Date/Time/Venue

Topic

Speaker/s

August 28

2.30-4.30 pm

Penang Caring Society Complex Seminar Room

Astronomy in Your Hands I: Make Your Own Telescope                                             

Two local astronomy enthusiasts conduct a talk cum demonstration on how to make a Dobsonian reflecting telescope. You can have the pleasure of viewing the wonderful objects in our universe through your very own home-made  telescope.  Have fun and learn some important scientific principles at the same time.     

Dr. Chong Hon Yew

Assoc. Prof., School of Physics, USM; advisor to the Astronomy                              Club of USM since 1986; has been  promoting astronomy activities in educational institutions & to the general public.

Mr. Kenny Loh Chee Kean

A keen astrophotographer & active, long-time member of the Astronomy Club of  USM since his secondary school days.

September 4

2.30-4.30 pm

Penang Caring Society Complex Seminar Room

Astronomy in Your Hands II: Building the Sky And Teoh Observatory

An observatory plays an important role in astronomical activities such as star-gazing, astrophotography & the discoveries of new comets & supernovas.  Drawing on his experience in fabricating a local observatory, the speaker will focus on the technical know-how needed to build an observatory & describe the astrophotography projects conducted there.

Mr. Teoh Sim Weng

Founder of the Sky & Teoh Observatory - the first self-made amateur astronomical observatory in Malaysia; has been promoting astronomy activities to the public for many years; Academic Advisor to The Star Hunter Astronomical                           Society.

September 11

2.30-4.30 pm

Penang Caring Society Complex Seminar Room

Image & Personality - Back to Basics

This talk will focus on the Self & the importance of Image Development.  The road to personal effectiveness & success is built on how we project ourselves. The way we talk, especially, reflects our personality, character traits & our values. It is vital for us to understand how the way we talk & project ourselves impacts on our relationships with others.

Dr. Janet Lim

Currently Customer Service Consultant with a private hospital in Penang; has 35 years work experience in the service industry, holding different positions in public relations, training & a management position with a Japanese multinational.

September 18

2.30-4.30 pm

Penang Caring Society Complex Seminar Room

Write a better resume

Your resume is your call card to a future employment. It is what a prospective employer sees first when you apply for a job, and a badly written resume can deny you a short-list for an interview. There are misconceptions on writing a resume. This talk is aimed at correcting them and helping you to write a better resume when you next apply for a job.

Mr SS Quah

Currently Content Manager at JobStreet.com; the first Malaysian to hold a Certified Professional Resume Writer qualification from the international Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches, based in the United States.

September 25

2.30-4.30 pm

Penang Caring Society Complex Seminar Room

Networking through Amateur Radio: Friendship, Information, Recreation & Rescue missions

Amateur or “ham” radio is a hobby enjoyed by many people throughout the world –  3 million worldwide in 2004! A voluntary, non-commercial, public communications service, it is a unique means of enhancing international goodwill at the grass roots level. Find out how can you can join this movement, what you need to get started. Communicate with other “hams” around the world, even with astronauts on space missions!.

Panel of Speakers from MARTS – Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters’ Society.

MARTS is the Society which promotes Amateur Radio as a hobby and looks after the welfare of its members by representing the organisation internationally in the IARU Region 3 amateur radio community. The panel are experienced ‘hams” and members of the Society’s Council.

October  2

2.30-4.30 pm

Penang Caring Society Complex Seminar Room

Financing Health Care For All Malaysians

Once hailed as the model for the developing world, the Malaysian healthcare system is about to be completely transformed. Do you know what the Government is planning for us, our children and grandchildren through the proposed National Health Financing Scheme? Two concerned citizens discuss why the public should be worried & what can be done to safeguard health &  healthcare for all Malaysians.

Dato Dr T Devaraj

Retired as a Consultant Physician some years ago but continues to be actively concerned about equitable health care provisions in the country.

Dr Subramaniam Pillay

Assoc. Professor at School of Management, USM, where he teaches economics; Hon Treasurer of ALIRAN.

October 9

2.30-4.30 pm

Penang Caring Society Complex Seminar Room

Astronomy in Your Hands III: Capturing Astronomical Images With A Digital Camera

Taking photos is getting easier as we move into the digital age. Most digital cameras can take wonderful images of almost any object. But can they be used to take images of our solar system, stars or even galaxies? The speaker will explain the capabilities of digital cameras for taking astrophotographs.

Mr. Lim Choon Kiat

A keen astrophotographer who has photographed many special astronomical events inside and outside  the country; recently built his own observatory in a dark site area near Balik Pulau; long-time member of the Astronomy Club of USM.

October 16

2.30-4.30 pm

Penang Caring Society Complex Seminar Room

Astronomy in Your Hands IV: Planetary Imaging Using Webcams

Earth based observation of astronomical objects have always been disturbed by the atmosphere of the Earth while the traditional method of planetary imaging gives clear images at great cost.  Learn how Webcams – with higher sensitivity & image processing software – can achieve high quality images as well as reduce considerably the disturbance caused by the Earth’s atmosphere.

Mr. William Chin Wei Loon

An experienced astro-photographer; founder member & currently Vice-President of Astrophotography Group of Malaysia; interested in astronomy since he was 12; has published articles  in “Night Sky Magazine”; Member of Star Hunter Astronomical Society,

Star Finder Astronomical Society & Astronomy Club of USM.

October 23

2.30-4.30 pm

Penang Caring Society Complex Seminar Room

What to do when pain killers don’t work

Pain is usually a protective mechanism important for survival. But when pain becomes chronic, it no longer serves this function - in fact, chronic pain often has negative emotional, psychological & social impacts. The main focus of this talk will be on management of chronic non-cancer pain with brief discussions of acute & cancer pain. Using a multi-modal, multi-disciplinary approach with emphasis on self-management techniques, the speaker will discuss non-drug modalities as well as  injections, operations & other interventions.

Dr Mary Suma Cardosa

Consultant Anaesthesiologist & Pain Management Specialist, Hospital Selayang, Selangor where she runs the Acute Pain Service, the Chronic Pain clinic & the Palliative Care Unit; visiting consultant, Pain Clinics in Hospital Ipoh & Hospital Melaka; has lectured & run workshops for doctors, nurses & other health care providers on the management of acute, chronic & cancer pain in her efforts to improve the management of pain in our hospitals & health facilities.

October 30

2.30-4.30 pm

Penang Caring Society Complex Seminar Room

Physical & Mental Health

A state of healthy well being should address the whole person, encompassing 5 areas of wellness -  physical, emotional, social, spiritual & intellectual health. As such, physical & mental well-being cannot be separated as both are interdependent & form an integral part of overall good health. This talk will explain the various ways in which physical health impacts on mental health & vice versa.

Dr. Lau Kim Kah

Consultant Psychiatrist & Head of Dept of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Penang General Hospital