14 July 2018 – IMU’s Science Discovery Challenge this year has drawn a record number of participants, a total of 5,096 participants. This year’s competition drew participants from all over Malaysia and from other countries in the world. International participants include participants from Syria, Pakistan, Bangaldesh and India. 
The preliminary round of the competition started in April with an online quiz using a new digital platform. The preliminary round ran from 9 April to 9 June with 150 teams for the secondary school and pre-university categories qualifying for the semi –finals. From these teams, top 20 teams of each category marched into the finals, where Kahoot is used for the competition which was held at the IMU campus in Bukit Jalil. “SDC was initially a small event that served as a gateway for students to deepen their understanding and exposure to science. What was small gradually turned out to be an event that had captured the imagination of a many students and educators alike. I am very pleased that this year’s participation far exceeded our target of 5,000 participants. This is an increase of 17% from last year when we had 4,350 participants,” said Low Shu Shian, Senior Manager, Marketing, IMU. “And from a state event, the competition is now an international event. Our hope is that it continues to be a stepping stone for students to explore an academic career in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field.” and 2016, respectively.
A team of three students from SM Kuen Cheng bested the other participants to emerge champion of the School category in this annual challenge that challenges the participants with science questions. At the same event, a team from Methodist College, KL was the champion of the Pre-University Category.
The champions take home Challenge trophies, Certificates of Achievement as well as prize money of RM3,000 (RM1,000 per team member). A total of RM2,100 (RM700 each) in cash, trophy and achievement certificates were for the 1st Runner Up, while the 2nd Runner Up will receive RM1,500 (RM500 each) with trophies and achievement certificates for their efforts. Consolation prizes included RM300 book vouchers and certificates of achievement for teams in the 4th and 5th place.
School Category
| Prize Won | Name of School | Name of Students |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize | SM Kuen Cheng | Leong Qi Zhong Teh Ming Hern Ivan Lok |
| 2nd Prize | SMK Gajah Berang | Yan Mun Kye Tiu Jian Kai Nikko Law |
| 3rd Prize | SM Lodge | Tsan Jian Ming Tsan Jian Feng Nicholas Goh Ming Chinn |
| 4th Prize | SM Han Chiang | Suzanne Lewis Chua Xian Zhen Ng Yee Thern |
| 5th Prize | SMK Seri Bintang Utara | Chin Siew Mei Hoh Shen Yien Sherina Binti Sheridan |
| Best Biology Award | SM Kuen Cheng | Leong Qi Zhong Teh Ming Hern Ivan Lok |
| Best Chemistry Award | SMK USJ 13 | Brandon Cheah Wei Quan Ng Kar Wai Cheong Wee Vien |
Pre-University Category
| Prize Won | Name of School | Name of Students |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize | Methodist College KL | Marcus Ang King Hao Chiew Kai Qi Teh Hui Wen |
| 2nd Prize | Sunway College KL | Ng Hui Chin Sarah Tan Lii Phin Wan Li |
| 3rd Prize | Methodist College KL | Liang Wan Yee Aishwarya Baskar Minseo Kim |
| 4th Prize | AIMST University | Gooi Jun Shen Victoria Kang Yi Le Timothy Ho Chi Liang |
| 5th Prize | Methodist College KL | Lim Chin Weng Magdalene Toh Youjun Shoon Zhen Yong |
| Best Biology Award | Taylors College | Teoh Yik Haw Yap Zhong Kai Khor Ting Xun |
| Best Chemistry Award | Taylors College | Setthasorn Ooi Zhi Yang Shivajoothi A/P Selvarajan Vythilingam A/L Siva Shanmugam |
In conjunction with the competition, the event also featured a number of workshops, talk, exhibitions, personality tests and demonstrations. Among the activities that drew a lot of interest were an Atom Model Building and Poster Competition, How to Carry a Backpack workshop that shared the effects of backpack load in school children and ways to prevent back pain, Handling Dental Plaster workshop that introduced dental materials with a hands-on exercise, Charades and Doing Forensics with Paper Chromatography workshop. The IMU SDC was introduced back in 2015 to promote interest in the area of science particularly among upper secondary and Pre-U students. The competition is held annually to foster the interest of sciences among secondary school students, aligned with the initiatives by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. Related article: Students Show Creativity at IMU’s Atom Model Building and Poster Competition Read about previous years’ SDC: 2017 – Explosive Science Discovery Challenge 2016 – Students Discover the Wonders of Science at IMU 2015 – IMU Successfully Organised Inaugural Science Discovery Fair
