KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus is deepening its commitment to community-driven Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, delivering an outreach program that transformed everyday indigenous ingredients into tools for scientific discovery among young learners in rural Serian.
Held at SK Payau in Serian on 15 July 2026, the Swinburne team’s outreach initiative formed part of the school’s five-day “Program Pemerkasaan STEM Berimpak Tinggi”, which ran from 13 to 17 July 2026 with the aim of fostering students’ interest and engagement in STEM.
Through the university’s program, about 120 pupils from Level 1 (Primary 1–3) and Level 2 (Primary 4–6) participated in two engaging STEM activities, “Plant Stamping Art” and “The Junior Ethnobiologist Challenge”.
The activities were designed to preserve and celebrate indigenous knowledge by introducing students to local plants and traditional ingredients commonly found in their communities. Through these hands-on experiences, pupils learned the scientific value behind their elders’ traditional cooking practices and village knowledge, helping to ensure that this cultural heritage is appreciated and passed on to future generations.
The program also aimed to instil pride in local transitions while demonstrating the scientific value of indigenous knowledge. By combining cultural learning with interactive STEM activities, the sessions transformed meaningful research into enjoyable and memorable learning experiences for young learners.
Throughout the program, the students actively engaged in hands-on activities, demonstrating curiosity and teamwork as they explored scientific concepts through collaborative learning. Their enthusiastic participation reflected the program’s success in making STEM education both accessible and enjoyable.
Students from SK Payau participating in one of the STEM activities during the outreach program.
Reflecting on the session, university team’s outreach lead, Ts Dr Irine Runnie Henry Ginjom, said, “It was heartening to see how much the students already knew about local vegetables, herbs, and spices. Their eagerness to learn made the activities even more interactive and meaningful.”
Ms Mimi Perpetua Pam, Senior Assistant (Student Affairs) at SK Payau, shared that the students thoroughly enjoyed the learning experiences throughout the program. The session concluded with a series of competitions to recognise the students’ creativity, knowledge, and teamwork.
A distinctive feature of Swinburne Sarawak’s STEM outreach program is its use of materials that are familiar and readily available within the local community. By incorporating everyday resources from the students’ surroundings, the activities made scientific concepts more relatable and easier to connect with daily life.
The outreach initiative by Swinburne Sarawak was coordinated by Lecturer Mdm Shella Georgina Beatrice, with the support of Associate Professor Dr Yii Kwang Jing, Dr Ling Chui Ching, and Mdm Su Sueh Ing.
The visiting team was warmly welcomed by SK Payau’s school leadership, including Headmistress Ms Beatrice Simon, Senior Assistant (Student Affairs) Ms Mimi Perpetua Pam, Senior Assistant (Administration) Ms Theresa Bida, and Senior Assistant (Co-Curriculum) Mr Muhd Ehsan Nelson Wery, together with the school’s dedicated teaching staff.
The outreach program reflected Swinburne Sarawak’s continued commitment to advancing STEM education through meaningful community engagement by bridging science with indigenous knowledge and local culture.
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