School holds STEM exhibition and career talk

BINTULU: The STEM Club of SMK Bandar Bintulu, in collaboration with the Faculty of Humanities, Management, and Science at Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus (UPMKB), recently organised a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) exhibition and career talk.

Project leader of the UPMKB Department of Science and Technology, Dr Sivasangar Seenivasagam, said the programme, which involved 120 Form 4 and 5 students, aimed to enhance their interest and knowledge in STEM.

“This university linkage programme not only provides exposure to the programmes offered at UPMKB but also opens opportunities for them to understand the challenges and opportunities available for students, especially in the field of chemistry,” he said.

Through practical experience, he said students had the opportunity to explore chemistry experiments such as the making of nylon 66, esterification, and the combustion of alkene fuels.

Sivasangar added that the one-day programme also featured a dynamic Q&A session with chemistry lecturers, allowing students to delve into fundamental concepts.

“Additionally, the career talk was held with the aim of exposing students to the career paths they can take after finishing school,” he said.

Meanwhile, the principal of SMK Bandar Bintulu, Rubiah Taip, hoped that UPMKB would continue such programmes in the future.

“We hope that programmes like this can open students’ minds to the opportunities available out there and motivate them to achieve their ambitions,” she said.