Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is raising the bar in educational outreach and research through U-science, a pioneering Citizen Science initiative within the university’s broader Open Science movement.
Since its transformation from a Science Gallery in 2020, U-Science, housed under the UMS Library, has quickly become a national leader in promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic (STEM) education.
U-Science seeks to foster scientific inquiry and exploration among diverse groups, especially the younger generation, through various interactive and engaging programs.
A key focus of U-Science is advancing the Citizen Science movement, encouraging citizens to engage in scientific research and data collection. These efforts align with the global Open Science initiative, promoting more transparent, accessible, and collaborative research.
UMS is also leading international collaboration through the OPEN-ASIA project, working with strategic partners from the Netherlands, Finland, Slovenia, India, and Malaysia to promote and implement Open Science practices across borders.
Prof. Ir. Dr. Rosalam Hj. Sarbatly, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation at UMS, who leads this transformative project, is committed to keeping the university at the forefront of educational and research innovation.
“Our goal is to make science accessible and engaging for everyone, especially young people. Through U-Science, we are fostering a culture where every individual can be a scientist, contributing to the creation of new knowledge.
“This is aligned with the vision of Vice Chancellor of UMS, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor, in leading towards innovative society which focuses on the young generation,” said Rosalam.
In June 2024, UMS reaffirmed its commitment to Open Science when Mr. Md Sazali Md Salleh, Chief Librarian of UMS, attended a key workshop at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
As a core member of the OPEN-ASIA project, Mr. Sazali focused on benchmarking best practices in Citizen Science from international partners to integrate into UMS’s programs.
Dr. Lim Thien Sang, Director of the Flexible Education Centre at UMS, also attended the workshop. He is responsible for developing an Open Science module for a postgraduate program to integrate these principles into UMS’s academic offerings and enhance the training of future graduates.
