The Official Launch of Grand STEM Challenge 2022
SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR STEM SHOWCASE ’22:
The Official Launch of Grand STEM Challenge 2022
3 September 2022
Han Chiang High School
YB Jagdeep Singh Deo
Penang State EXCO for Housing & Local Government, Town & Country Planning
YB Chris Lee Chun Kit
ADUN Pulau Tikus
Mr Richard Chung
General Manager of PENANG STEM
Dato’ Seri Ir. KK Lim
Director of TECH DOME PENANG
Mr Khoo Boo Wooi
CEO TECH DOME PENANG
Mr Johnny Ong
General Manager, PENANG MATH PLATFORM
Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Tan Kok Ping
Executive Advisor, HAN CHIANG BOARD
Dato’ Seri Ooi Soo Hing
Chairman, HAN CHIANG BOARD
Dr K. Nagulendran
Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha, MOSTI
Captains of Industry
Sponsors, Event Partners, Media friends, Ladies & Gentlemen
Good morning to all of you.
I am truly delighted and grateful for your presence here with us today for the Official Launch of the Grand STEM Challenge 2022. This event is co-organised by Tech Dome Penang and Penang Math Platform, two of the STEM-learning centres under the Penang STEM ecosystem.
I can distinctly recall officially launching the inaugural Grand STEM Challenge back in 2020 when it had to be done virtually then as we were facing the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the closure of schools and our students had to resort to home-study, parents and teachers had expressed grave concerns about how the MCO would adversely affect their studies especially for those who will be sitting for public examinations.
For Penang STEM, the focus of our concern was on lower secondary students. One of the primary tasks of Penang STEM is to spark interest in STEM-learning amongst our students in lower secondary and to inspire more to opt for science stream when they go on to upper secondary.
This is important for the future direction of the state. Feedback we received from the industry is that we lack engineers and professionals who are trained in the Sciences. For us to be able to take up the challenges of Industry 4.0, it is vital that our students are prepared and have the interest to get into the field of STEM study.
It was, as such, the idea to run a series of virtual STEM-learning workshops for students to learn from home was first mooted. However, due to concerns about whether students could adapt and sustain their attention to online learning, it was decided to incorporate a competition as a finale with attractive prizes for winners.
Hence, the Grand STEM Challenge was conceptualized as an inter-team competition for lower secondary students and the response was overwhelming.
Today, I am very delighted that not only will the competition be conducted for the third year running, but it will be conducted in person with 480 finalists participating in 8 categories. A total of 1,494 participants from 45 schools had taken part in the preliminary workshops and competitions held earlier.
More importantly, it has been incorporated as one of the key highlights under the STEM Showcase ’22, an exciting 2-day event which was officially launched by Deputy Chief Minister, YB Prof Dr P Ramasamy yesterday.
I would like to, therefore, congratulate Penang STEM, Tech Dome Penang, Penang Math Platform for co-organising this Grand STEM Challenge and also thank the Main Sponsor, Intel Technology, as well as Emico Penang and Kiwanis Penang Central as sponsors for the 3rd year running.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to Intel Technology for also being the Main Sponsor for the STEM Showcase ’22 along with the others.
My heartfelt appreciation also goes to Flextronics Technology and Plexus Manufacturing for coming forward to be the Main Sponsors for the 2-day event.
Ladies & Gentlemen,
The Grand STEM Challenge as well as the STEM Showcase are indeed fine examples of smart partnerships between the State, Education authorities and the corporate sector in the common mission to groom our younger generation to meet the challenges, and also seize the opportunities, under IR4.0 and the Digital Transformation.
To the 480 finalists with us today, you are all truly winners by qualifying for the Grand Challenge. It is through your efforts that provide sustainability and continuation for the nation and Penang’s future. I wish you all the best and I hope you carve a successful career in STEM-related fields in future.
And to the parents and teachers who have motivated your children and students to excel in their respective fields, you have certainly fulfilled the meaningful roles which you carry. Syabas to you!
Lastly, with great pleasure, I now declare the Grand STEM Challenge ‘22 open!