Out of the ordinary
THE Biotechnology Carnival at Kuen Cheng High School, organised by the School of Science at Monash University Malaysia together with the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre ( MABIC) and Kuen Cheng High School, attracted more than 500 students.
It provided students with the opportunity to gain insight into the field of science from academics and professionals.
Exhibitors included the Monash Genomics Facility; Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture, University of Malaya; Mushroom Society Malaysia; University Putra Malaysia; PLS Marketing Sdn Bhd and ChemoScience Sdn Bhd.
To add to the carnival- themed atmosphere, there were also game booths that hosted activities such as crime scene investigation ( CSI) with hands- on DNA ( deoxyribonucleic acid) profiling.
There was a series of diverse talks and dialogues by professors, academics and professionals from various institutions. Topics ranged from trends in human genetics and molecular biology to cancer research and even mushrooms.
“Bioinformatics, genomics, nanotechnology, medical bioscience – the science field is vast. For decades, people have been unaware of the careers and opportunities available within the field of science. We are here to change that perception. Through the hands- on activities here today, we hope that as you get involved, you will also get excited about the wonders of biotechnology, which is so much a part of our everyday life,” said Dr Song Beng Kah as he welcomed the students.
Dr Song, a senior lecturer at the School of Science, Monash Malaysia, who is also the organising committee advisor, stressed the importance of helping the country engage more students in the biotechnology field. This is in line with government efforts to increase the number of science graduates.
“We are really happy to have Monash and MABIC provide our students with the most current update in the field of biotechnology. It is a field that is embedded in many facets of our daily lives and also one of the fastest- growing sectors globally,” said Gooi Swee Gaik, the principal of Kuen Ching High School.
Led by Dr Song, the organising committee for the carnival consisted of 31 undergraduates from the School of Science at Monash Malaysia.
“The three- month long preparation taught me so much about communication as well as working effectively with people,” shares Tee Hsin Yee, a biotechnology student, who was chairperson of the committee.
Brandon Yeoh Khai Siang, a medical bioscience student and committee secretary, says that communication skills are essential when working in teams.
Lee Zhi Wei, who was activities director at the event and currently pursuing her yearlong honours programme for medical bioscience, admits that she found it a challenge to think on her feet as she dealt with situations that popped up during the preparation process and on the event day.
The School of Science at Monash University Malaysia is supportive of the Government’s biotechnology agenda. Its good collaborative relationship with MABIC allows similar workshops to be run as community service for public and private schools nationwide. For more information, visit