Summary
Highlights
Dr. Anis Diana from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, representing the Young Scientist Network of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, welcomes attendees to the webinar. She explains that this session is preparation for the first phase of the National Science Challenge (NSC), which focuses on strengthening science foundations for a resilient and inclusive future. The webinar will cover physics and mathematics applications, following a previous session on biology and chemistry. Dr. Anis introduces the three expert speakers: Associate Professor TS Dr. Rafidah Zainun (medical physics), Associate Professor IRS Mariana Aida Abdul Kadir (earthquake and fire engineering), and Associate Professor Dr. Theo Puh Chun (digital marketing).
Dr. Rafidah Zainun discusses how physics is not just a textbook subject but is integrated into everyday life. She highlights examples such as smartphones (radio waves, sensors, GPS, Newton's laws of motion for movement detection, converting electricity to visible light), sports (Magnus effect in football and tennis, appropriate force and angle in basketball, reducing air resistance in cycling), cooking (conduction, convection, radiation for grilling, pressure cookers), road safety (friction for car movement, braking, and preventing skidding), and the use of UV light and X-rays/gamma rays in various fields (sterilization, forensics, medical imaging, cancer treatment, industrial inspection without disassembly). She concludes by encouraging students to stay curious and explore the science around them.
Dr. Aida Abdul Kadir explains the importance of understanding fire and how mathematics can be used for smart safety. She describes fire as a combination of fuel, oxygen, and heat, and discusses its devastating effects. Dr. Aida outlines the four stages of a fire (ignition, growth, fully developed, decay) and emphasizes that knowing these stages can help in understanding fire behavior. She then applies mathematical concepts to fire safety, such as calculating evacuation time based on distance to an exit and speed, and understanding how different materials (concrete, steel) react to heat. She stresses that understanding these concepts can lead to career opportunities in engineering, where safety is paramount.
Datuk Dr. Norini Idris, Chairperson of the NSC, encourages students and teachers to participate in the challenge, highlighting the opportunity to travel abroad and win the Prime Minister's Trophy. She emphasizes the theme of strengthening science foundations for a resilient and inclusive future, connecting it to the diverse applications of physics and mathematics discussed by the speakers. Datuk Dr. Norini outlines the NSC's objectives: building knowledge and skills, fostering scientific thinking and creativity in STEM, strengthening scientific communication, and promoting continuous interest in science, technology, innovation, and economics. She explains the registration process (teams of three students and one mentor teacher) and clarifies that all participants receive a certificate of participation and national-level PJsk marks, with top performers advancing to STEM camps and potentially representing Malaysia in international Olympiads. She also addresses common questions about the quiz format and preparation.
Dr. Theo Puh Chun discusses the importance of mathematics beyond just numbers, defining it as a powerful tool for knowledge discovery, tracking learning, and solving real-world problems related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He illustrates how mathematics helps assess learning progress through pre- and post-test scores, allowing teachers and researchers to measure improvement after interventions. Dr. Theo provides examples of mathematics in daily life, such as tracking steps with smartwatches, budgeting, comparing discounts, and weather prediction. He emphasizes its role in addressing global challenges like climate action, sustainable cities, and quality education. He shares his experience with the "STI 100 the Power of Trees" project, where digital SDG learning activities were designed for primary students. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to understand learning effectiveness, showing significant improvement in students' familiarity with SDGs. He concludes by urging students to use mathematics to solve community problems and to join the NSC.
Dr. Anis Diana provides details about the NSC quiz. The quiz lasts 60 minutes and consists of 50 multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions in both English and Malay. It will be available from 7 AM to 7 PM on April 27th. The questions cover biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics from Form 1 to Form 4 syllabuses, with varying difficulty levels: easy (found in textbooks), HOTS (requiring critical thinking), and 'wow' applications (real-world problem-solving). She advises students to read textbooks, reference books, watch the webinar, and explore ASMS.my for preparation to succeed in the quiz and advance to the next stages of the challenge, which include STEM camps and hands-on experiments.