KUCHING: The Sarawak Community Innovation and Engineering Convention (SCIENCE) 8 continued to expand its reach across the state this year, bringing together students from urban, rural and remote communities to explore artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and automotive technology.
The two-day programme, organised under Sarawak Energy Bhd’s (SEB) Powering Young Minds initiative, concluded on Sunday with 192 participants representing 50 teams from 10 STEM communities throughout Sarawak, including students from Baram for the first time.
“Through the projects they undertake, whether in autonomous vehicle navigation, engineering design, coding or AI applications, students are not simply learning about technology.
“They are learning how to identify challenges, think critically, and develop practical solutions to real-world problems,” said SEB Senior Vice-President for Corporate Services, Marconi Madai, during the closing ceremony at Makeramai Makerspace, Plaza Merdeka, on Sunday (June 21).
Marconi said SCIENCE has grown into a platform that encourages young people to explore emerging technologies while developing practical skills needed for the future workforce.
Held under the theme ‘Automotive and AI: Driving Innovation’, the convention highlighted the growing role of AI, electric mobility, and smart technologies in modern industries and everyday life.
He said Sarawak’s transition towards a digital and sustainable economy would require a new generation of thinkers, creators and problem-solvers capable of adapting to rapid technological change.
“As we advance towards becoming a leading digital and sustainable economy, we need a new generation of thinkers, creators and problem solvers who are ready to address change and develop solutions for the challenges of tomorrow.
“At Sarawak Energy, we firmly believe talent must be nurtured from a young age because the ideas, skills and values developed today will become the innovations that transform our communities tomorrow,” he said.
Among the highlights were the Autonomous Rover Challenge for primary school students and the Smart EV Dashboard Challenge for secondary school students, where participants developed vehicle systems incorporating features such as speed monitoring, RPM tracking, signal indicators, and reverse sensors.
The convention also recorded its highest female participation since its inception in 2018, with 122 participants, representing about 63 per cent of the total turnout.
Marconi described the achievement as encouraging and said it reflected ongoing efforts to promote greater inclusivity in STEM-related fields while expanding access to STEM education across Sarawak.
