Students at SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Long enlightened by STEM Workshops

In partnership with the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES), M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (MK FMHS), and the Division of Programme Promotion (DPP), UTAR STEM Outreach organised a series of insightful and beneficial workshops for 217 students from SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Long on 17 July 2024.

 

UTAR team at SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Long

The UTAR Team facilitated a total of six workshops, all led by academics and students from both LKC FES and MK FMHS. The first workshop titled “Stirling Engine Demo” was conducted by LKC FES academic Dr Wong Hong Mun. Dr Wong explained the workings of a Stirling engine, teaching the students that it operates through a thermodynamic cycle involving the repeated compression and expansion of gas.

Dr Wong explaining how a Stirling engine works

Besides that, a workshop titled “Fruit Battery Experiment” was led by LKC FES academic Dr Yap Yeow Hong. This engaging and simple experiment involved using lemons, wires, and electrodes to demonstrate how the acidic properties of fruits like lemons can facilitate the flow of electrical charge, showing that chemical energy can be converted into electrical energy.

Dr Yap demonstrating the flow of electrical charge using lemons, wires, and electrodes

Other workshops included an introduction to Java Programming and solving mysteries with Structured Query Language (SQL), led by Head of the Department of Internet Engineering and Computer Science of LKC FES, Ts Dr Hoo Meei Hao, along with lecturers Puan Noor Azeera binti Abdul Aziz and Cik Murni Fatehah binti Alias. This session provided students with a foundational understanding of Java programming and SQL, essential for aspiring programmers.

Students paying attention as Dr Hoo teaches about Java programming language and SQL

Additionally, a facial recognition demonstration workshop was conducted by LKC FES academics Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Tham Mau Luen and Dr Toh Chia Ming.  Students enjoyed learning about facial recognition technology, which is widely used in modern devices like mobile phones for security purposes.

For the creative aspect, Sr Nurhayatul Khursniah binti Hasim @ Mohamad Salleh from LKC FES led a workshop titled “Build Your Sustainable Dream House,” where students used sticks to build their dream houses, focusing on both creativity and structural stability.

Dr Tham (far right) and Dr Toh (second from right) demonstrating facial recognition technology to the students

Sr Nurhayatul giving instructions on how to build a sustainable house using sticks

Students getting creative as they build the house

A group of students displaying the house they have built

Lastly, a workshop titled “Invisible Life: How to Make Micro-organisms Visible?” was led by Assoc Prof Dr Fong Lai Yen, MK FMHS Head of Postgraduate Programmes (Medical Sciences), along with postgraduate students Derrick Cheow Hee Yang, Tammy Pan Jia Yee, and Quah Chen Ying. They demonstrated bacterial culture techniques and allowed students to observe microorganisms under a microscope, highlighting the unseen world around us. The students were fascinated with the observations.

Mr Mohd Risman bin Ayob from DPP also attended the event. He explained the diverse educational fields available at UTAR and encouraged students to pursue further education in STEM fields.

Dr Fong and the postgraduate students demonstrating bacterial culture techniques

Students observing microorganisms under a microscope

Mr Mohd Risman explaining the programmes offered at UTAR

These STEM workshops aligned with several United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).  Furthermore, the workshops provided students with a comprehensive understanding of the STEM fields, offering a fun and memorable learning experience.