Eight hundred secondary school students in Kota Marudu were exposed to the wonders of chemistry and its role in people’s lives during the two-day Malaysian Chemistry Carnival which started today.
The students, who were from Form 4 to Upper Six, were very enthusiastic tolearn more about chemistry during the carnival held at the Dewan Komuniti Kota Marudu.
Many had fun participating in hands-on experiments performed under the guidance of chemists, including on electrolysis of water, electroplating, making of polymer, rubber and glue and surface tension.
Kota Marudu district was chosen as the venue for the state-level carnival organised by Malaysian Institute of Chemistry (IKM) in collaboration with the Chemistry Department and the district office.
It aims at encouraging students’ interest in the field of science. The event was launched by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Radin Malleh, representing Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili.
Ongkili, in his speech read by Malleh, said that such carnival was important in reaching out to rural students who should be given opportunity and exposure to various areas in science, in particular chemistry.
“We would also like to get our young people more interested in science subjects such as chemistry, for the development of our human capital in science and technology.
“This is especially so since science and technology has been identified as a key enabler in the government’s economic transformation programme.
We want our children to not only take up chemistry as a discipline in university but chooseit as a career,” he said.
The Carnival was first launched on April 15 this year at the National Science Centre, Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with the International Year of Chemistry 2011.
Similar carnivals will be held in seven states, targeted atstudents and the general public.
– Bernama
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