Pontianak, July 11, 2024 – In an effort to enrich the school holiday experience, Aston Pontianak Hotel & Convention Center in collaboration with the Chemistry Insight Center of Tanjungpura University (known as CIC Untan) successfully held the "Fun Chemistry for Kids" event. This three-day event took place from July 9 to 11, 2024, at the Garden Lounge, 1st Floor of Aston Pontianak Hotel & Convention Center. Each day featured a different theme, starting with Public Speaking on the first day, an experiment to make Cotton Cheese on the second day, and concluding with making Ice Cream on the third day. The number of participants increased each day, with 20 children on the first day, 25 on the second day, and 30 on the third day.
“This is the third time Aston Pontianak and CIC Untan have organized the Fun Chemistry event. This year, it is unique because we included a Public Speaking workshop, which is very beneficial for training children to be brave and confident in speaking in front of an audience,” said Anto W Soemartono, General Manager of Aston Pontianak Hotel & Convention Center.
Dr. Andi Hairil Alimuddin, Head of the Chemistry Department at FMIPA Untan, explained that one of the goals of this event is to introduce children to chemical phenomena that are close to daily life, such as the process of making cheese or simple methods to make ice cream. “In each experiment, children are invited to practice and are guided step-by-step by the mentors so they can see that science, especially chemistry, can be very fun and interesting,” he added.
Fun Chemistry for Kids is specifically designed for children aged 6 to 12 years with an interactive approach and simple experiments, interspersed with exciting games so that children can learn while playing. During the Public Speaking class, each child was given the opportunity to speak in front of the group. Similarly, on the second and third days, the children conducted experiments guided by CIC Untan mentors.
Jerico, one of the children who participated in the three-day event, expressed his happiness and said he learned many new things, especially since he has an interest in becoming a YouTuber. The Fun Chemistry for Kids event is expected to become an eagerly awaited annual event for children and parents during school holidays. Through this event, the organizers hope to continue fostering children's interest in science and creating a generation that is creative, critical, and full of curiosity.