Petaling Jaya, 9 November 2023 – Rolls-Royce together with the Goethe-Institut Malaysia, the Ministry of Education, and the Association of Science, Technology, & Innovation (ASTI) as well as various national and state partners organised the 13th Science Film Festival (SFF) in Malaysia with screenings of 41 films selected by the Malaysian jury from now to 20 December at various locations throughout the country. SFF was launched at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak recently to the theme of ecological restoration calling for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world.
As part of the festival, ASTI, together with the Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah (PPD) Petaling Utama and SMK (P) Taman Petaling, organised a film screening and talk on 1 November to promote scientific literacy and awareness of contemporary scientific issues such as sustainable technologies in aviation. Alastair Sim, Marketing Director, Asia-Pacific Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, delivered an engaging presentation on “STEM in Aviation” to 150 students from 28 schools in the Petaling Utama District.
Malaysia has been promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education since 2010. STEM education initiatives were incorporated into the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025.
Rolls-Royce is committed to STEM education as a sustainability strategy, contributing to the social wellbeing of the communities where the company operates throughout Southeast Asia. Its STEM Ambassadors like Alastair volunteer their time by engagement with students from schools and institutions of higher learning to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Dr. Bicky Bhangu, President of Rolls-Royce South-East Asia, Pacific and South Korea, said that sustainability is inherent to the company’s strategy, and it is also committed to advancing STEM education to develop the capabilities of people in the communities and economies where it operates.
“Rolls-Royce is delighted to be a partner of the Science Film Festival in Malaysia for the second year; and to do our part for local communities. We are passionate about raising awareness around the theme of sustainability in STEM fields because study and work in science benefits all sections of society.”
Dr. Markus Litz, Director of the Goethe-Institut Malaysia, “Fostering a deeper appreciation for science is an ongoing endeavour, and our institute takes great pride in contributing to this mission by organising the Science Film Festival in Malaysia and the wider region. As we approach the year 2030, we are honoured to serve as the official supporting partner for the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Through heightened awareness, we aim to motivate participants to take immediate action by reevaluating their relationship with the environment.”
In 2023, the Science Film Festival is the official supporting partner of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The theme is a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world. The UN Decade runs from 2021 through 2030, which is also the deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals and the timeline scientists have identified as the last chance to prevent catastrophic climate change. Ecosystem restoration means assisting in the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded or destroyed, as well as conserving the ecosystems that are still intact. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is a global movement, based on a resolution by the UN General Assembly, and coordinated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
For the first time, the Science Film Festival in Malaysia was launched in Kuching, Sarawak, in collaboration with the Sarawak State Library (Pustaka Negeri Sarawak). This significant endeavour also saw participation from national and state-level partners, including Universiti Malaya (UM), Pusat Kokurikulum Negeri Terengganu (PKNT), Pusat Kokurikulum Negeri Selangor, Haus Kch, Seni Kita, Komuniti Filem Titiwangsa (KOMFIT), Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival (KKIFF), Borneo Eco Film Festival (BEFF) and PASCH (Schools: Partners for the Future). The Science Film Festival in Malaysia is also officially supported by the Ministry of Education.
For more information about the SFF2023 in Malaysia which runs until 20 December, please visit: https://www.goethe.de/ins/my/en/kul/sup/sff.html
