UTAR’s STEAM Outreach in Action

On 12 June 2025, UTAR brought science to life for 142 Junior Middle 3 students from Pin Hwa High School, Klang, through a dynamic series of STEM workshops. The initiative was jointly organised by UTAR STEAM Outreach in collaboration with the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES), the M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (MK FMHS), and the Division of Programme Promotion (DPP).

The event was designed to cultivate curiosity and spark excitement among young minds about the world of science, technology, engineering, and medicine. Through four carefully planned, hands-on sessions, students explored real-world applications of STEM concepts under the guidance of three academic staff from LKC FES and eleven members of the UTAR Surgical Society, who played a vital role in delivering the content and engaging with the participants.

One of the highlights was a session on the Electrocardiography (ECG) and Cardiac Cycle, where students were introduced to how the heart functions, the basics of reading ECG signals, and understanding the cardiac cycle. Supervised by MK FMHS Department of Surgery Head Clinical Assoc Prof Dr Yan Naing Soe and facilitated by the members of the UTAR Surgical Society, the session offered students a closer look at the field of medical diagnostics. Another medical-themed workshop, titled Minimally Invasive Technology in Surgery showcased the fascinating realm of minimally invasive surgery, highlighting cutting-edge surgical techniques that improve patient outcomes and reduce trauma. Students were captivated by the technology and its real-life impact.

In the engineering and science domain, students participated in a creative experiment, lemon fruit battery, conducted by LKC FES Assoc Prof Ir ChM Dr Lee Tin Sin. This fun and interactive session allowed them to witness how chemical reactions in everyday materials can generate electricity, making science both accessible and exciting. The final activity, the Satay Stick Tower Design Challenge,challenged students to work in teams to design and build the tallest and most stable tower using only satay sticks. This engineering challenge, facilitated by LKC FES academics Dr Gan Chin Heng and Ms Lam Foong Sin, encouraged students to apply critical thinking, structural design skills, and collaboration.

The event not only served as an eye-opening experience for the students but also reflected UTAR’s strong commitment to community engagement and quality education. Through this meaningful outreach effort, UTAR successfully inspired the next generation of scientists, engineers, and medical professionals, encouraging them to imagine, experiment, and pursue their passions in the world of STEM.