Lighting The Spark Of Curiosity: USM PHD Student Inspires STEM Passion In Schools

The Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) proudly celebrated the achievement of its Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Nanotechnology), Ms. Nur Alia Afifah Binti Zakaria, supervised by Assoc. Prof. Ts. ChM. Dr. Lim Vuanghao. She was invited as a guest speaker at the Career Bomb: Explode the Potential Career and Education Exhibition held at SMJK Poi Lam, Ipoh, Perak.

Organized by the Ministry of Education Malaysia in collaboration with FINCO, the program gathered 1,714 students from 54 schools across the state of Perak, aiming to inspire and guide them in exploring diverse career and academic opportunities.

In her motivational STEM talk titled “Chemistry in Everyday Life”, Ms. Nur Alia highlighted how chemistry plays an essential role in daily living and technological advancement. Her session enhanced students’ awareness of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) while encouraging them to pursue studies in STEM-related fields. In her talk, Ms. Nur Alia shared a heartfelt message with the students: “Not getting one dream is not the end. STEM is broad, and many doors will open for you.”

Drawing from her inspiring journey as a recipient of the Biasiswa Yang Di-Pertuan Agong’s Scholarship and her active involvement in pharmaceutical nanotechnology research, Ms. Nur Alia shared real-life applications of STEM in innovation that contribute to human health and well-being.

The event also featured exhibition booths from companies, agencies, and educational institutions. IPPT was among the participants, showcasing USM’s research excellence and promoting its academic and research programs to students and visitors.

Her participation not only highlights the active engagement of USM students in community and educational outreach but also reflects the university’s commitment to nurturing individuals who are academically excellent, socially responsible, and dedicated to inspiring the next generation of scientists and innovators.