KUCHING, Aug 29: After nearly two years of temporary closure due to the pandemic, Petrosains PlaySmart at the Kuching Civic Centre reopened its doors to the public last Thursday (Aug 25).
Petrosains Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Ezarisma Azni Mohamad said Petrosains PlaySmart was established to extend the science centre experience to communities outside the Klang Valley, where its mission is to improve literacy in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“Petrosains PlaySmart, which is also located in Kota Kinabalu, Johor Bharu, and Kuantan, is equipped with interactive exhibits and offers activities and programmes similar to those organised at The Discovery Centre in Suria KLCC to inspire a generation of young people to consider careers in science and technology towards shared progress for all, where no one is left behind.
“This is aligned to the purpose of our set-up. Petronas established Petrosains in 1999 as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative to provide a rich and stimulating environment to enhance STEM literacy in the nation and an extension of Petronas’ commitment to nation-building by driving the creation of a new generation of science and technology-minded, innovation-inspired Malaysians,” he said in a statement today.
Interactive exhibits at the Kuching opened its doors in November 2019, included ‘F1 Simulator’, ‘Jupiter’s Great Red Spot’, and ‘Mindball’.
Various activities and programmes have also been planned for visitors in the coming months.
These include exciting science shows and workshops such as the Bubble Show, where visitors can learn about the science of bubbles and their unique properties related to formation, shape and colour; the Combustion Show, made up of a set of experiments to showcase chemical reactions and how it affects daily life; and the Visual Artificial Intelligence Solution, which will showcase how a camera can detect people and categorise their age and gender.
During the two-year closure, science communicators at PlaySmart Kuching continued to engage surrounding communities through various digital programmes such as #Mydigitalmaker Virtual Fair, which was specially curated to cater to school children, extending its reach to schools in Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan.
Another majortually was Seminar Pendidikan STEM Digital 2022, designed to elevate teaching standards among teachers by introducing them to use creative teaching styles to deliver online learning for homebound students during the pandemic.
Petrosains PlaySmart Kuching is one of the largest in the country, covering a floor area of 8,410 sq ft and housing more than 50 interactive exhibits and several learning areas.
It is open from 9am to 5pm from Tuesdays to Sundays and is closed every Monday and during major public holidays.
Admission to the centre is free.
For more information on Petrosains PlaySmart’s offerings and safety and visiting guidelines, head over to its official website and Facebook page. — DayakDaily
