KOTA KINABALU: A five-in-one entertainment hub, the Borneo Discovery Centre (BDC) is set to become an ultimate attraction to local and foreign tourists.
“It is a 5-in-1 Edutainment Hub consisting of a science discovery centre (SPARKSTM, WATERWORKSTM, PLETHORATM, NATURE-VENTURETM), a planetarium with a built-in observatory (BEYONDTM), a mini educational building blocks theme park (BLOCK-O-RAMATM), a 4D motion theatre (MOTIONTM) and an auditorium hall (D’STAGETM).
“BDC also features an indoor playground (PLAYPENTM) and live science shows (DEMOPADTM),” said Venus Advance Technology Sdn Bhd chairman and director Jay Rahman to the Borneo Post yesterday.
He explained that the BDC’s architecture was set to be the green technology icon of East Malaysia, boasting a supremely modernistic architecture reminiscent of Mount Kinabalu landmark in its design profile which would mainly take the shape of the mountain’s peaks and utilising green technologies, such as solar and wind power.
It would also be designed with the intent to be a new activity hub where outreach programmes and special events for schools, universities and professionals could be organised.
“While it is recognised that formal educational institutions will fulfill the primary objective of producing science literate people, BDC is where knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes are communicated to the public through informal learning environment that emphasises hands-on exploratory learning rather than a formal text-based approach.”
Rahman added that the existence of BDC would not only increase science literacy of the local community but would also provide a regional hub for science and technology-based activities and would further the development of its surrounding area and creating job opportunities due to the need of BDC as a new organisation for staff crew to execute and put development plans into action.
“It also requires various expertise and materials in order to maintain BDC, therefore creating a steady supply of business opportunities as well,” he said.
He added that BDC was the brainchild of Venus Advance Technology Sdn Bhd and tthe conception of the idea was fueled by visionaries leading the company who saw the need for a science discovery centre in East Malaysia and had aptly identified Sabah, as the perfect place to host the revolutionary green technology-based centre.
BDC, he said, would serve as an edutainment, enrichment and resource centre to bridge the gap between society and science.
“By bridging this gap via access to scientific information and technology knowledge, the people will be able to better understand, participate and respond to the challenges of creating a generation of innovators to secure Malaysia’s future in the new century.”