INFORMM Health Campus, November 30, 2023 — The Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), successfully hosted its annual Science Made Fun (SMF2023) programme, continuing a decade-long tradition of nurturing interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) among schoolchildren.

SMF was first introduced in 2013 to address declining enrollment in science courses, a trend that could indirectly impact the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation’s Pelan Hala Tuju Teknologi dan Produk Nano Negara 2021–2025. The programme aims to spark curiosity and make science engaging through interactive, hands-on activities.

This year’s event, organized in collaboration with Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah (PPD) Pasir Puteh, welcomed 20 students from five primary schools in the district. Led by En Muhammad Najmi Bin Mohd Nazri, the programme began with a visit to the SPICES Interactive Gallery, featuring over 200 pathological specimens, advanced laboratory instruments, and immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and 3D mapping.

Students also enjoyed a motivational talk titled “Science is Fun” by En Ahmad Najib Bin Mohamad, a PhD student in Molecular Medicine at INFORMM, followed by five exciting experiments aligned with the primary school syllabus, including bacterial culture, microscopy, pipetting, blood transfusion demonstrations, and DNA extraction.

In her closing remarks, Associate Professor Dr Aziah binti Ismail, Director of INFORMM, praised the dedication of more than 20 committee members who ensured the programme’s success. Positive feedback from students and teachers affirmed SMF’s impact, with INFORMM pledging to expand the initiative in 2024 to cover broader aspects of biomedical and health sciences.