Why You Should Go To 'Dialogue In The Dark'?

Yes, I DID IT!

Imagine a life with no light, nothing but darkness! You can hear sounds but you will never be able to see or know how you look like, or even what your handphone looks like. That is the reality for millions of people around the world who are visually impaired, living with blindness. It is a fact that most of us do not have to live with, but it is something we should experience in an exhibition called ‘Dialogue in the Dark’.

A little bit about the history, ‘Dialogue in the Dark (DiD)’ was founded in Germany by Andreas Heinecke and has been in more than 130 cities in 20 over countries and has reached  out to over 7 million visitors globally since its opening in 1988. Finally, DiD has landed in Malaysia with a special ‘Experiential Journey’ organized by Dialogue in the Dark Malaysia and hosted by Petrosains, The Discovery Centre in Suria  KLCC, Kuala Lumpur.

The objective is for us to understand sightlessness and change our perspective in life toward the blind. It also aims to raise awareness and create empathy  for these special people, thereby overcoming barriers between “us” and “them”.

The exhibition consists of a series of rooms in complete darkness. It is a journey into a ‘world without sight’ whereby a group of visitors will be led by blind or partially blind guides who are trained through dark rooms which replicate daily environments.  The guides  are trained and competent in handling situations  during the tour so that visitors are  assured they are  safe and well taken care of. The guides provide an imaginative, educational and entertaining experience, progressing from anxiety and nervousness to the joy of perceiving the world through other senses.

While increasing awareness, the organizers of this exhibition has the noble intention of creating employment opportunities for the visually-impaired people and part of the proceeds collected from the exhibition will be channeled towards developing a permanent and sustainable DID Centre in Malaysia. 

Open up your mind, relax and you will definitely enjoy the tour! It will be an  enlightening l experience for sure. Don’t panic, you will be briefed on how to use a walking stick before embarking on the 60  minutes journey through darkness. Even though the exhibition is totally dark, it is safe because emergency evacuation procedures and CCTV cameras are in place to ensure safety. Share your wonderful experience with your families, friends and relatives right after you come out from the exhibition and write it on a postcard!

So, come and experience the  journey with Dialogue in the Dark and allow your other senses to be your guide as you navigate through total darkness at Petrosains, KLCC Suria today! ‘Dialogue in the Dark’ starts this Sunday, 8th December 2013 and will be around until 31 May 2014. Book your  tickets now as slots are limited and only eight visitors are allowed for each tour slot. ! Check out the details below or visit our website at www.petrosains.com.my  

   

Posted by Ayu
Learning Specialist, Petrosains

Your Brain - Use it or Lose it!

HotScience │Petrosains

Cow's brain

The brain is the microprocessor of your body, controlling almost everything that you do.

It’s a complex organ with responsibilities that belies its weight, which is a mere 1.5kg!

The brain is the crown jewel of the human body - without it we cease to exist.

How it works  

The 3 basic units of the brain:

The nervous system is a complex, sophisticated system that regulates and coordinates the body's basic functions and activities. It is made up of two major divisions - central nervous system (consisting of the brain and spinal cord) & peripheral nervous system (consisting of all other neural elements).  

The Science Engagement at HotScience

Neurological disorders & treatment

There are over 600 known neurological disorders & conditions - treatment options for many of them are very limited.  A neurological disorder is a disease or injury of the central nervous system that causes paralysis of any part of the body.  It may be due to physical injury to the brain, spinal cord or nerves, or biochemical causes.  Sometimes the cause may be unknown and only the effects are seen.  Neurological disorders are common and can be life-threatening.

Some disorders:

Epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease & other dementias, cerebrovascular diseases including stroke, migraine & other headache disorders, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, neuroinfections, brain tumours, traumatic disorders of the nervous system such as brain trauma, and neurological disorders as a result of malnutrition.

Diseases that attack the nervous system: 

Infections (bacterial, viral or fungal), cancers (malignant or benign), degenerative conditions (such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease), and disorders of function (e.g. epilepsy, Tourette's syndrome).

Food which can make our brain healthier  

Many scientists the world over have done researches on ‘food for the brain’.  However studies on the effects of food on the brain are relatively young. Scientists know that certain foods and diets are better for the brain, but figuring out why is still in progress. 

Explore brains

Research suggests that four different types of chemicals and nutrients interact with the brain positively.

1. Glucose

The brain draws nearly all its energy from glucose. 

2. Fatty Acids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, aka omega-3 and omega-6 help strengthen the synapses in our brain related to memory.

3. Amino Acids

Amino acids come from protein-rich foods and help connect the neurotransmitters which are essential for keeping your brain sharp. 

4. Antioxidants

Antioxidants help regulate the oxidative stress that destroys brain cells. The stress is caused when our body is converting glucose to energy and extra oxygen is created called free radicals. Antioxidants block them so our brain doesn't have to work as hard.

The Science Engagement at HotScienc

Science Engagement Session at HotScience Petrosains

The two days session focused on brain basics – the different parts and how it works.  Some interesting interactive activities were also prepared by the University to help the public understand better this complex topic. On-going research on Alzheimer’s disease was also shared in the form of a mice which is afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and how certain foods help alleviate the disease.  Those brave and not squeamish were invited to touch the cow, rabbit & rat brains – a rare opportunity for many! 

The Science Engagement at HotScience

This article is written in conjunction with Science Engagement Session at HotScience, Petrosains from 29-30 June 2013 with scientists from UiTM –

1. Prof. Dr. Abu Bakar Abdul Majeed, pharmacist-cum-neuroscientist & Assistant Vice-chancellor (Research), UiTM

2. Prof. Dr. Kalavathy Ramasamy, head of the Collaborative Drug Discovery Research (CDDR) Group at the Faculty of Pharmacy, UiTM

3. Dr Lim Siong Meng, a senior researcher, UiTM

SCIENCE BROUGHT ALIVE WITH PETROSAINS SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2013

Petrosains Science Festival 2013 has successfully concluded and proven that public institutions, private corporations, and individuals from diverse science and technology industries and academia can rally together in a shared goal to engage and inspire the Malaysian public and specifically our youngsters with the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The inaugural festival, a collaborative effort between Petrosains and 34 partners was organized by over 200 staff and assisted by more than 100 volunteers, managed to draw in crowds of over 42,000 people within the 6 days period. In comparison, the attendance to the 2012 San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering (4th edition) in multiple venues around San Diego with 44 partners was estimated at 50,000 people over its 8 day period.

The Petrosains Science Festival, running from 22nd – 27th October 2013, had activities ranging from speaking engagements by scientists/personalities, hands-on workshops, interactive exhibitions, and performances by various groups at 3 different locations within KLCC area: Petrosains, The Discovery Center, Suria KLCC Centre Court, and KLCC Esplanade.

Partners’ contribution was in the form of exhibit  items, high speed broadband infrastructure for seamless internet connectivity, state-of-the-art LED screen facilities, personality appearances and many others. Special participation by world-class corporations such as Google, Boeing and GE made the event more special.

The PR, media and online exposure were estimated at more than RM 500,000 with print ad insertions in the STAR, SCJP, Harian Metro, daily editorials, online ad/web banners, Red FM radio activation, below the line and out of home media promotions, digital media/blogger coverage and plasma screen at shopping malls. 

The news updates via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by public figures such as Major (Dr.) Faiz Khaleed (Angkasawa Negara), Najwa Latiff (local singer), Terry & Mynn (Red FM deejays), Dato’ Fazley Yaacob (celebrity chef), and many other personalities have surely hyped up the event in the social media sphere.

The exhibitors inside the Petrosains’ Gallerias such as the PETRONAS Carigali, SIRIM, StreetSmart, UMT, UiTM, Bamboo Malaysia and many others had six busy days attending to visitors. The Recycle Zone and Play Zone by Legoland Malaysia were also a hit among the kids. 

Some of the 63 workshop sessions as well workshops organized by Petrosains such as the ‘Cow’s Eye Dissection’, ‘Make Your Own Ice-Cream’, ‘Digital Animation’, and ‘Batik Painting and Painting by Yusuf Gajah’ just to name a few, attracted full capacity rooms with long waiting list for participation.

A total of 36 talks and forums were conducted with some popular sessions such as ‘Debunking the Myth of Gravity’ by Major (Dr.) Faiz, ‘Let’s Talk Fitness’ by Kevin Zahri(fitness guru), ‘Edible Science’ by Dato’ Fazley, forum on social media by celebrities: Nik Michael Imran, Imran Ajmain and Vincent Ha of Gushcloud, and ‘Your Brain: Use it or Lose it!” by UiTM drew a full house with crowds cramming in to listen to the talks. Other interesting sessions included ‘Science of Tongkat Ali’ by UMS, ‘Belangkas Bukan Ketam’ by UMT, and ‘Mystery Solved! Forensic Science’ by Jabatan Kimia Malaysia.

The exhibition at the Suria KLCC Centre Court during the last 3 days of the festival was the culmination of the 6-days science festival. Key Partners like PETRONAS Motor Sport, PETRONAS Dagangan, TM, Google, Star Publication, Nova Spectra, Yayasan Angkasawan and Petrosains, had significant presence with their individual display of interactive exhibits and running of exciting activities.

The presence of Dr. Graham Walker, a globally known science show performer from Australia, had the crowd in the Suria KLCC Centre Court in stitches with his amazingly funny and educational science show. Talented Petrosains’ science communicators as well science busking teams also had the audience enthralled with their interesting science shows and trivias.  

Stage performances by local artists such Yassin Sulaiman, Najwa Latiff, Capoeira Dancers, Kakinari Dancers, Zumba by Kevin Zahri’s Team, YAWA recycled items performance group, St John Bagpipes band, and many others added more colors to the festival. 

Not limiting to only indoor, we also had outdoor activities such as kid’s favorite ‘Bubble Madness’ demonstration by Prof. Chong Hon Yew, and ‘Mencari Ramli’ football activity by TM.

Based on feedback received, visitors of the festival were very pleased with the activities organized and were happy to have spent an enjoyable and educational time at the festival. With this year’s success, a benchmark has been set for the 2014 edition which can only be bigger and better.  It will be more than just ‘Bringing Science Alive’ but perhaps ‘Bringing Science Up’ to the next level!