By: Dr. Mohd Noor Hisham Mohd Nadzir, Muhammad Hafizi Ramli Muhammad, Nur Hannah Muhamad Faizal, Nur’Ain Sarah Ramli, Hafizzudin Ibrahim and Nur Farah Amelia Soon Hilmi Soon
SERDANG - A total of 170 students from different levels of study have participated in the Let’s Listen to Nature 5.0 2021 programme, which aimed to encourage students’ involvement in activities that can increase awareness and knowledge on the importance of environmental care and mental health and practise them during the new norms.
The programme with the theme of 'Nurture Nature, Save Future’ was held from June 16 to 20, 2021. It was organised by the Biology Student Club (KMB), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), which is also an Associate Member of MySTEM Ambassador UPM in collaboration with the Youth Empowerment Centre (PERKASA), UKM, and the Psychology and Social Work Student Club (PSYCLUB), UKM.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, five categories were implemented through online applications. They were Category 1: BioInfluencer which included Challenge 1: CameraON! and Challenge 2: Tiktok Scientist; Category 2: PosteRACE; Category 3: Recycle Assemble; Category 4: Mind Exploration “Sketchful Psychobiology”; and Category 5: Explore Bioself (Online Tour and Personal Diary) as well as the Forum: How nature affects your wellbeing.
Let’s Listen to Nature 5.0 2021 involved participations from PPA Desa Rejang (seven), PPR Pantai Ria (eight), PPR Seri Pantai (four) and others (151). The participation also included GENIUS College (139), Science Secondary Schools (five), National Secondary Schools (four), and one each from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Tunku Kurshiah College and Secondary School.
Adviser of the Programme and KMB, Dr. Mohd Noor Hisham Mohd Nadzir, said the theme ‘Nurture Nature, Save Future’ encouraged participants to be actively involved in the vision of conserving nature towards a cleaner and pollution-free environment.
“Unlike the previous activities organised by KMB, Let’s Listen to Nature 5.0 2021 was organised together with BioSuperhero Outreach 3.0 from KMB and Semarak Remaja 1.0 from PSYCLUB, UKM. Let’s Listen to Nature 5.0 2021 is UPM’s initiative, particularly the Department of Biology’s effort to produce students concerned about the environment.
Programme director, Muhammad Hafizi Ramli, said the new norm was challenging for students to be more critical in solving problems.
"The programme aims to create a society that cares about the environment and mental health, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. I hope Let's Listen to Nature 5.0 2021 can be a proactive step towards creating a more environmentally friendly future," he said.
Three participants who were active in the programme received appreciations and prizes of RM100 each from the Faculty of Science, UPM, while three groups with the highest overall scores were announced as winners and received a total prize of RM2,250 sponsored by MTC-PERKASA and RM1,000 by MySTEM UPM - UPM
