GROUP PORTRAIT: Centre for Pre-U Studies director Ms Mabel Tan (most right) and organising chairperson and head of UCSI¡¯s A-levels department Dr Nalina a/p Thurairajah (most left) posing with the participants of the recent UCSI University Science and Ma

ALL SMILES: Winners and bursary award recipients posing with their mock cheques during the recent UCSI University Science and Mathematics Quiz 2013.

ALL SMILES: The winning team from SMK (L) Methodist posing with their mock cheque during the recent UCSI University Science and Mathematics Quiz 2013.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is striving towards its aim of becoming a well-developed nation, and is in need of innovative and outstanding students and graduates to drive the science and technologysector. 

That is just one of the reasons that havepropelled UCSI University's (UCSI) Centre for Pre-U Studies to organise the Science and Mathematics Quiz for the first time ever. 

The guest of honour was UCSI's deputy vice-chancellor (Academic Affairs and Research) Assoc Prof Dr Teoh Kok Soo. 

Held on July 20, 2013 (Saturday) at the Auditorium of UCSI's South Wing premise, this quiz saw enthusiastic participation by 17 teams from nine schools, namely, Sri UCSI, SMK AlamDamai, SMK Seri Bintang Selatan, SMK Seri Bintang, Campus Rangers, SMK(L) Methodist, SMK USJ 13, SMJK Yu Hua and Chong Hwa Independent High School. 

Each team consisted of three members and each school was accompanied by their respective Science and Mathematics teachers. 

At about 9.30am, all teams were given a warm welcome by the Centre's director Ms Mabel Tan, who also emphasised that the main objective of this Science and Mathematics Quiz was to support the government's initiative to foster greater interest in Science and Maths. 

She pointed out that the New Straits Times, KL Post and Afterschool published reports that 'Malaysia needs 500,000 Science graduates to develop the country' in early July this year. 

According to deputy prime minister and Education minister Tan Sri MuhyiddinYassin, she said, the drop in interest in Science subjects may stunt efforts to improve technological innovations to make Malaysia a high-income nation. 

"This is where UCSI's Centre for Pre-U Studies comes into the picture; we hope to, in a small way, (highlight to) you - our best and brightest students ¨C that Science and Mathematics, is indeed still very relevant and current." 

In her speech, she also thanked the sponsors - mainly UCSI's Student Enrolment Centre(SEC) and Centre of Excellence for Research, Value Innovation and Entrepreneurship(CERVIE) ¨C for their support. 

This was followed by an informative session by the Quiz Master, Mr Choong Wai Seng, who briefed the participants and their teacher-advisors on the rules and regulations of the quiz. 

The atmosphere was highly charged with tension and excitement, and the preliminary round - that consisted of 40 multiple choice questions and one subjective question - soon commenced. 

After that, everyone gathered at the auditorium for an interesting talk by SEC executive (International Team) Mr Sean Calvin Yong, who provided the audience with a short introduction and video on UCSI. 

Once the session had ended, there was much buzz among the students who were really eager to find out if their team had made it to the semi-finals. 

The first round of the semi-finals kick-started with the team from Chong Hwa Independent High School leading the scoreboard within the first five minutes of the competition, setting the bar high for the rest of the teams. 

However, the first semi-final round was won by the team from SMK(L) Methodist after a tight battle with SMJK Yu Hua. 

Despite their loss in the first semi-finals, the other team from SMJK Yu Huawere able to redeeme themselves by winning the second semi-final round with just a one-point difference with Chung Hwa Independent School's team. 

The final four teams that made it to the finals were two teams from SMJK Yu Hua, and one each from SMK(L) Methodist and Chong Hwa Independent High School. 

This was the buzzer round and the students from SMK(L) Methodist really stood out from the rest as they wowed the audience with their witty remarks and attentiveness. 

Despite facing tough competition, the boys from SMK(L) Methodist finally emerged as the winners of the UCSI University Science and Mathematics Quiz. 

Notably, the team from SMK(L) Methodist proudly walked away with a cash prize worth RM1,000.00, followed by SMJK Yu Hua who won RM500.00 and Chong Hwa Independent High School with RM300.00. 

When asked, the boys from the winning team exclaimed that they would definitely join the quiz again if given the opportunity as it was fun and exciting. 

"We studied like nerds" said one of them, referring to their 10-hour per day preparation for the quiz. 

Apart from the cash prizes, the crowd also cheered for participants Tan HaoHao, Chan Ming Wei and Chong Bing Sheng of Chong Hwa Independent High School, who were awarded bursaries worth RM5,000.00 to complete their pre-university courses at UCSI in 2014. 

The event officially drew to a close with a closing speech by the organisingchairperson and head of UCSI's A-levels Department DrNalina a/p Thurairajah, who expressed her gratitude to all participants, teachers, lecturers, guests and student helpers for making the event a successful one. 

Kudos to the organising committee for playing such a proactive role tocreate a more progressive society; a society that will surely move us forward towards achieving our vision of becoming a high-income nation by 2020. 

-Renugkha Nair a/p Krishnan Nair