5 February 2025 - The Institute of Bioscience (IBS) organised the Kem Cuti Remaja @ Biosains (Dunia Herba) Programme. This was the first school holiday programme organised by the Biodiversity Unit, Institute of Bioscience, UPM, for a group of teenagers aged 13 to 17. The programme is part of IBS’s efforts to promote and expand research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). It was sponsored by Kenanga Investors Berhad and attended by 40 participants from across Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. Most of the participants were from asnaf (underprivileged groups), orphanages, and Tahfiz schools. Held during the school holidays, this programme aimed to provide meaningful activities for teenagers while fostering their interest in plant science, particularly in medicinal herbal plants. The objectives of the programme were to enhance participants' understanding of STEM research, serve as a platform to promote the Institute of Bioscience, strengthen UPM’s reputation as an educational institution, and further develop industry and community networks.

A variety of engaging activities took place, including herbal product making (such as cincau or grass jelly), plant tissue culture, a garden tour, an explorace, and creative herbal planting. These activities captivated the participants’ interest, as each participant had the opportunity to produce their own cincau, learning about scientific processes such as boiling and freezing. Additionally, they engaged in herbal planting, recognising different plants based on leaf shape, colour, taste, and medicinal properties, while also learning about plant life processes, including photosynthesis and respiration. Adding to the excitement, participants were divided into four groups to compete in an herbal plant exploration challenge at Conservatory Park, where they completed a STEM science quiz covering levels 1 to 5.

Through this programme, participants were encouraged to explore opportunities in entrepreneurship, agricultural technology, and innovation, as well as developments in agricultural technology transfer to create herbal-based products in the future. The programme was officiated by Dr. Khairil bin Mahmud, Coordinator of the Biodiversity Unit, followed by the presentation of certificates and souvenirs to the participants by YBhg. Prof. Dr. Zunita binti Zakaria.

Also present at the event were Programme Director Puan Julia binti Abdul Aziz, along with Mr. Ahmad Faruq and Mr. Muhammad Izwan bin Soheimi, representatives from Kenanga Investors Berhad.

Date of Input: 24/02/2025 | Updated: 24/02/2025 | azah