Petrosains Discovery Rover Brings STEM Education to Sabah

June 23, 2025

Petrosains Discovery Rover Rolls Into Sabah to Deliver STEM to Rural Communities

Tawau, Sabah (20 June 2025): Petrosains is reaching out to communities and students in rural and remote areas across more than nine districts in Sabah through its latest outreach initiative, the Petrosains Discovery Rover.

This initiative features a mobile exhibition truck, which brings interactive exhibits and engaging activities designed to spark interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education among students, while also equipping teachers with the necessary tools and techniques to enhance STEM delivery in classrooms.

Among the activities featured in this travelling outreach are:

Math Kit: A hands-on game module designed to strengthen numeracy through interactive problem-solving tasks.
Drone Challenge: Encouraging students to explore basic principles of flight and programming.
Carbon-O-Polly: A game-based activity focused on environmental sustainability and carbon literacy.
Da Vinci Bridge: A game challenge utilising physics and creative thinking.
Science Show: Live demonstrations to illustrate scientific concepts in an exciting and accessible way.
Teachers’ Upskilling Session: Professional development activities aimed at enhancing STEM teaching methodologies among educators.

The launch ceremony was officiated by Syahrin Samsir, Sabah’s Deputy Permanent Secretary II of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (KSTI); representing Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Bin Mohd Kassim, Permanent Secretary of KSTI Sabah; together with Mohammad Fuad Bin Rahman, Director of National Science Centre (PSN); Maria Teo, Senior General Manager of Global HR Partners for Project, Technology & Health, Safety, Security & Environment (PT&HSSE), PETRONAS; Ahmad Munir Akram Ahmad Faiz, General Manager of Human Capital Investment, PETRONAS; and Ezarisma Azni Mohamad, Chief Executive Officer of Petrosains, held at SJK(C) Kuok Ming, Tawau, in conjunction with Kembara Sains Borneo 2025.

During the launch, Ezarisma Azni Mohamad, Chief Executive Officer of Petrosains said: “As a social impact arm under PETRONAS, Petrosains is committed to democratising access to science and technology education, with a clear mission to spark interest, open up opportunities, and ultimately help individuals realise their full potential in STEM education.”

He said: “Sabah is the first and only state to host Petrosains Discovery Rover this year, making this launch profoundly significant for us. This emphasises our commitment to providing inclusive access to education, particularly in driving STEM literacy and empowering future talent, especially in rural and underserved communities.”

The Petrosains Discovery Rover, a specially designed mobile unit, is ready to embark on its journey to deliver engaging STEM education and interactive experiences to remote communities across Sabah.

The initiative is expected to benefit more than 5,000 students statewide. This effort complements Petrosains’ long-standing presence in the state through its satellite centre, Petrosains PlaySmart Kota Kinabalu, which has welcomed over 1 million visitors since its inception in 2012.

PETRONAS continues to uphold its commitment to advancing education and human capital development in Sabah through various high-impact initiatives. These include support for the establishment of the Tawau and Sandakan Science Centres, aimed at nurturing interest in science and technology through interactive exhibits and educational programmes. In 2023, a PETRONAS-led programme in Tawau involved the participation of 520 students and 65 teachers to raise awareness about the PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme (PESP). In August 2024, Yayasan PETRONAS launched an initiative to enhance internet connectivity at SMK Wallace Bay, Pulau Sebatik, benefiting 25 teachers and 293 students, with plans to expand to the surrounding community. The school also hosts Cikgu Azrinsyah Abdul Aziz, a participant of the Program Duta Guru – Yayasan PETRONAS’ flagship initiative aimed at upskilling 4,500 STEM teachers in underprivileged schools nationwide by 2030.

In addition, through the WeHelp Programme led by the Sabah State Education Department in collaboration with Yayasan PETRONAS, Petronas Floating LNG, UTP, and SLB, PETRONAS has contributed 17,190 scientific calculators to students across the state. The event also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between PETRONAS and two institutions – Institut Latihan Teknik dan Perdagangan Papar and Kolej Teknologi Yayasan Sabah – under the PETRONAS Vocational Institution Sponsorship and Training Assistance (VISTA) programme, further strengthening vocational education in Sabah.

Kembara Sains Borneo, running as part of the National Science Week initiative, covers selected areas in southern Sarawak and ends in Tawau, Sabah. The programme, organised by Pusat Sains Negara (PSN), supported by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and strategic partners including the National Planetarium, Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia, and Petrosains, seeks to provide hands-on science learning opportunities for students in the remote areas across Sarawak and Sabah.