Who says science can’t be fun? The spectacular performance by Team Skyhigh from SMK Dato’ Penggawa Timur, Johor, which revolved around a who did it mystery over a noodle packet discarded in a drain acted their way into the top spot of the International science drama competition, beating other countries in Beijing, China.
With a tense musical atmosphere setting the stage, their science drama, inspired by crime and thriller genres, which entitled “Who Did It?” highlighted the detrimental effects of single-use plastics and carbon on our environment.
This compelling narrative propelled them to secure the top prize in the open category of the International Science Drama Competition (ISDC) 2024, held on 21st July 2024, at Beijing Institute of Economy & Management, China.
For their win, the team from Johor took home a cash prize of 3,000.00 Chinese Yuan RMB. This also marked the first time Malaysia has won the first place in the open category of ISDC.
Muhammad Ali, 16, from SMK Dato’ Penggawa Timur, who also won the Best Male Performer (open category), said, “We are happy to have won the international competition, and we hope that we have delivered a performance that made our school, Johor, and Malaysia proud. To be well prepared for this competition at an international level, we kept refining our pronunciation, and I would like to thank my teachers for guiding us.”
Satisfied with his team’s performance during the competition, he shared that the competition helped all the participants to understand the sustainability concept better as the team did some thorough research on waste, plastics, polymers, carbons and more.
Meanwhile, returning champion Drama Llamas from SK Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur won the championship for ISDC 2024 junior category with their skit titled “From Waste to Wonder: A Plastic Odyssey”, winning a cash prize of 3,000.00 Chinese Yuan RMB.
This is the fourth time Malaysia has won the junior category of the international competition, after winning the title in 2018, 2019 and 2023.
With a display of their creativity and innovation, the team kicked off the stage with a dynamic dance and theatre performance, three students personified plastic waste items, while “Mankind” and “Madam Science” emerged as heroes, promising a brighter future for these discarded materials through the revolutionary concept of plastic modified bitumen (PMB).
Their performance highlighted how the utilisation of plastic waste in bitumen promises stronger and more durable roads as well as champions environmental sustainability by promoting circular economy.
Maryam Yasmin, 11, from SK Setiawangsa, who visited Beijing for the first time said, “I’m really happy when our team was announced as the winner of the competition (junior category) as we really put in our hearts and soul to our performance. We really work hard on our vocal, pronunciation and facial expression.”
Although she faced challenges in juggling between her studies and the preparation for ISDC 2024, this provided a valuable experience for her as she learnt more about plastics and PMB, which enhanced her understanding towards sustainability. “I want to be an actress in the future, and if possible, I would really want to win the Best Actress Award for next year’s competition,” she added.
Teams from China, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia battled it out on stage and presented a seven-minute drama based on the theme of ‘Global Sustainability: Nations in Action’. The competition is organised by the Asia Pacific Network of Science and Technology Centres (ASPAC), of which Petrosains is a member.
Petrosains Sdn. Bhd. chief executive officer Ezarisma Azni Mohamad meanwhile said: “Winning the International Science Drama Competition again is a great testament to the creative and innovative spirit of our Malaysian students and their mentors. We are very proud of all our young participants who showcased great talent and understanding of the concepts of science and sustainability through their performances.”
“As the social impact arm of PETRONAS under the STEM education pillar, we view our involvement in PSDC as part of the contribution towards the nation in nurturing a future generation of scientifically minded critical thinkers. We would like to thank the Ministry of Education, PETRONAS, parents and all who have been involved in supporting Petrosains as well as the Malaysian teams.”
“Petrosains will remain committed to democratising Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning among Malaysians to inspire more people to be involved in STEM education and careers,” he said.
The winning teams represented Malaysia after winning the PSDC on 25th June 2024 in Putrajaya, in which they won an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the international competition in Beijing, China. PSDC is jointly organised by Petrosains and the Ministry of Education, while PETRONAS is the key partner of the competition.
List of winners:
Junior Category:
First Place: “From Waste to Wonder: A Plastic Odyssey” by SK Setiawangsa, Malaysia
Second Place: “Man VS Waste” by Singapore Chinese Girls’ School, Singapore
Third Place: “Power of Hands” by Lertlah School Phetkasem, Thailand
Open Category:
First Place: “Who Did It?” by SMK Dato’ Penggawa Timur, Malaysia
Second Place: “Breaking News” by Methodist Girls’ School, Singapore
Third Place: “Mrs. Plastic on Trial” by Chalermkwansatree School, Thailand
