BY SARAH HAFIZAH CHANDRA
KUCHING: The National Science Week (MSN) is a platform for Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) to support the government’s efforts to produce more scientists and researchers in the future.
Mosti deputy secretary general Datuk Parang Abai @ Thomas said this during the closing ceremony of the Sarawak Science Festival, Sarawak State-Level National Science Week yesterday.
“The implementation of MSN is one of Mosti’s initiatives to help attract students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
“The objective of MSN is to promote the field of science, technology and innovation to the people, especially to students,” he added
The closing ceremony was officiated by Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong.
He also said that various efforts needed to be implemented to produce more talents empowered by 21st century skills to lead the nation in the field of science and technology.
“The education and cultivation of science and technology need to start from an early age in order to attract the interest of students to this field.
“To ensure that the human capital needs are met, these have to be intensified at all levels of the society through the implementation of programmes and activities based on science, technology and innovation,” he explained.
On the theme of “Keajaiban Sains” or Wonders of Science, he said it derived from how science could instil curiosity and interest amongst students.
“As we are aware that science is a process that consists of physical touch through hands-on activities, experimentation and analytical processes aimed at studying the wonders of the world.
“Thus, the MSN is seen as a platform for students in particular to increase their interests and developments through scientific learning activities combined with various variations of education models based on science, technology and innovation,” he explained.
He expressed gratitude to the Department of Chemistry Malaysia Sarawak (KIMIA) with its Bintulu branch which had taken the lead to organise the celebration of Sarawak State-Level National Science Week this year.
Besides that, he also thanked a few agencies namely the State Education Department, Department of Agriculture, Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), Development of Environment Sarawak, University Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Chemsain Konsultant Sdn. Bhd. and Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) for their involvement.
