Miri – 16 June 2023 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently welcomed over 100 students in Form 3, 4 and 5 from SMK Lutong for a biodiversity learning activity centred around plant identification.
The activity, organised by Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science, aimed to expose the students to the rich biodiversity of Sarawak and the Curtin Malaysia campus, and equip them with skills to identify plants and better understand their importance in the ecosystem.
The event began with a welcoming by Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science, prof. Tuong-Thuy Vu, and a briefing on plant identification by senior lecturer Dr. Tay Ai Chen.
Divided in to 11 groups, the students then proceed to carry out their fieldwork across the campus under the guidance of a team of experts, namely Dean of Learning and Teaching Prof. Tang Fu Ee, Head of Civil and Construction Engineering Assoc. Prof. Wong Kwong Soon, Head of First Year Engineering Dr. Tan Yee Yong, Civil and Construction Engineering Programme Coordinator Carrie Ho, Environmental Engineering Programme Coordinator Dr. Tan Yin Ling, and Civil and Construction Engineering lecturers Dr. Timothy Ting and Dr. Haider Hamad Ghayeb.
The students in an interactive group discussion.
A group discussion being facilitated by Curtin Malaysia lecturers.
In the fieldwork, the students participated in a guided tour of the university’s extensive gardens, where they learned how to identify various plant species and the key features that differentiate them. They also had a lot of fun learning to use Pl@ntNet, a mobile application that allows users to identify plants simply by photographing them with their smartphones.
Dr. Tay expressed her excitement of the students’ visit, saying, “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to engage with young minds and inspire them to become curious and passionate about our environment. Plant identification is one of the biodiversity learning activities in our Environmental Engineering Programme for secondary school students, to help them understand the importance of plant biodiversity in environmental conservation.”
“It is crucial for the next generation to have a deep understanding and appreciation of the diversity of flora and fauna here in Borneo, and be knowledgeable of global environmental issues.”
One of the participating students, Sarah Zareen, shared her excitement about the visit, “I had a great time with my friends, learning about all the plants. I liked how I could relate all that I had learned from the activity to what I had learned in my biology classes.”
Fellow student Priscilla Tra said, “The activity was a really good way to learn about biodiversity and the importance of preserving the environment. I didn’t know about the Pl@ntNet app until today, but it helped a lot in learning about the different plants, especially their scientific names. It was a fascinating experience indeed.”
Assoc. Prof. Wong, meanwhile, said he was glad the students enjoyed the activity and gained considerable knowledge of biodiversity, which they can use in their ongoing studies.
He said Curtin Malaysia is committed to promoting environmental awareness and sustainability through education and outreach, and welcomes opportunities to collaborate with schools and community organisations to achieve their goals.
More information on Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science and its programmes can be found at engsci.curtin.edu.my.
For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit www.curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or Tik-Tok.
The students pause for a group photo during their tour of the campus.
The students exploring plants around the campus.
Online Education Fair 线上教育展
Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia)
科廷大学马来西亚分校
https://edufair.fsi.com.my/curtin
