The idea of Asian Science Camp (ASC) was co-proposed in September 2005 after the Lindau Science Meeting by Professor Yuan-Tseh Lee from Taiwan, the 1986 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, and Professor Masatoshi Koshiba from Japan, the 2002 Nobel Laureate in Physics.
ASC is an annual event that aims to enlighten science-talented youths through discussions and dialogues with top scholars and technologists in the world and to promote the international friendship and cooperation among the best young students of the next generation in Asia.
Asian Science Camp 2017 (ASC 2017), the eleventh of the series, was held from 20 August to 26 August at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Kampar Campus) in Malaysia. More than 340 students from 30 economies participated in the week-long camp which includes keynote speeches by Nobel laureates and top scientists, informative lectures, dialogue sessions, creative poster competition, as well as cultural showcase and excursions
This is an extremely exciting time to be a young scientist, as you are, in the many areas covered under the rubric of STEM, the theme of this year’s science camp. It may possibly even be the most exciting time ever to be a scientist, as ever-more astounding advances are being made in so many fields.
(His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin, in his speech during the opening ceremony of ASC2017)
As part of its effort to promote STEM education in the region, The HEAD Foundation sponsored the visit of a Nobel laureate to the camp and science excursions for the camp participants. THF’s Managing Director, Mr. Yu-Book Lim and Director of Operations & Development, Mr. C.D. Liang attended the opening ceremony of the camp in Kampar, Malaysia to provide support to the camp.
Among the Nobel laureates who shared their knowledge and experience at the camp this year were Professor Sir Richard J. Roberts (Medicine, 1993) and Professor David Jonathan Gross (Physics, 2004).
The Foundation is also supporting other initiatives related to STEM education, including a regional STEM research by UTAR and STEM & Maker education programmes by Arus Academy.