UTAR advances STEAM and SDG awareness through nationwide outreach initiatives

UTAR continued to strengthen its nationwide presence in STEAM education and sustainability advocacy through a series of impactful engagements held across Perak, Selangor, Melaka, Johor and Penang from September to November 2025. Collectively, these initiatives, ranging from school workshops to national science fair participation, involved more than 1,200 students and visitors, reflecting UTAR’s strong commitment to nurturing future-ready talents.

Students learning encryption and binary code through hands-on decoding activities

The outreach effort began on 24 September 2025 at SMK Convent Teluk Intan, where the UTAR STEAM Outreach, together with the Faculty of Science (FSc), the Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS) of Kampar Campus and the Division of Programme Promotion (DPP), conducted a hands-on STEAM workshop for 383 Form 3 to Form 5 students. Activities such as the Cipher Challenge & Binary Quest, led by CFS Kampar Campus academics Ms Kavitha Manickam and Ms Lee Siok Wei, introduced students to basic cryptography and binary concepts, while the Unicorn Drink experiment, led by FSc academic Dr Chay Shyan Yea and Head of Programme (BSc (Hons) Dietetics) Ms Fiona Lim Wei Ting, enabled students to observe colour-changing chemical reactions using butterfly pea flower tea. The activities successfully sparked curiosity in STEAM and encouraged students to engage in scientific inquiry.

Students exploring butterfly pea tea’s colour change reaction with lime

A group photo of academics from SMJK Yu Hua and UTAR

On 23 October 2025, UTAR continued its outreach at SMJK Yu Hua during STEM Engagement Day 4.0. The event welcomed 200 Form Three students and featured four interactive sessions conducted by academics from the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES). Students explored electrochemical reactions through a fruit battery experiment led by Ir Dr Sim Lan Ching, learned about natural pH indicators using red cabbage and turmeric pigments with Dr Woo Kwan Kit, observed capillary action through the Blooming Flowers activity conducted by Mr P. Prakas S.Palanychamy, and developed practical digital literacy skills through an Excel usage workshop by Dr Ng Kooi Huat. The programme offered a holistic experiential learning environment that blended science, creativity and real-world digital skills.

Fruit battery experiment with Dr Sim

Students learning about natural pH indicators using red cabbage and turmeric

Students watching paper flowers bloom as they learn about capillary action

Dr Ng guiding students in developing essential Excel skills

Continuing its momentum, UTAR was invited to conduct STEAM workshops at Pay Fong High School on 14 November 2025 as part of the school’s biennial selective course (主题选修课) programme. Academics from the Faculty of Accountancy and Management (FAM), the Faculty of Creative Industries (FCI) and the LKC FES delivered three specialised workshops covering topics such as the digital economy by Ms Low Suet Cheng, mobile-first web design by Mr Kelwin Tan Seen Tiong and Dr Nawaf Hassan Mohammed Mohsen Shrifan and 2D animation by Ts Ng Perng Jeu. These workshops provided students with exposure to emerging fields and empowered them with multidisciplinary skills relevant to the digital era. 

Ms Low introducing digital economy

Mr Kelwin Tan and Dr Nawaf at the Responsive Web Design workshop

Students exploring 2D Animation art with Ts Ng

Dr Lai sharing his point of view to the students

Just days earlier, on 11 November 2025, UTAR enhanced its sustainability-focused outreach through a motivational talk at Kluang Chong Hwa High School, attended by over 300 Senior Middle Three students. Delivered by Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn, Director of the Office of International Affairs and alumnus of the school, the talk encouraged students to make university and career decisions based on sustainability, personal strengths and global trends rather than solely on examination results or popular programmes. His message, “择你所爱，爱你所择” (Choose what you love, and love what you choose), resonated strongly with the audience and aligned with UTAR’s advocacy for future-ready, purpose-driven education.

Dr Lai (middle) with Kluang Chong Hwa High School students and teachers

UTAR’s involvement in the Penang International Science Fair (PISF) 2025 further exemplified its dedication to public STEM engagement. Initially invited as a participant, UTAR successfully secured a complimentary booth at the event, held on 8 and 9 November 2025 at SPICE Arena, Penang. Academics Dr Ooi Mei Lee and Dr Pang Ai Ling from FSc led a hands-on workshop demonstrating rose-based natural pH indicators, attracting continuous participation from families, students and science enthusiasts. UTAR’s presence contributed to the fair’s objective of inspiring young minds through accessible, inquiry-based STEM experiences.

Visitors exploring rose-based natural pH indicators at UTAR’s booth during PISF 2025

Across all initiatives, UTAR continues to play a significant role in cultivating Malaysia’s next generation of innovators and responsible global citizens by fostering curiosity, creativity and sustainability awareness among students nationwide.