From left:
Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Chuah, Mr Rushdi Abdul
Rahim, Tun Ling (fourth), Prof Dr Azlinda and Prof Dato’ Ewe during the
opening of KLESF 2023
With the goal to encourage school students’ interest in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, the Kuala Lumpur
Engineering and Science Fair (KLESF) staged another comeback at the Mines
International Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIECC) from 27 to 29 October 2023.
Being in its 10th year,
KLESF 2023 encompassed various programmes and activities which aimed to
promote interest in STEM, particularly among primary school, secondary
school, and tertiary-level students. It also served as a platform for
students to explore, learn, and engage with STEM concepts in a practical and
exciting way. The fair was open to the public and it offered free admission.
Present at the opening
ceremony of KLESF 2023 were Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE)
Director General of Higher Education Prof Dr Azlinda binti Azman; Malaysia
Mental Literacy Movement (MMLM) Chairman and UTAR Chancellor Tun Dr Ling
Liong Sik; Toh Puan Ena Ling; Co-Chairman of KLESF Steering Committee and
President and CEO of Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology
(MIGHT) Mr Rushdi Abdul Rahim; Co-Chairman of KLESF Steering Committee, UTAR
President and ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET) President
Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat; MMLM Deputy Chairman Ir Academician Emeritus
Prof Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Chuah Hean Teik, IEM Executive Committee
and Council Member Ir Ts Wong Chee Fui, representative from the
institution of higher learning, schools, sponsors and members of the public.
Prof Dr Azlinda and Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Chuah (right) delivering their
speech
At the opening ceremony,
Prof Dr Azlinda said, “The possibilities of STEM are endless, and it will
continue to drive positive change and innovation. Therefore, we must do our
part to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, technologists,
and mathematicians because they are the ones that will help create a more
sustainable world.”
Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Chuah
said, “MMLM was founded with the vision to raise the awareness of developing
mental literacy such as memory skills, thinking skills and creativity, as
well as to introduce and promote ways to improve mental literacy among
Malaysians. Through KLESF and MFotM, we hope we can continue to spark STEM
interest among students.”
Mr Rushdi and Prof Dato’ Ewe (right) delivering their speech
Mr Rushdi said, “KLESF acts
as a catalyst for increasing student interest in STEM by offering an
engaging, inspiring, and informative environment. It demonstrates the
practical applications and career opportunities in STEM fields, highlights
student achievements, and provides a supportive community that fosters
curiosity and enthusiasm. According to the Ministry of Education, the STEM
enrolment in 2023 has increased since 2021 from 40.95% to 45.73%. This
positive progress, albeit small is a good indicator of awareness of the
importance of STEM, and thus the efforts to promote STEM must be fortified.”
Prof Dato’ Ewe said,
“Through KLESF, we want to enhance students’ interest in STEM, raise public
awareness about the pivotal roles STEM plays in socio-economic well-being
and sustainable development, and encourage businesses and industries to
actively participate in promoting STEM education and career development
among our youth. We also aim to foster a collaborative environment where
schools, educators, industries, the public and private sectors can come
together to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in science and
mathematics education.”
The book titled “Short
Stories on Discoveries, Inventions, Innovation, and Creativity”, which was
jointly published by AAET and UTAR in Tamil version, was also launched in
conjunction with the KLESF 2023 opening ceremony. The book, currently
available in English, Mandarin, and Bahasa Melayu versions, aims to spark
interest in scientific curiosity and creativity.
One of the event highlights at the three-day fair includes the KLESF
International Challenge 2023, a STEM international competition where about
250 teams comprising students from local and abroad exhibited their original
inventions and creations. In addition to that, the Creative Science Drama
Competition 2023 was held to encourage students’ creativity and innovation
in delivering STEAM content through creative drama. More fun hands-on
activities were found at the exhibitions with workshop activities and talks
related to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information and Communications
Technology (ICT), robotics, drones, myMaker, The Internet of Things (IoT),
5G, 3D printing, science and magic performances, and many more.
The Malaysian Autonomous Intelligence and Robotics Association (MyAIRA)
brought in innovators from China and Japan to showcase various technological
advancements in hardware and supply chain solutions, as well as a robot band
playing musical instruments made from tatami rugs.
KLESF 2023 offered interactive
and fun activities for parents, students, and the public to familiarise
themselves with STEM. The Fair also received active participation from
STEM-related industry corporations, more than 50 universities,
non-government organisations, government organisations, and more than 100
schools, both local and international.
In addition to participants from local schools, universities, and
organisations, the fair also welcomed international participants from ASEAN
and other Asian economies, including China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and
Thailand.
Winners of the Mind Competitions
In conjunction with KLESF 2023, the 17th Malaysia Festival of The Mind
(MFotM) by the Malaysia Mental Literacy Movement (MMLM) featured exhibitions
of booths in areas of mental calculation, strategy board games, arts, and
memory sports. Prizes for winners of the Mind Competitions held at UTAR
Sungai Long Campus, UTAR Kampar Campus, and TARUMT Penang Campus in
September 2023 were also awarded at the opening ceremony.
Sponsoring KLESF 2023 were Kuok
Foundation Berhad, Malayan Flour Mills Berhad, Silverlake Axis Sdn Bhd,
Maxis Berhad, Pizza Hut, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad, Mamee-Double Decker
Sdn Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad, Mach 1 AI Robotics & Automation
Sdn Bhd and Intrix Group.
KLESF 2023 was jointly
organised by
ASEAN Academy of
Engineering and Technology (AAET), the Institution of Engineers Malaysia
(IEM), the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT),
the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS), Tunku Abdul Rahman
University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), Universiti Tunku Abdul
Rahman (UTAR), and the Malaysia Mental Literacy Movement (MMLM). KLESF 2023
was supported by Akademi Sains Malaysia (ASM), The Associated Chinese
Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), and the Malaysian
Association of Autonomous Intelligence & Robotics (MyAIRA).
KLESF
International Challenge booths
Mr Chin Pok Wai
from TAR UMT delivering his talk on “How to build an Android app for
cellphones”
Amirah binti
Mohamed Shahiri from TAR UMT delivering her talk on “Exploring the potential
of artificial intelligence in transforming education”
TEDX talk “Magic
behind the flames: Rocket science unveiled” by Ts Dr Muhammad Hanafi Azami
from IIUM
Winners of 3D Printing Innovation Hackathon
From left: Wan Aiza Rania binti Wan Mohd
Fyzaal, Syafiq Harith bin Saifullizam and Alysha binti Abdul Rahim from
Sekolah Seni Malaysia Kuala Lumpur won Gold Medal for 3D Printing Innovation
Hackathon
“We would like to thank our teacher, Encik Hasriq Haiqal, and also our
Industrial Department. We are grateful but we’re also feeling nervous at the
same time knowing that we won the gold medal in the 3D Printing Innovation
Hackathon. We will try our best to participate at the international level
and hope that we can win again,” said Wan Aiza Rania, Syafiq Harith and
Alysha.
Winners of the KLESF Creative
Science Drama Competition
Team “The Esdee
Triggers” won Grand Prize at the KLESF Creative Science Drama Competition
Teachers of SK Bandar Sri
Damansara (3) Munirah Abd Mulok, Izyan Izzaty Salikan, Mohd Ikhwan Haiqal
Ismail and Mohd Hanafi Hamzah said, “We are happy to win the Grand Prize for
the KLESF Creative Science Drama Competition. This is our first time getting
to know about the competition and KLESF is awesome. Our drama— “The oily
future” creates awareness of disposing used cooking oils. We will definitely
join next year’s KLESF.”
Bachelor of Biomedical
Science (Honours) student Pretysha from Taylor’s University introducing
participants to the common lab technique and its functions
Pretysha described the Streak Plate technique in
microbiology as a method for isolating pure strains of a particular
microorganism species. She said, “This method encompasses various approaches
like quadrant streaking, continuous streaking, and T-streaking. In the
T-streaking procedure, an inoculation loop is first sterilised with a Bunsen
burner, and then a small sample of colonies is gently dragged in a zig-zag
pattern across the surface of area 1 on an agar plate. This process is then
repeated for areas 2 and 3 before finally directing the loop towards the
plate’s centre. The underlying principle of streaking is that with each
iteration in different areas, the number of collected colonies decreases,
facilitating the isolation of individual colonies.”
Qurratu Ain from EDSTEM Sdn
Bhd showing the DNA of biscuit (green) and banana (blue)
Qurratu utilised readily available household
materials to extract the DNA of various objects. To illustrate, when
extracting DNA from a banana, she employed soap to disrupt the banana cell’s
structure and introduced salt to neutralise the cell’s ions, making the DNA
visible. Following this, alcohol is introduced to extract the DNA from the
cell. In the case of testing a banana, a test tube will exhibit white foam,
indicating the presence of DNA. However, when testing a biscuit’s DNA, no
such foam appears. This leads to the conclusion that biscuits, being
non-living entities, do not possess DNA.
Noor Farahana Abdul Rahman
(left) and Nur Athirah bt Latiff (right) from HEMREL introducing a new STEM
rocket which uses chemicals and an ignitor to launch the rocket
The UiTM-MTC High Energy Material Research
Laboratory (HEMREL) is a joint collaboration of MTC Engineering Sdn Bhd and
the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UiTM. It conducts research and
development of high-energy material used for any applications. The Rocket
for Education (RockEd) under HEMREL is a small-scale solid propellant rocket
for educational purposes. In Malaysia, especially for school students, they
only have the experience of launching water or air rockets during school
events. The objective of RockEd is to provide participants with an enjoyable
experience and enhance their understanding of the science behind the
aerospace system through hands-on activities using module kits.
Mr Suwannit Chareen Chit
(left) and Mr Ahmad Hanis (right) from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)
displaying their robots
Mr Suwannit said, “We aim to introduce STEM concepts
to school children by engaging them in hands-on learning. This is achieved
through the use of microcontrollers and printed circuit boards (PCB) to
construct and manage a robot. Students will have the opportunity to
customise the robot’s functions using Arduino programming. Additionally,
they will create a user interface for controlling the robot, enhancing their
understanding and application of STEM principles in a practical and
interactive way.”
KLESF Steering Committee
John Tay (left) and Vice President of Malaysian Autonomous Intelligence &
Robotics Association (MyAIRA) Mr Soo Ho Hock Meng (right)
Mr Soo said, “MYAIRA is an association formed by the
industry to promote artificial intelligence and robotics because we believe
it is crucial for the next generation to be educated in Industry 4.0. I
believe that KLESF will greatly contribute to the promotion of STEM
education. It not only showcases creativity in Malaysia but also builds an
understanding among young people that STEM is a part of our daily lives and
guides them to become a part of the workforce in Industry 4.0.”
From left: Shinichi Kato,
Nobuyoshi Ochio, Tetsuji Katsuda and Kazuhiro Nishiwaki
Tetsuji Katsuda said, “We are excited to exhibit the
robots and the tatami traditional Japanese carpet at the KLESF exhibition.
This event offers students numerous booths where they can learn more about
STEM and nurture their interest in the field. Malaysia’s education system
has advanced with the improvement of STEM.”
Mach 1 Ai Robotics
& Automation Sdn Bhd General Manager (Operations) Mr Jack Tan
Mach 1 Ai Robotics & Automation
Sdn Bhd General Manager (Operations) Mr Jack Tan said, “STEM education is
important in Malaysia because it creates awareness for all to know that we
can make use of science, engineering and mathematics to improve human lives.
It is also important for industries to participate in science fairs like
KLESF to support and develop students’ ideas to cultivate their creativity
and innovative minds.”
Malayan Flour
Mills Berhad Specialist Talent Acquisition Ms Jacy
Malayan Flour Mills Berhad
Specialist Talent Acquisition Ms Jacy said, “KLESF is a great platform for
promoting STEM education. We will definitely support this initiative.”
Malaysia Toray
Science Foundation Dato’ Hun Heng Kuan
Malaysia Toray Science Foundation
Dato’ Hun Heng Kuan said, “MTSF was set up with the purpose of promoting
science among youths. We are delighted to participate in KLESF as part of
our CSR initiative to promote the interest of science among Malaysians. I
hope we will continue to be part of KLESF in the future.”
Jacqueline Tang with her children Elsieberry Soo (far right) and Vasilios
Soo at the robotic workshop by IPG Kampus Pendidikan Teknik
Jacqueline Tang, who came with her children, said, “The workshops
conducted were very interesting. I really enjoyed being here with my
children. It is a good time for my children to be exposed to STEM. We learnt
a lot from this fair, one of which is issues pertaining to food waste. It
can be reused and turned into something that we can use in our daily lives.
We have come from Ipoh. I purposely brought my children to this fair so they
could experience and learn the theory of science behind every project. I
knew about this event from Facebook. STEM is important, especially nowadays,
with people talking about AI and all. We will definitely participate in this
fair again in the future.”
Carmen Thong (left) and Golden Liew from SMK Lake posing with their
conductive dough
“This is my first time joining the KLESF.
Thanks to this fair, I was able to witness some
interesting projects and workshops which added value to what I have learnt
at school. It was so much
fun and interesting, especially the robots. I will definitely participate in
the coming year as I’ve also made new friends from other regions of the
country. STEM is important because it has various applications in our daily
lives,” said Golden Liew, a Form Four student from Sekolah Menengah
Kebangsaan (SMK) Lake, Sarawak.
From left: Syafiq Akram and Benedict Cody
Students from
MRSM Sabah, Syafiq Akram and Benedict Cody, presented their innovative
project titled “Harmony Haven: An Eco Village Dream”, which focused on
harnessing river power for longhouses. Syafiq explained, “This year, I was
delighted to see KLESF return to a physical mode. I submitted the paperwork
to my teachers, who assisted in signing us up for this event. I believe that
the decision to return physical was a fantastic initiative as it allows us
to directly share and exchange our ideas.”
Lai (most left) with his teammates
Lai Shao Yik,
a student from SMKJ Jit Sin, Penang said, “We represent the Science Society
and have consistently received annual invitations from KLESF. If you have an
interest, you can create a team, register, brainstorm ideas, and, with the
guidance of your teachers, complete a project to take part in this fair, the
invitation included. Being a part of this exhibition has been an
exceptionally valuable experience for me. It has offered a platform for me
and my teammates to engage with and learn from other schools, which in
return, has enabled us to pinpoint our weaknesses and make necessary
improvements for the future.”
From left: Kavin, Nadeish and Jeyvell
The students
from SJK (T) Ladang Blue Valley in Cameron Highlands, namely, Kavin,
Jeyvell, and Nadeish, enthusiastically participated in the KLESF with their
project titled “Water Recycling: The impact of soapnut greywater on the
environment”. Their journey began a month before the KLESF event. They
conducted research on Facebook and received an invitation to take part in
this event. Upon their arrival, they were filled with happiness and
fascination, and their experience at the event deepened their interest even
further. They not only enjoyed the event but also acquired valuable
knowledge. Their enthusiasm was evident as they expressed a strong desire to
continue learning and innovating.
From left: Rex
Ngui, Heng and Hoo
SJK(C) Jalan Davidson, Kuala
Lumpur students Rex Ngui, Heng Wey Key and Hoo Hoe Yan presented their
project titled “Solarglobe: Provides energy to all” at the KLESF Challenge.
Their project focused on harnessing the abundant solar energy potential in
desert regions. This forward-thinking project exemplified the school’s
strong commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility,
emphasising the transformative capabilities of renewable energy sources.
Through Solarglope, the students of SJK(C) Jalan Davidson not only showcased
their scientific expertise but also underscored their dedication to
addressing pressing global issues, particularly the pivotal role that solar
technology plays in alleviating energy challenges in arid environments.
From left: Adriana, Arya Safia and Wahyudnni
Adriana, Arya
Safia, and Wahyudnni, students from Kolej Yayasan Saad Melaka, introduced
their innovative project titled “Reshine” at the fair. In this project, they
have devised a method to filter used cooking oil and utilise recycled bar
soaps as a sustainable alternative to beeswax for polishing leather shoes.
Arya Safia enthusiastically shared, “I've gained a wealth of new knowledge
and a multitude of innovative ideas. In the future, I aspire to improve our
product further by incorporating the ideas I’ve acquired from this event.”
Adriana expressed her gratitude, saying, “We’ve received valuable ideas from
the judges and fellow participants, which will greatly aid us in refining
our product, with the ultimate goal of bringing it to market.” Wahyudnni
stated the event’s significance, “This event has showcased a plethora of
excellent innovations from various schools, making it an ideal platform for
generating ideas for future innovations.”
From left:
Digambareshwaran Thana Prakash, Naliinaaline Thana Seelan and Sathis Rajen
Digambareshwaran Thana Prakash,
Naliinaaline Thana Seelan, and Sathis Rajen from SJK(T) Ladang Batang Kali
won Gold at the KLESF International Challenge 2023. Their project was titled
“Sustainable Art for a Greener World”. The team expressed, “We are delighted
and proud to win Gold for this challenge. We would like to thank our teacher
Mrs Amuthasuriya for her endless support and guidance in our science
project. We hope to participate in next year’s KLESF.”
From left: R.
Jeevaghan, V. Samyuktaa and R. Haasinisri
Gold medal winners for KLESF
International Challenge R. Jeevaghan, V. Samyuktaa and R. Haasinisri from
SJK (T) Ladang Batang Kali said, “We are happy and fortunate to win gold
medals in this challenge for our project “2 in 1 Banana Peel Charcoal
Briquette”. We are very thankful to our parents, teachers and all who have
supported us along the way. With great determination, we will eventually
succeed. We will return to KLESF 2024.”
From left:
Tavinya, Chee, and Norshafinaz
Tavinya Magenthiran, Chee Kar Joe,
and Norshafinaz binti Mohd Mazri from SMK Seri Teja, Gopeng won the Gold
award for their project titled “SAFVE” at the KLESF Challenge. This
achievement by the students served as a testament to the school’s dedication
to nurturing scientific curiosity and fostering creativity among its
students. The project’s emphasis on crafting organic lipstick not only
showcased the team’s prowess in chemistry and product development but also
exemplified their environmentally conscious approach. This victory is poised
to inspire other students to delve into the realms of science and
technology, leveraging their skills for the betterment of both society and
the environment.
The team mentioned that they did
not expect to win the challenge. They also expressed their appreciation to
their team members and teachers for this achievement. Tavinya added, “We
will be having SPM examination next year but we will still try our best to
attend the KLESF Challenge.”
From left: Clara,
Sarah and Mizah
Mizah Hisymatinnisaa, Clara
Angelica Ardianto and Sarah Hanifa Falisha from Sekolah Indonesia Kuala
Lumpur achieved a remarkable victory by securing the Gold award at the KLESF
Challenge for their project titled “Eco-friendly Shampoo”. Their outstanding
commitment to environmental sustainability and scientific creativity was
evident in this notable accomplishment. Their project focused on the
development of a shampoo formula that minimises its environmental impact,
addressing crucial issues like water pollution and chemical waste.
Showcasing their dedication to an eco-friendly future, the students of
Sekolah Indonesia Kuala Lumpur earned well-deserved recognition as champions
of the KLESF Challenge. The victory not only underscored their innovative
spirit but also the significance of developing environmentally conscious
solutions in our modern world.
Mizah said, “I just came here for
the experience. I didn’t expect to win the Gold Medal. Thank you to my
teammates, my teacher Julia Astutik, my parents and all my friends for
helping me throughout the research.”
From left: William Traill
Bowley and Watwarin Thirasan
Merit winners William Traill Bowley and Watwarin
Thirasan from Trail International School in Bangkok, Thailand were awarded
Merit at the KLESF International Challenge. Bowley expressed his
satisfaction, “There is always room for improvement. I will continue to
acquire more knowledge and participate in future events like this.” Watwarin
said, “KLESF has indeed provided a good platform for all of us to learn from
each other and I look forward to making significant advancements in our
project.”
Tatami band entertaining the
crowd at KLESF with their musical instruments made from tatami (Japanese
rug)
Band performance by
Buddy-kun Red (left), Buddy-kun Wood (middle) and Buddy-Kun Green (right)
and fortune telling by Chibisan-Kun
Headband/bracelet making
workshop
Cup tower challenge at
MIGHT’s booth
Ng Joe Ann (left) and Tan Yu Qing from SJK (C) Kuo Min, Nilai displaying
their 3D design printing model at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu booth
Visitors learn to make soap at UTAR Faculty of
Engineering and Green Technology booth
Michellevy showing her DIY soap bar
Slime-making workshop at Universiti Sains
Islam Malaysia booth
Visitors making their own perfume
at Universiti
Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) booth
Participants building mBot at Robotic workshop by Universiti Malaysia
Terengganu
Participants enjoying themselves at Marine Engineering workshop by PolyCC
Politeknik dan Kolej Komuniti
UTAR Faculty of Science Department of
Laboratory Management and Safety Administration Head Dr Ooi Zhong Xian
showing the lava lamp
Participants learning to transform food scrap
at UTAR Centre for Foundation Studies (Sungai Long) booth
“Help it stand- unleash your creativity with
building” at UTAR Centre for Foundation Studies (Sungai Long) booth
“Guess the number” at UTAR Centre for
Foundation Studies (Kampar) booth
Visitors experiencing the wireless power
transmission at Multimedia University workshop
Homemade cold pack at UTAR Centre for
Foundation Studies (Sungai Long) booth
“When electric current meets magnetic field”
workshop conducted by TAR UMT Faculty of Applied Sciences
Programme Leader
Chong Nyok Kian and Dr Teo Li Ping
Participating booths at KLESF
2023
Booths at MFoTM
Mr Jayden
intertwines science and magic on stage
Booths at KLESF
International Challenge
© 2023 UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN DU012(A).
Wholly owned by UTAR Education Foundation (200201010564(578227-M)) LEGAL
STATEMENT TERM
OF USAGE PRIVACY
NOTICE