By Murniati Abu Karim
Photo Izwan Azman

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) GENIUS@Pintar National Gifted Centre paved the way for young researchers among high school students to explore the research environment while nurturing their interest in the science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) field.

The programme, the International Future Scientists Conference (IFSC) 2021 provided students the opportunity to present their research findings, interact, and connect with real-life scientists and researchers from various faculties at UKM.

Themed ‘Embracing STEAM for the Challenging Future’, iFSC received 58 entries from nine institutions from Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Japan.

GENIUS@Pintar National Gifted Centre Director Associate Professor Dr. Rorlinda Yusof expressed hope that the conference would spark research interest in students to participate seriously in the STEAM field, with a goal of contributing to mankind as well as local and global prosperity.

She added that IFSC 2021 provided a unique platform for exposing cutting edge research findings, interacting, and exchanging ideas among participants and developing students’ talents.

“IFSC is a game changer for exposing our young generations to research. These research findings will be compiled and published as an official IFSC Proceedings,” she said, adding that IFSC has its own proceedings for every conference held since 2012.

Associate Professor Dr. Rorlinda also commended students’ enthusiasm in contributing to scientific progress and to share and exchange ideas and knowledge particularly on scientific and technological innovations.

“Some of our young researchers have even managed to publish their findings in top-established journals which is a tremendous achievement by our young scientists,” she said.

The conference, which was held online was officiated by UKM Director of Centre for Research and Instrumentation Management (CRIM) Prof. Dr. Ismanizan Ismail.