Petrosains Science Festival 2014 @ KLCC, Arts and Music Through Science

Did you know this whole week, over at Petrosains KLCC, there will be this full blown Petrosains Science Festival, culminating in a festival area over at the Esplanade, KLCC Park for the last three days. To popularize science and instill the interest and appreciation in the learning of science, Petrosains, The Discovery Centre is bringing back for the second consecutive year, the Petrosains Science Festival, from 15 to 21 September 2014.  

Petrosains Science Festival 2014 @ KLCC, Arts and Music Through Science

The Festival was launched by Yang Berhormat Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching, Deputy Minister of Education 1, Malaysia at Petrosains, Suria KLCC.  Themed ‘Music, Arts and Science’, the Festival this year hopes to attract and inspire the general public in the understanding of science but with a broader appreciation and inclusion of music and arts.

I was there to check it out yesterday, minus the kids as they were down with the flu this week. It was indeed the perfect place for children to play and enjoy themselves, while learning arts and music through science. I was up at level 4 of KLCC, where inside Petrosains, they had this area dedicated to the Petrosain Science Festival 2014, complete with workshops, fun and games. 

All set to enter Petrosains Science Festival 2014 on the level 4 of KLCC

The Festival is also organized in support of the National Education Agenda to help raise awareness on the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education with the help from Festival partners from the relevant industries, the academia and government agencies. 

The Galleria Map at Petrosains, The Discovery Centre, Suria KLCC

Register for the workshops for kids at only RM5 per kid per workshop, while the other areas are free to enter. 

With a vast festival area covering the Galleria areas of Petrosains, The Discovery Centre, Suria KLCC and extending to the Esplanade, KLCC Park for the last three days of the Festival, the Petrosains Science Festival 2014 promises to be exciting and educational.  Visitors to the Festival will be treated to hands-on science workshops, immersive talks and forums, entertaining music performances and colourful displays of artwork – all offerings of the Festival which bridges science with music and arts to bring visitors an experience that is holistic and enriching.       

One of the talks by Assoc Prof Dr Valerie Ross, Head of Post-Graduate Studies, UiTM Music Faculty, more for the parents while their children attend the workshops. 

    

These informal learning institutions such as Petrosains are important components to the broader learning ecosystem as nurturing the interest in science can be developed both within and outside of the classroom environment such as this Festival.  Many researches done globally have indicated that science centers have successfully helped to popularize science in a structured, planned and proven way, increased science literacy among students and most importantly, helped sustain the interest which will eventually lead to students taking up career paths in science and related fields.”

One of the very interesting workshop held during the Petrosains Science Festival 2014, Make Your Own Box-E-LeLe

A DIY Ukelele

One of the very cool kids workshop, was this Box-E-Lele workshop where kids get to build their own box ukelele themselves. The staff was on hand to guide and help these kids implement the science of building one from scratch to the final product and actually hearing it play good music. 

These two children were customizing their completed Box-E-Lele

Children enjoying themselves at the Cheesy Cheesecake workshop

Not only do kids get to learn the arts and music, there was even this workshop aptly named the Cheesy Cheesecake workshop. The children not only learnt how to bake and cook, through the various interesting activities and quizzes, they learned the science behind cooking. 

This Festival is a very good example of a planned and structured program organized by Petrosains which will help spark and sustain the interest in science amongst students which eventually may inspire students to take up career paths in related fields and produce more science and technology professionals to propel Malaysia to a developed nation status by the year 2020.   

Children at the Batik Canting workshop

Creations from the kids after attending the Batik Canting Workshop

Your children will get to display their natural flair for art as well through one of the art workshops available at Petrosains Science Festival. Here they get to create some very abstract and unique Batik Canting art on these little slabs of wood. 

“This Festival, along with many other activities organized by Petrosains, aims to nurture an informed and scientific citizenry.  This year we aim to celebrate the convergence of Music, Arts and Science where elements of these 3 disciplines will be featured during the Festival. As Music and Arts have always projected the undeniable capacity to ignite interest and cultivate passion in people, the festival then serves as a platform for us to draw our audiences from all ages and more importantly, we are calling out to the Youth to come join us in celebrating science,” said Petrosains Chief Executive Officer, Tengku Nasariah Tengku Syed Ibrahim.

While waiting for the workshops to begin, your children will get to play at the Hasbro PLAY corner

Blast away!

Kids being kids, while in between workshops, there was even a PLAY area specially set up by one of the sponsors Hasbro. Yup, Hasbro, the good folks who brought us the Transformers toys and lots of other cool stuff for kids. Parents can leave their kids there while they enjoy themselves all geared up for the next learning and fun workshops!

     

“Science centres are designed and structured learning environments and play pivotal roles in many developed nations as powerful learning support systems to formal and continuing education. Through exhibitions, programmes, competitions or festivals, science centres aim to make science accessible, engaging and interesting to the public. The Petrosains Science Festival is yet another step that Petrosains, as a science centre takes toward further providing meaningful science learning to even more people out there.” Tengku Nasariah added

An Astro learning corner

The Festival is also supported by PETRONAS  which has established not only public education of Science through Petrosains in KLCC, but also the Music through Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra MPO & the Concert Hall DFP ;  and the Arts through GALERI PETRONAS.   

    

Among the key partners of the Petrosains Science Festival 2014 are PETRONAS, Google, Telekom Malaysia, The STAR and Discovery Channel. The other partners include influential industry players in science and innovation, the academia, learning institutions and other related industries. 

Petrosains Science Festival 2014 will extend to the Esplanade of KLCC park from today, until this Sunday 

It was in the midst of being set up when I was there yesterday

Look out for a day of fun and activities this weekend, as the Petrosains Science Festival 2014 @ KLCC, Arts and Music Through Science extend to the Esplanade of KLCC Park. Entrance is free at the Esplanade while over at level 4 of Petrosains the admission rates are as below. 

- Admission fee – Galleria, Petrosains: RM3 per person (all categories). Re-entry is allowed for the same date.

- Workshops – RM5 per workshop per person

- Talks/Forums – free / by invitation

- Activities at Esplanade, Suria KLCC – free

*The above rates are applicable for Malaysians, senior citizens and foreigners (non-Malaysians). Children below 2 years old enter for free.

Prior registration is recommended for workshops, talks and forums. For a detailed schedule of activities during the Petrosains Science Festival 2014, visit www.sciencefestival.my. Hurry now, bring your kids over to KLCC this weekend!