DIVERSITY is the key to scientific excellence and advancement.
Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) chief executive officer Ong Bee Leng said the Women in Zcience (WIZ) programme was important to promote diversity in education and to build a strong foundation for scientific learning amongst children.
“The state government views the participation of women in Science very seriously. There is a huge calling for all women to strive and make a difference by contributing their expertise in Science.
“We want to encourage more girls to take up subjects related to Science as we want to produce more women scientists and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) experts.
“The efforts to promote Science must go on despite the current global uncertainty because Science plays a pivotal role in our fight against the deadly Covid-19 pandemic,” Ong said during the press conference at Tech Dome Penang in Komtar today.
This programme was the fifth edition of its kind that was headed by Tech Dome Penang; supported by the Penang government and PWDC.
Ong said that in every WIZ edition, various STEM-related organisations and multinational companies would support by sponsoring, or giving talks, workshops, and self-defence demonstrations.
Among the sponsors, partners and facilitators were Intel Technology Sdn Bhd, Dell, Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (EIM), Sharon Chan (sixth-degree black belt taekwondo instructor), National Instruments Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Flex LTD, and ViTrox Technologies Sdn Bhd.
“The participating schools will simultaneously go online to watch the sessions via Tech Dome Penang official Facebook page, or the other channels prepared by the participating organisations and multinational companies,” she added.
Some 1,200 students from 32 schools across the state are expected to join this programme, which is held from 9.00am to 1.00pm today (April 6).
The programmes lined up include Come Fly Wiz Me, Lope AI workshop, Foundation of Engineering, Be Crea8tive Always, Triz Problem Solving, Engineers Dreams True Makers and Celebrating Female Scientists with Scratch.
“This year’s WIZ opening ceremony is also being streamed live to the audience of Minggu Sains Negara throughout Malaysia,” Ong added.
Also present during the opening ceremony was Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Alissala Thian