Discover the fascinating realm of microorganisms in our engaging microbiology workshop designed to delve into their incredible diversity, importance, and impact on our daily lives. Unleash your curiosity, don your lab coat, and get ready to explore the captivating wonders of the microbial universe like never before!

Why join us?

• Ignite Scientific Curiosity: Fuel your passion for science by exploring the wonders of microbial life in water.
• Hands-On Exploration: Engage in interactive activities through practical experiments and demonstrations.
• Portable Microscope Exploration: Learn how to utilize a portable microscope during the workshop and take it home for further exploration.

Introduction

Aqualab Adventure provides an exciting scientific journey of discovery that aims to ignite curiosity and fuel passion for science among 13-16 year old students and communities. This workshop equips participants to uncover microscopic wonders that exist all around us through hands-on exploration. Participants will be able to observe and analyze pond water samples using portable microscopes provided during the workshop. They will learn how to utilize and even build their own portable microscope to take home. This allows them to continue satisfying scientific curiosity by exploring water from their neighborhoods anytime.

Through interactive experiments like creating mini Aquaterrariums, participants will gain first-hand experience of microbial life and gain new perspective into the unseen aquatic world. The hands-on activities centered around Life Below Water open eyes to the thriving biodiversity at participants' fingertips. Overall, the Aqualab Adventure workshop promises an illuminating launch pad for anyone eager to catch the science bug! By turning everyday wonders into exciting scientific adventures, it instills valuable STEM interest among students and B40 communities alike.

Objectives

The objectives for the Aqualab Adventure science workshop:

1. To ignite curiosity and passion for science exploration among secondary school students through hands-on microscope activities.
2. To instill interest and appreciation for STEM fields for students' future education and careers.
3. To inspire a community of young science enthusiasts eager to continuously discover the hidden worlds around them.

Program Details

• Date: 13th February 2025 (Thursday) – School Holiday
  
• Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Venue: SMK Kuala Besut, Besut, Terengganu
• Number of Participants: 30 students (12-16 years old)

Tentative Schedule

Session

Session	Description
Gear Up, Explorer!	This hands-on session allows participants to assemble their very own Foldscope – a commercially available portable paper microscope kit. Using the components in the kit, follow our step-by-step instructions to construct this mini microscope. Once built, participants will try out their portable microscopes by observing a variety of prepared specimen slides. This activity provides an illuminating demonstration of how this nifty tool makes microscopic structures visible.
Water Detective	In this discovery session, participants will sharpen their observation skills and become aquatic microorganism experts. Using assembled foldscopes, they will examine slides prepared with samples from fresh pond water. Participants get ready to spot and identify diverse microalgae and other microorganisms that inhabit ponds and lakes. They will learn how to classify different species based on size, shape, color, and distinguishing features.
Aquaterrarium	In this creative session, participants will construct their own mini underwater world – a small terrarium with water and aquatic plants to take home. Departing with uniquely hand-crafted aquaterrariums, participants are equipped to care for the aquatic life within. They can continue exploring ecosystem dynamics through home observation as their balanced establishment thrives. They should understand how their mini-ecosystems can be educational and eco-friendly through the carbon footprints concept no less.
Ecosystem Observation	To continue the excitement after the workshop, participants will observe water from their terrarium after a few weeks to watch the mini-ecosystem develop. Using their foldscopes, they examine the water closely to detect any tiny organisms that may have entered and colonized this enclosed habitat. Participants may spot microbes, algae, protozoa, or tiny crustaceans thriving in the balanced aquatic environment they created. They search for organisms near the plant roots, leaves, and terrarium surfaces. Every new organism spotted sparks curiosity about how it arrived and contributes to the island-like ecosystem. The developing aquaterrarium serves as an engaging project to apply scientific observation skills. Participants depart as stewards equipped to sustain balance and blossoming life within their mini-ecosystems!

Organiser

Partner

Strategic Partner

Contact

Dr. Izwan – [email protected] or [email protected]
Dr. Suzana – [email protected]