Petrosains draws over 1,800 visitors to celebrate A.R.I.F.’s first birthday

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By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, May 24: Petrosains marked a special milestone as it celebrated the first birthday of their beloved mascot, A.R.I.F. with over 1,800 visitors at Petrosains, The Discovery Centre, Suria KLCC.

According to a press release, through “A.R.I.F.’s Birthday ONE-derland”, the celebration brought together families, children and communities through a day of immersive edutainment experiences.

Held from 11am to 7pm, the celebration transformed the science discovery centre into a vibrant celebration space, blending interactive learning, creative play and community engagement in line with Petrosains’ mission to make STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) accessible and enjoyable for all.

A.R.I.F. (A Resourceful Intelligent Friend), Petrosains’ mascot, marks its first anniversary this year as it embodies the very identity of Petrosains.

Representing curiosity, exploration and lifelong learning, A.R.I.F. serves as the face of Petrosains’ mission to spark interest in STEM through fun, interactive experiences.

This milestone is not only a celebration of a mascot, but also a reflection of Petrosains’ commitment to delivering meaningful edutainment experiences that inspire discovery and bring communities together through shared learning and joy.

Speaking on the significance of the celebration, chief executive officer (CEO) of Petrosains, Ezarisma Azni Mohamad, said, “This celebration reflects how learning can be both meaningful and joyful when experienced together. Seeing over 1,800 visitors come together to celebrate A.R.I.F. is a testament to the strong connection we have built with our audiences and our continued commitment to delivering impactful edutainment experiences that inspire curiosity and discovery.”

A.R.I.F. ONE-derland Celebration Highlights

The A.R.I.F. ONE-derland celebration was anchored on Petrosains’ core pillars of engagement, creativity, learning and community connection, bringing together a series of immersive experiences throughout the day:

Storytelling and connection: The programme opened with a special screening of “Journey of A.R.I.F.”, showcasing A.R.I.F.’s one-year journey in engaging visitors, students and communities. This was followed by A.R.I.F.’s grand entrance, a birthday song, and a symbolic cupcake and gift presentation.
Interactive STEM activities: Visitors took part in hands-on STEM-inspired activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity, including A.R.I.F. cut-out mask making, birthday card creation, the “Pin A.R.I.F.” activity, A.R.I.F. Quiz Time and the A.R.I.F. Dance Challenge allowing children to learn through play and self-expression.
Meet-and-greet experience: Visitors enjoyed exclusive meet-and-greet and photo sessions with A.R.I.F., creating memorable moments and stronger emotional connections with the beloved mascot, all set within the festive A.R.I.F. ONE-derland Sweet Corners featuring complimentary popcorn and cotton candy.
Digital Engagement and social sharing: Extending the celebration into the digital space, Petrosains introduced an “AddYours” digital photobooth experience featuring A.R.I.F., allowing visitors to instantly share their celebration moments online and contribute to a collective digital birthday memory.

Nurul Syahirah, who attended the celebration with her two children, shared, “My kids were so happy with the face painting and making a birthday card for A.R.I.F. They loved taking photos and even dancing with A.R.I.F. It was such a fun day filled with learning through play. Happy birthday, A.R.I.F.! May you continue to inspire more children to stay curious and enjoy discovering science.”

The strong turnout and enthusiastic participation reflect Petrosains’ continued role as a national platform for interactive STEM education and nation-building through science literacy. Beyond entertainment, the celebration demonstrates how experiential learning can strengthen curiosity, creativity and critical thinking among younger generations.

As Malaysia advances its aspirations under the national STEM and innovation agenda, Petrosains remains committed to making science accessible, inclusive and engaging for communities across all ages. Initiatives such as A.R.I.F.’s ONE-derland celebration reinforce the importance of early exposure to STEM through play-based learning, helping to nurture sustained interest in science and technology.

With Visit Malaysia 2026 on the horizon, Petrosains continues to position itself as a leading edutainment destination that contributes not only to tourism, but also to Malaysia’s long-term ambition of building a knowledge-driven society.

In conjunction with the ongoing school holidays, families are encouraged to explore Petrosains’ wide range of interactive exhibits, STEM-inspired activities and special holiday programmes designed to inspire discovery and shared learning experiences.

For updates and programme details, follow Petrosains on its social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn) or visit its official website.

Meanwhile, it was earlier reported that a new Petrosains Satellite Centre is expected to open in Kuching after the middle of this year through a partnership with the Sarawak Science Centre (SSC) to promote interactive science education in Sarawak.

Petrosains was established by PETRONAS in 1999 as part of its social impact initiative in the pillar of education to provide a rich and stimulating environment to enhance literacy in the nation and ignite passion for life-long knowledge attainment in people. — DayakDaily

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