ON Semiconductor Malaysia Believes in the Investment in Science

If we can make science inspirational and fun, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) would not be “too difficult.” It is easier to learn when the subject taught is enjoyable and students can relate to it through experiments being conducted. 

A group of enthusiastic lecturers at the University of Malaya in the Department of Physics established a working team in 2017, dedicated to Learning Enrichment through eXposition, eXperience and eXperiment, or otherwise known as, “LEARN-X.”

LEARN-X thus launched in 2018, when the University team collaborated with ON Semiconductor Malaysia to address this problem in organizing several expositions and discovered that high school students were very excited to see the capability of high-tech instruments. 

For example, students used optical microscopes in schools to get a sneak peek into the microscopic world. In an exposition event, organized by the Department of Physics in March 2018, students were excited to be introduced to the electron microscope, which has greater magnification power, allowing students to see things more than a thousand times smaller. 
In a recent LEARN-X research experience event held last August, groups of twenty-four secondary school students were attached to different research projects within the Department of Physics for three days. During this period, the students had the opportunity to experience first-hand the daily routines of the researchers. 

They were introduced to the concepts of Higgs particle, network theory, advanced fabrication processes, light as photon, structure of materials, plasma, Unix operating system - just to name a few. ON Semiconductor and University of Malaya were delighted to see that the students were capable to grasp a higher level of scientific concepts often only introduced at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. 

Here is a snapshot of some the participating students’ feedback:

• “This program taught me to be able to search for my own solution and encouraged me to continue to work hard in my studies.”

• “This program encouraged me to have more interest in physics. I also learned how to present in front of others, since we had to present on our projects on the last day.”

• “We experienced so many new things since this program was held on the University’s campus so I’m excited to study hard and go to college in the future.”

In addition, two of the teachers’ shared the following comments:

• “This program exposed the students to many sub-topics within physics. The students also got to study in a university environment, including being able to see labs and lecture hall facilities, which motivated them to further their studies until university level.”

• “This was a very good experience for the students since there were many hands-on activities with facilitators.”

Learn more about how the ON Semiconductor Foundation is committed to supporting STEAM education worldwide.