department Kuching Branch.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Unggah Embas will be the guest-of-honour.
A press statement released by Chairman of IKM Sarawak, Dr. Alvin Chai said that this is the first time K2M Sarawak Zone is held outside Kuching for rural schools and inaugural in Betong.
“The previous K2M Sarawak Zone were held in Kuching, Padawan and Kota Samarahan in 2011, 2013 and 2105, respectively.
“The K2M is an annual event organised in different States of Malaysia to promote learning of science by the IKM since 2008,” he said.
He also said that the main objectives of the K2M carnival are to illustrate the innovative and inventive nature of chemistry, to promote public awareness and appreciation of chemistry, to promote chemistry education in schools and universities, and to encourage the younger generation to take up chemistry as a profession and career.
“Among the K2M activities are exhibitions, experiments and talks conducted by chemist experts from different fields,” he added.
For K2M this year, 4 talks will be presented by prominent chemists from IKM who come from different institutions.
They are ‘DNA and The CSI Effect’, given by Dr. Seah Lay Hong, Director of Jabatan Kimia Malaysia Sarawak; ‘Pristine and Polluted Waters’ by Prof. Dr. Lau Seng, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak; ‘Innovation in Chemistry: A chemist’s touch’ by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zainab Ngaini, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and ‘You can do it too’ by Dr. Dias Linton, Managing Director, Linton Chemical Consultant Sdn Bhd.
A video show on ‘Life of A Chemist’ produced by IKM Sarawak Branch will be shown to the students.
Two very useful workshops, Young Ambassador for Chemistry (YAC) and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) will be conducted for the students. This is the first time YAC and CSI are promoted during K2M.
KM Sarawak hope all these activities will stimulate creativity and enhance student’s interest in STEM especially chemistry.
300 students and chemistry teachers from 8 schools in Betong Division are expected to attend the carnival.
