Learning About “The Enchanting World of Pharmaceuticals” at IMU-Foon Yew Science Camp

27 – 28 May 2019 – The IMU-Foon Yew Science Camp was conducted at Foon Yew Independent High School, Kulai, Johor as part of an outreach programme held in collaboration between the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, School of Pharmacy (IMU) and Academic Department, Foon Yew (Kulai). The two-day science camp was aimed at enriching the students’ chemistry education as well as exploring chemical diversity and chemistry related areas such as formulation in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Aside from that, the activities conducted demonstrated the relevance of chemistry in our everyday interests and concerns. Annually, the Department hosts 3- 4 science visits, when secondary school students alike are given the opportunity to experience first-hand what it is like to be a pharmacist and pharmaceutical chemist. At these sessions, it is apparent that the IMU lecturers are passionate about science as can be seen in their interactions with the school students. The IMU-Foon Yew Science Camp recruited a total of 109 F3 students who are interested to explore pharmaceutical sciences and prepare themselves before pursuing a Science Major in the coming year. Through this outreach event, the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department seeks to engage with school teachers and students to raise public awareness of science, particularly pharmaceutical sciences and making informal contribution to science education in Malaysia. In this outreach event, the students gained hands-on experience on drug extraction, soap, cream and lip balms making as well as food formulation in making edible caviar. In addition, students were introduced to science and entrepreneurship. These students also enjoyed a lot of the interactive sessions using Kahoot and colour cards, which made them realise that learning science can be very fun.

The sharing sessions conducted by the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) and BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Chemistry Programme Directors, Dr Mayuren Candasamy and Dr Cheong Kok Whye, Senior Lecturers Dr Keng Pei Sin and Dr Cheong Siew Lee and BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Chemistry alumnus, Mr Liaw Pu Kang on the diverse career of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry degrees had also captured the students’ interest. This can be seen in their active participations during the session with the facilitators of these sessions.

Dr Lee Choy Sin, the head of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department commented ‘Through this outreach programme, we are helping our young people to engage with Science. This will help those present to understand in greater detail the world in which they live and how they can play their part in creating a better world. The programme will also show them that Chemistry can be fun and that they may wish to develop their own involvement with chemistry in the future.’