Chang: MySains to have positve impact on spread of STI culture

PUTRAJAYA: Rangkaian Kolaboratif Pusat Sains Malaysia (MySains), a centralised collaboration among non-formal science learning institutes to promote science, technology and innovation (STI) will also strengthen the role of science centres in Malaysia, said Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Minister Chang Lih Kang.

MySains, which falls under MOSTI’s purview, was launched in conjunction with the National Science Week Carnival and Malaysia Techlympics 2023 National Finals here today.

“The establishment of MySains will have a positive impact on efforts to spread the STI culture in the community and even at the grass-roots level,“ he said in a statement issued in conjunction with the launch.

Chang said MySains will also stimulate the economy of the science communication industry and further produce more generations who will choose STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education in the future.

Through MySains, various activities such as exhibitions, conferences, and science communication programmes will be planned and implemented as well as it will represent Malaysia as an STI or STEM organisation at the international level.

It will also be a platform for collaborations between non-formal science learning institutes and other organisations through the sharing of information, knowledge, skills and communication science activities, he said.

Among other roles, MySains will provide guidance, advisory services and technical assistance to organisations which intend to set up non-formal STI learning institutes as well as collaborations with commercial companies and experts to develop the STI culture programmes, he said.

According to him, MySains comprises 12 organisations -- MOSTI; the Education Ministry; Sabah Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry; Sarawak Education, Innovation and Talent Development Ministry; National Science Centre; National Planetarium; Universiti Malaya; Petrosains; Terengganu Science and Creativity Centre; Tech Dome Penang; Young Scientists Network; and National STEM Association.

In his speech at the event, Chang said the Malaysia Techlympics 2023 programme has managed to record more than 1.8 million participants nationwide since its launch in May.

The programme’s uniqueness is that the winning teams -- SMK King George V, Negeri Sembilan and Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) Bentong, Pahang -- represented the country in an international competition, the Global Game Exhibition G-Star 2023, in South Korea on Nov 16 and 17.

“Malaysia Techlympics is a MOSTI initiative to empower STI and foster the interest of the younger generation in STEM through a more enjoyable approach, with skill sets and innovation through the concept of competition,“ he added. -Bernama