| Universiti Putra Malaysia

UPM Biology Student Club trains young biologist caliphs

By: Dr. Mohd Noor Hisham Mohd Nadzir & Putri Nur Suhaina Na’im

 

SERDANG – A total of 12 pupils aged between 7 to 12 years old who are kindergarten alumni from Little Caliphs International School Sri Petaling and Bukit Jalil took part in the programme titled “Future Biologist Caliphs 2019” held at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) recently.

The programme was organised by the Department of Biology and the Biology Student Club (KMB), Faculty of Science, UPM which involved four lecturers and 14 facilitators made of 12 undergraduate students and two postgraduate students from the Department of Biology.

Among the activities held were “Frog Dissection Workshop: Exploring their inner side” and “Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Hands On Activity” which involved six activity modules.

The advisor of the programme and KMB, Dr. Mohd Noor Hisham Mohd Nadzir, hoped the programme would be able to enhance the knowledge of biological sciences while providing experience and new knowledge in the field of biology to the young generation.

“I hope the wide and direct exposure of biological sciences will inspire pupils to continue studying and deepening their knowledge of biology in primary school,” he said.

For example, in the “Frog Dissection” activity, he said the participants were not only able to dissect and get to know the internal organs of a frog, but they were also able to practise their psychomotor skills.

He said the programme could develop soft skills through the activities held such as developing the physical muscle skills and abilities effectively to develop attitudes and values. 

 

The programme director, Muhamad Syafiq Hakimi Affandi Low, said the programme was able to emphasise on promoting greater interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

“I discovered through the activity of “Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Hands on Activity” that the participants had the opportunity to think creatively and innovatively. Also, it allowed the participants to summarise and enhance creativity in brainstorming, making, modifying, or fixing something and understanding better how the human body systems function and relate to themselves,” he added.

He said STEM could foster creativity and enable the youth to be innovative and transform new ideas into better inventions and strengthen the innovation system in the field of science.

“Among the values to be nurtured were to have deeper understanding, to encourage fun learning, to share about flora and fauna, and to allow the participants to share ideas and opinions among themselves. The participants were also able to experience and conduct biological sciences research like scientists,” he said.

He added that the programme titled “Future Biologist Caliphs 2019” could be a platform for transferring biology knowledge to the new generation and improving the skills of biology students, as well as becoming an alternative platform to provide early exposure of biology knowledge in primary school.

The programme is an approach for students to master real scientific knowledge more widely, he said. – UPM

 

 

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