Beyond the Whiteboard: Dr. Ezral Ghazali’s Quiet Revolution in Science Education
Dr. Ezral Ghazali never set out to become a figurehead. Yet, over the past few years, his steady leadership has become an anchor for science education initiatives across Southeast Asia. As the Head of the Education Development Division at Leave a Nest Malaysia, he has helped guide the growth of programs like Science Castle Asia with a focus not just on logistics, but on purpose.
From Curiosity to Calling
Dr Ezral’s journey into science education was shaped by formative experiences in Japan. During his university years, he took on a part-time job helping to run educational programs for children, bringing young students to science-themed camps and cultural exchanges. These moments, where students explored and asked questions, sparked his interest in engaging young people through science.
This early exposure to Japan’s integrative approach to STEM and education inspired what would later become his mission: to make science more accessible, especially to students in Southeast Asia who may not typically see themselves represented in scientific spaces.
Reframing the Role of Education
Dr Ezral sees science education as a platform to build not just skills, but identities. During his time promoting STEM in Japan, he realised how impactful it was when students saw science as something relevant to their own lives. Today, his mission is to foster that same realisation among the youth.
This is why he believes alumni should return to Science Castle and speak to current participants. “When current students hear from someone who once stood where they are,” he says, “it becomes easier to imagine themselves taking similar paths, as scientists, researchers, or innovators.”
Centering Impact Over Applause
Dr Ezral’s work is driven by a passion for meaningful engagement, not metrics. Since 2023, he has helped scale Science Castle in the region, but participation still tends to come from a recurring set of schools. One of his ongoing challenges is expanding access and awareness. This challenge reflects something deeper about Dr. Ezral’s work: empowerment in science education isn’t just about creating opportunities, it’s about making them accessible, relatable, and lasting.
In the end, that is what empowerment looks like: giving students the opportunity to lead, to speak, and to discover that they are not just participants in education, they are contributors to knowledge. It allows them to see their questions, their innovations, and their identities reflected on a stage that welcomes them. The journey doesn’t end with a presentation, it begins when a student realises, “this is where I belong”.
