A Tech Dome Penang educator is looking to translate international exposure into stronger Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes for local students after receiving two prestigious international recognitions this year.
Science Education Consultant Specialist Puvarnan Shanmugam said the opportunities had allowed him to gain new ideas, build professional networks and explore collaborations that could benefit STEM education in Penang.
He was among 10 recipients selected for the ASPAC Annual Conference 2026 Fellowship in Bangkok and one of 20 participants worldwide awarded a scholarship for the International Training Workshop on Capacity Building for Science Centres and Museums in Beijing.
“The ASPAC fellowship was my first international fellowship. It was also the first time I applied for it, so I was very happy to be selected,” he said in an interview with Buletin Mutiara recently.
Puvarnan said the four-day conference in Bangkok brought together science museum and science centre professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region.
“We had the opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss challenges and learn from one another. The networking was very useful because it opened up opportunities for future collaboration and gave us new ideas that we can bring back to Penang,” he said.
He added that STEM education is evolving rapidly alongside advances in technology, creating both opportunities and challenges for educators.
Fresh from the Beijing workshop last week, Puvarnan said the training focused on how science centres and museums could incorporate emerging technologies into science education.
“The workshop gave me the opportunity to meet professionals from different countries, especially China, and learn how they are implementing new technologies in education,” he said.
Among the highlights was a visit to China’s large-scale science museums, which he described as being significantly larger and more advanced in terms of exhibitions and programmes.
“One day is not enough to cover everything. I was impressed not only by the size of the museums but also by the quality of the programmes and exhibitions.
“They are doing a great job, and it was a valuable experience to see how they engage visitors and students,” he said.
Puvarnan said the exposure had inspired him to explore new ideas for Tech Dome Penang, including future exhibitions and educational programmes.
“I am already looking at some of the ideas shared by experts during the workshop. Slowly, we hope to develop new programmes and exhibitions based on what we learned,” he said.
He noted that bringing such initiatives to life would require continued support from industry partners and stakeholders.
“We have good supporters and partners. The next step is to develop the proposals and explore how we can implement these ideas locally,” he said.
Puvarnan also gave thumbs up to Penang’s long-standing commitment to STEM education, saying the state had consistently supported efforts to nurture future talent.
“Since Tech Dome was established, we have seen steady growth in STEM-related activities and awareness.
“Penang has always been forward-looking and understands the importance of preparing young people for future industries,” he said.
In the future, Puvarnan hopes to continue participating in international programmes and learning from global best practices.
“These opportunities allow us to gain new perspectives and ideas. The most important thing is to bring those ideas back and see how we can apply them to benefit students and the community here,” he said.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi and courtesy of Puvarnan Shanmugam