By: Dr. Mohd Noor Hisham Mohd Nadzir, Dr. Bokhary Zainal, Maizatul Noor Azima Mat Salleh
TASIK CHINI – A total of 44 students from the Biology Student Club (KMB-FASSA), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and 27 students from the GENIUS Remaja B40 programme have participated in the programme entitled “Biologist Outreach 2.0: Bio-Superhero 2020”, here recently.
The students from GENIUS Remaja B40 aged between 13 – 17 are living in the People’s Housing Project (PPR) homes around Kuala Lumpur such as PPR Sri Pantai, PPR Pantai Ria, PPA Desa Rejang, and PPR Kg. Muhibbah.
The programme was organised by the Biology Student Club (KMB-FASSA), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, UPM in collaboration with the Youth Empowerment Centre (PERKASA), Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Tasik Chini Research Centre (PPTC), UKM, Pahang. It was themed “Biology Adventure in Community” and held at the Tasik Chini Research Centre (PPTC), UKM.
The programme required students to showcase themselves courageously and accentuate their knowledge, talents, and skills in the field of biology while fostering biological science knowledge outside the classroom through a community-based knowledge transfer programme.
Students were trained to think outside the box by finding solutions to various problems related to biological knowledge while inculcating curiosity as a future scientist.
Programme and KMB advisor, Dr. Mohd Noor Hisham Mohd Nadzir, said the programme was able to nurture the interest of students from B40 youth group in the field of Science, especially Biological Science.
He also said the programme invites students to participate in volunteer programmes aimed at producing individuals who are constantly aware and responsible for the development of quality of life through proper education.
“In this programme, the participants are trained to think outside the box in finding solutions to various problems related to biological knowledge while inculcating curiosity within themselves,” he said.
Meanwhile, Programme and KMB advisor, Dr Bokhary Zainal, said the programme could help participants learn the importance of Biology applied in every aspect of daily life and able to increase their interest in Biology.
The programme also received sponsorship and support from the Faculty of Science, UPM and companies such as Raspberry ribbons, Techouz, MYC, and MafixWorld.
Head of PERKASA UKM, Dr. Nasrudin Subhi, said he was satisfied that the objectives of the programme were achieved through game-based activities and hands-on activities with environment related theme.
“This programme is able to foster a spirit of cooperation, loyalty, leadership, and unity among participants,” he said.
Programme director, Farrafarhana anak Jerom, hopes to foster collaboration between university students and the community, as well as the spirit of volunteerism among university students and interest among the participants to deepen their knowledge in biology.
“What is more interesting is that the participants are able to express their knowledge of biology by producing flower pots using recycled materials based on their own inspiration and their surroundings,” she said. - UPM
