KUCHING: The establishment of the Sarawak Science Centre (SSC) is one of the state government’s efforts to bring Sarawak up to speed with the rest of the world in science and technology.
According to Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, science and technology have advanced for a long time, but that the state has fallen behind and it was time to catch up quickly.
“We need to develop science and technology in Sarawak rapidly since technology is everywhere.
“This is why the state created the SSC to increase public knowledge of what science and technology is all about,” he said at the SSC Fourth and Fifth Masterplan Workshop at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here, today.
Elaborating further, he said while Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects could be challenging, they could be taught in an interesting and fun way to immerse youngsters in the science environment.
“The objective of SSC is to close this gap. It will be a resource for 21st-century student-centered learning and adult education programmes, as well as a helpful and fun place for the public to learn through play-with-science,” he stated.
Later, at a press conference, Sagah said that one of the ministry’s main catalytic initiatives under the Sarawak Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 is to enable the public to achieve good civic scientific literacy by 2030, a society that understands and accepts science and its application in their daily lives.
“Acknowledging ‘Science is Culture’ is a necessity for articulating the public’s responsibility in developing a science culture.
“In order to achieve civic scientific literacy, informal learning platforms such as science centres must exist or be built.
“If we do not succeed in building such a culture today, our children, the future Sarawakians, will fail to contribute meaningfully to the ecosystem,” he said, adding SSC would play an instrumental role in providing an informal learning platform and nurturing scientific literacy among the public in Sarawak.
He added the centre would also provide students and the general public immersive interactive fun exhibits, as well as the opportunity to engage in kinesthetic learning, which involves science explorations and physical activities, rather than listening to lectures or watching demonstrations.
“At the same time, the programmes and workshops in the science centre can complement the school science curriculum by providing students with hands-on, inquiry-based learning that culminates in a project.
“It will be an excellent platform for dedicated teachers, students, parents and business communities to come together for the love of science,” he pointed out.
SSC is the brainchild of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Also present were Education, Innovation and Talent Development Deputy Ministers Datuk Francis Harden Hollis and Dr Annuar Rapaee, Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development permanent secretary Datuk Kameri Affendi and Science Centre Singapore (SCS) chief executive officer Dr Lim Tit Meng.
