FUTURE ENGINEERS GATHER AT CHEM-E BY CHESS EXPO

NIBONG TEBAL, 12 April 2025 - The School of Chemical Engineering at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) hosted the educational Chem-E By ChESS Expo, with the participation of 164 students from six secondary schools and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Permatang Pauh.

Students from Akademi Sains Pendang, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sungai Acheh, SMK Panglima Bukit Gantang, SMK Seri Perak, SMK Simpang Ampat, SMK Saujana Indah and UiTM were given a unique opportunity to experience the world of engineering through interactive exhibits, hands-on experiments as well as close interaction with university students and faculty.

In his closing speech, the Dean of the School of Chemical Engineering, Professor Ir. Dr. Zainal Ahmad emphasized the importance of the expo organized by the School of Chemical Engineering Students' Society (ChESS) in nurturing young talent in science and technology.

"Our goal today is to attract future engineers, not just for chemical engineering, but for all branches of engineering," he said.

"The relevance of engineering is not diminishing, in fact, it is evolving and complementing emerging fields such as artificial intelligence," he added.

He further emphasized that while information on social media can often be inaccurate, programs such as this play a crucial role in providing students with real insights into the field of engineering.

"Malaysia needs more engineers, and we at USM are committed to developing world-class talent.”

“The School of Chemical Engineering is already ranked in the top 100-200 globally, therefore, if you enjoy mathematics and physics, chemical engineering may be your calling," he added.

The Dean also called on teachers to help create and nurture interest in STEM fields among their students, and encouraged school visits to USM's School of Chemical Engineering to explore the opportunities available.

The Expo served not only as an educational platform, but also as an inspiration for attendees, many of whom expressed a newfound interest in pursuing engineering as a career while shaping the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.

Text: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Photo: Farid Hamidi Wahab