J-on: July 2016: An independent news portal for UTAR Kampar

Sharpen your brainpower at the 12th MFotM

KAMPAR: We all have known that playing with a Rubik’s cube; a three-dimensional geometry puzzle has mental perquisites. The number of algorithms and techniques needed to solve it just once has to stimulate the brain somehow. However, most of us never realised the vast capacity of mental and emotional benefits tied to the Rubik’s cube. To explore more about Rubik’s cube and its various methods for solving the puzzle faster, come and join us at the 12th Malaysia Festival of the Mind (MFotM).

This year, besides the festival’s regular locations in Perak and Klang Valley, the 12th MFotM will also be held in Penang in order to reach out to more communities in the country. The first station of the 12th MFotM will be held at Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik in the UTAR Kampar Campus, Perak on 16 and 17 July 2016, followed by the second station at Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) Penang Branch Campus on 23 and 24 July 2016. More excitingly, the main affair will take place at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Seri Kembangan, Selangor from 4 to 6 November 2016, which is also held in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Engineering Science Fair.

A concerted effort by the MMLM, UTAR and TAR UC, the crowd-pulling festival in the past has invited scores of seasoned and qualified speakers and trainers introducing and promoting various techniques and skills pertaining to the improvement of mental literacy among Malaysians. These include memory skills, creativity, thinking skills, personality profiling, mind mapping, emotional intelligence, brainpower, mind power and other mental literacy tools.

Aptly themed “Great Mind, Great Future”, the 12th MFotM which is aspired to imprint on the national consciousness of the significance of mental literacy, offers a line-up of enriching talks and workshops ranging from understanding the nature and versatility of the human mind to bringing out the best of the human mind, with the aim of improving our lives.

MMLM Chairman Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik said, “In today’s globalised and competitive world, maximising brainpower is no longer an option. It is a necessity. To excel in life, one needs to adapt oneself and face new challenges intelligently and positively. These new challenges require one to find new and creative ways of problem solving.”

This year, the 12th MFotM brings a new highlight for visitors by inviting world’s best coach for mind sports Gwendolen Noronha to demonstrate and share her mental calculation and brainpower aptitude. The Indian-born Gwendolen is a mental sports coach, franchisor, brand ambassador, philanthropist, entrepreneur, humanitarian, author, and private-pilot who armed with confidence, positive intellectual, a genius brain, and beauty. Gwendolen first showcased as a mental sports coach in the year 2012 at Antalya, Turkey for the Mental Sports Olympics (MEMORIAD). She received the title World’s Best Mind Sports Coach from the World Mental Sports Olympic Federation during the award ceremony of the Mental Calculations World Cup held in Dresden, German in 2014.

Gwendolen is quite simply, a mastermind. The title of the World’s Best Coach bestowed to her on International Women’s Day aptly describes not only the supremacy of her mind but also the ability to pass on the knowledge and create future geniuses. Gwendolen immersed herself into studies and extra-curricular activities giving her a greater perspective in various fields’ right since early school days. With a degree in management and honour’s in phonetics, phonology, anthropology, and graphology her drive and passion was recognised at the onset of her career when she was awarded as ‘Youngest Entrepreneur’ in 2006. She lives in the heart of many youth and is regularly seen at events as a speaker motivating the youth and has been recognised to be one of the most affluent youth icon with a perfect ‘beauty with brains’ – as titled by a German Journalist.

Gwendolen will be speaking on topics which include ‘Brainpower: Your Priceless Commodity’, and ‘The Cubing Workshop’. Gwendolen will be presenting refreshing cubing workshop in which, she and her team will be demonstrating their abilities in solving the Rubik’s cube.

Among the other mind-related talks that will be covered during the festivals in both Perak and Penang are ‘Brilliant Brain Memory Skills’ (Mandarin) by Teo Kim Foo, ‘Numbers Are Gold in The Next 9 Years’ by West Wong, ‘Autonomous Brain Computer Interface Wheelchair’ by Danny Ng Wee Kiat, ‘Mind Map Your Way to Success’ by S. Jeyaraman, ‘Peak Performance Through the Subconscious’ by Ng Thian Watt, ‘Developing Emotional Excellence in Your Life’ by Andrew Au, ‘Rewiring the Brain via the 7 Secret Rhythms’ by T. Elanggovan, ‘Developing Emotional Intelligence for Future Career Success’ (Mandarin) by Choong Hoon Guan, ‘Achieving the Infinite Possibilities’ by Wong Chooi Yee, and ‘Holistic Learning for Personal Effectiveness’ by SK Tan.

Besides these, a total of fourteen workshops, with each programme going for an hour, will be held over the two days in Perak and Penang respectively. Thousands of visitors are expected to flock to the festival. Admission to the festival, talks and workshops is free. Visitors also stand a chance to win attractive prizes from the lucky draw, in which, one unit of iPod touch awaits the Perak and Penang grand prize winners respectively.

The annual festival also endeavours to create a greater awareness among Malaysians of all ages on how to develop thinking, memory and creativity skills through the empowerment of the mind. The two-day festival will feature, among others, an exhibition, mind games, MENSA admission test (at a special price), magic corner, and showcasing of Leonard Personality Inventory (a personality test) and mental literacy related products.

The 12th MFotM is proudly supported by The Star, Campus Plus, Grand Kampar Hotel, Berocca, Delfi, Dilmah and Julie’s.

For more information on the 12th MFotM (Perak & Penang), please refer to the official website, www.utar.edu.my/mmlm, email to mmlm@utar.edu.my or contact Chai Wei See/Jamaliah at (05) 468 8888 extension 2262/2263.