Dr Ahmad (centre) with Dr Muna (third left) and others perform a science experiment to launch the fifth edition of Scienceploration Camp 2020. — Photo by Roystein Emmor
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) holds its annual Scienceploration Camp to encourage more secondary students in Sarawak to enrol for science-related programmes at tertiary level.
“When we started this programme in 2016, we noticed that not many students in Sarawak joined the science-related programmes in Unimas as many of them preferred arts programmes.
“We are trying to get these students to join various science-related programmes like medicine and engineering and it is really tough,” said Unimas deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasi when officiating Scienceploration Camp 2020 at its campus here yesterday.
He added that the university hopes to arouse interest to acquire knowledge and skills to pursue medical study, engineering or science at tertiary level to help the state and country face future challenges.
“When you complete this camp and return to your schools, you can also encourage your juniors to enroll in science stream,” he said.
The fifth edition of the two-day Sciencesploration Camp which started yesterday saw the participation of 120 SPM school leavers and upper secondary students from 16 schools in Kota Samarahan and Kuching.
Organised by the Centre for Pre-University Studies in collaboration with the campus’ Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Medicine, the programme aims to foster interest to learn various aspects of Science in an attractive way through planned activities and experiments.
“Aside from promoting Science Foundation Programme and International Foundation in Science at Unimas as SPM-leavers’ first choice, the camp also serves to motivate them to learn and love science,” Unimas pre-university centre director Prof Madya Dr Muna Sabri said.