Petrosains chief executive officer Ezarisma Azni Mohamad (left) handing over a token of appreciation to guest of honour, Education Ministry sports, co-curricular, arts development and excellence sector director Zainuren Mohd Nor at the recent Petrosains Science Drama Competition Grand Finals 2023 held at HGH Convention Centre in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.
Petrosains, a social impact arm for PETRONAS in education, has partnered with the Education Ministry, to organise the Petrosains Science Drama Competition for primary 4 to 6 school students.
The competition, carrying the theme “Producing Green, Consuming Clean” this year, is designed for students and teachers to showcase their knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), through drama.
The recently concluded Petrosains Science Drama Competition was a resounding success.
At the recent Petrosains Science Drama Competition Grand Finals 2023 held at HGH Convention Centre in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, 10 teams that made it to the final round showcased their talent and creativity. A total of 117 teams sent in their entries for the competition this year.
Each finalist team delivered captivating science show performances, showcasing their creativity through experiments and demonstrations that brought scientific theories to life.
The Drama Llamas, a talented team from SK Setiawangsa, achieved remarkable success, bringing honour and pride to their school by emerging victorious in the competition. As the top winner, they received a cash prize of RM1,500 and an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the International Science Drama Competition which will take place at the National Science Museum in Bangkok, Thailand in September, where the Malaysian team will compete with teams from China, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines and Australia.
During the event, some team members broke into tears while others shouted in joy when the emcee announced the winners of the competition.
Wan Mohamed Faris Wan Yusoff, a teacher from SK Setiawangsa as well as the director and scriptwriter for thewinning Drama Llamas team, reacting in joy for their victory.
Wan Mohamed Faris Wan Yusoff, a teacher from SK Setiawangsa as well as the director and scriptwriter for the Drama Llamas team, shared that they dedicated one month to prepare for the competition.
Their storyline focused on sustainable aviation fuel, exploring an alternative fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.
“We want to create a storyline, which is informative and fun, that focuses on sustainability”.
He also ensured that the content to be “children friendly” and trained 12 students from Year 4, 5 and 6 to effectively participate in the drama.
On their win, he shared “It feels surreal but I am excited as our students will be representing Malaysia for the international competition.”
Sarah Nafeesa Mohamad Azmi (left) and Hassan Ali Rayyan Hirman Falani, who won the Most OutstandingPerformer in the Female and Male category respectively posing after their win at the Petrosains Science DramaCompetition.
Hassan Ali Rayyan Hirman Falani from Drama Llamas team, who also won the Most Outstanding Performer under the Male category, brought home a plaque, e-certificate and Petrosains merchandise for his efforts.
“I am really satisfied with this win, as I have been trying to get the top performer special award for two years. My hard work paid off,” said Hassan, who is a Year 6 student.
Meanwhile, Sarah Nafeesa Mohamad Azmi, from SK Taman Tun Dr Ismail (1), who was crowned Most Outstanding Female Performer, had this to say:
“It was shocking, but I deserved the win due to my clear pronunciation and focused performance. This win will also motivate me to participate in other science competitions in school.”
She is from The Onerz team from SK Taman Tun Dr Ismail (1) that won the second prize and took home RM1,000 in cash prize in the competition.
Little Earth Warriors, the team from SK Convent (1) Bukit Nanas, came in third and won RM500 in cash prize for their achievement.
Given the theme "Producing Green, Consuming Clean," which is aligned with the United Nations International Year of Millets theme for 2023 and global sustainability concerns, the competition challenged young minds to explore sustainability-related issues and devise creative solutions to deliver STEM content in compelling and impactful ways, thereby strengthening STEM literacy.
Petrosains chief executive officer Ezarisma Azni Mohamad, in his welcoming speech, highlighted the unique opportunity that the Petrosains Science Drama Competition provides for students and teachers to showcase their knowledge in STEM through drama.
He emphasised that this interactive and impactful learning experience not only benefits the performers and their mentors, but also the audience.
“Through the expression of drama, these young talents will be able to develop what is popularly known as 4C skills, namely, critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, and collaboration.
“These tools will in turn help our young generation embrace the accelerated rate of advancement in science and technology and pave the way for them to deliver smart, transformative, and sustainable solutions for the future.”
Ezarisma also added that the competition was aimed to encourage the younger generation to reflect on their lifestyles and make positive contributions to the environment.
“We hope that through this competition, our participants can discover ways to overcome challenges and maintain value for society and the economy through sustainable solutions.”
Education Ministry sports, co-curricular, arts development and excellence sector director Zainuren Mohd Nor, who represented the Education Minister, in his speech, highlighted the ministry’s belief in providing quality education that encompasses a balanced effort, with equal emphasis on the arts, sciences, as well as good moral and spiritual values.
He shared that the event is an initiative to uphold Bahasa Melayu and to strengthen English language policy (Dasar Memartabatkan Bahasa Melayu dan Memperkukuh Bahasa Inggeris), which aims to produce proficient English language users through their involvement in co-academic activities.
He explained that the strategic collaboration with Petrosains is aligned with the country’s 60:40 Policy, which aims to increase students’ interests in science. Zainuren hoped that more students would develop their interest in science and pursue science-related courses in tertiary education.
He also acknowledged that the involvement of private companies in promoting quality education, particularly in areas that require high expertise.
“We view this development as a positive indicator towards strengthening the national education and promoting smart partnerships in education.”
For more details and updates, visit Petrosains, The Discovery Centre I Discover STEM Education At Its Best.
