SOMETIMES, a government decision is more than just about money, buildings, or plans. Sometimes, it says something deeper about what we believe in.
And about the kind of future we want for our children.
Sarawak’s move to strengthen its science and engineering culture through the development of the Sarawak Science Centre and the Borneo Astronomy Centre in Santubong feels like one of those moments.
On the surface, these are education facilities. But at heart, they are about something bigger.
They are about giving young Sarawakians the confidence to see science, technology, and engineering as part of their own future – not something meant only for people “somewhere else”.
When Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg spoke at the launch of the Asia Pacific Aerospace Conference and Exhibition (APACE) 2026 in Kuching, he made a simple but powerful point:
“Aerospace and new space are not built by machines alone. They are built by people.”
He said young Sarawakians must be able to see these fields as “visible and achievable”. Those two words matter.
For many children in our towns, villages, and longhouses, careers such as aerospace engineer or space researcher can sound too far away.
They read about satellites and rockets in books. They see them on screens. But they do not always see a clear path from where they are now to where those jobs exist.
I see this often in my own life – in talks with my children about their dreams, or in conversations with interns and young people who come through the newsroom or community programmes.
Many are curious and smart. But they hesitate when it comes to technical or scientific careers. It feels like a world that belongs to someone else. This is where the Science Centre and the Astronomy Centre can make a real difference.
A child looking through a telescope, a student touching a model satellite, and a group of schoolchildren watching a simple experiment – in those moments, science becomes real. It is no longer just words in a book, but something you can see and feel.
That is how curiosity begins. And when curiosity grows, confidence follows. Over time, that confidence becomes skill, and skill becomes capability.
What also stands out is how Sarawak is linking technology with care for the environment.
In his speech, the Premier spoke about using aerospace and space systems for climate monitoring, reducing emissions, and supporting sustainable mobility. He also mentioned investments in green energy, hydrogen, conservation, and carbon management.
All this matters. It shows young people that science is not only about building faster machines or smarter devices. It is also about protecting forests, predicting floods, and helping communities prepare for disasters.
In this way, science becomes a way to serve.
Here in Kuching, we are already seeing signs of what this kind of ecosystem can produce.
One example is Sarawakian aerospace and technology leader Abdul Qaiyum Alidin from i-CATS University College.
In recent months, Abdul Qaiyum, who is also the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at i-CATS University College, has received several international awards in places such as Dubai and Bali for his work in aerospace, innovation, green technology, and talent development.
What is more meaningful is how he responded. He did not talk about personal success.
He spoke about Sarawak and about building an environment where local talent can grow, innovate, and compete at the global level.
That message fits perfectly with what the Science Centre and the Astronomy Centre are trying to do.
They are not meant to produce just one or two success stories. They are meant to create many – to build a long path from curious children to confident students, to skilled professionals.
This also reflects how the idea of development is changing.
In the past, we measured progress by roads, bridges, and buildings. Those still matter – Sarawak still has much to achieve.
But today, we must also ask a different question: Are we building people who can think, adapt, and lead?
A state can buy machines. It cannot buy a culture of thinking.
That culture has to grow slowly – in classrooms where questions are welcomed, in homes where learning is valued, and in communities where ideas are encouraged.
The Science Centre and the Astronomy Centre are part of that journey. They are not just places to visit. They are places to imagine.
The Premier also spoke about Sarawak’s aim to become an aerospace and new space education hub within ASEAN. This is not just about regional status. It is about giving our young people a place in a bigger world.
ASEAN is young and growing. It is full of energy and ambition.
If Sarawak prepares its talent well, our children will not just join this future, but help shape it.
However, we all know that no plan can succeed on government effort alone. Parents, teachers, community leaders, and employers all have a role to play.
Children need to be told that it is okay to try and fail. That it is okay to ask “why” and “how”, and that it is certainly okay to dream of things that sound big.
A science centre can open a door. But someone still has to walk through it with them.
In the end, this is not really about telescopes or buildings.
It is about belief.
Belief that a child from a rural school can one day work on satellites, and a student from a small town can help solve climate problems. Belief that Sarawak’s future will be shaped not only by what we build on the land, but by what we grow in the minds of our people.
If these centres succeed, their real success will not be measured in visitor numbers or headlines.
It will be seen years from now. In a young Sarawakian who looks at the sky, looks at a problem, and quietly says:
“I can do this.”
And that, perhaps, is the most meaningful kind of development of all.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at drnagrace@gmail.com.
