UTAR staff promote nature journaling and give out air-purifying plants at Hari Sukan Negara

 

From left: Mr Yap, Mr Ling, Ms Goy, Dr Lai and Mr Chow at the exhibition booth

The “Hari Sukan Negara Daerah Hulu Langat dan Program Bandar Baru Bangi Pagi Tanpa Kenderaan 2023”, organised by Majlis Perbandaran Kajang (MPKj), took place on 15 October 2023 at Taman Tasik Cempaka, Bandar Baru Bangi. UTAR was given an opportunity to participate as one of the exhibitors at the event.

Mr Chow Keng Fatt from the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) and his team, namely Ms Goy Ling Ling, Mr Yap San Lim, and Mr Ling Kock Sheng from the Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS), represented UTAR to promote nature journaling at the event. Besides, the team also encouraged the public to plant air-purifying plants indoors at their exhibition booth. Chairperson of UTAR Green Campus Committee (Sungai Long Campus), Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn also joined the exhibition.

Mr Chow explaining the process of nature journaling

At the exhibition booth, Mr Chow was seen explaining the importance of recording observations and curiosities to the public who were curious about nature journaling. Student exhibitors from the University of Nottingham Malaysia showed great interest and proposed to set up a booth at their campus to promote and introduce nature journaling to the staff and students of the University of Nottingham Malaysia in November 2023. The possibility of conducting a nature journaling workshop was also discussed.

Ms Goy, Mr Yap, and Mr Ling, on the other hand, explained the importance and benefits of planting air-purifying plants indoors to the public. They were also seen distributing some plants at the booth. The attendees who visited the booth were impressed and excited to receive the indoor plants that were distributed. All the indoor plants prepared were given away that morning.

Throughout the event, the team received a good response from the public. Despite being informed and invited in less than three weeks, the team managed to prepare the materials for the exhibition. The team expressed their heartfelt thanks to the Secretary of the UTAR Green Campus Committee (Sungai Long Campus), Cik Nur Shafarina binti Abdul Wahab for her effort and coordination. They also said, “We were able to accomplish our task as part of our initiatives in bringing awareness about sustainable city. We look forward to more opportunities to approach a wider group of society in the future.”

Children trying their hands at sketching

Participants receiving indoor plants distributed by the team

The UTAR Green Campus Committee (UGCC) received a certificate of appreciation from the Majlis Perbandaran Kajang (MPKj) for their contribution as an exhibitor at the event.