Science comes alive in rural Bau school through fruit, vinegar and curiosity

Borneo Post

4 days ago

Pupils having a fun time yet knowledgable session during the high-impact outreach programme under the STEM Yellowhippo Squad.
SIBU (July 4): In a quiet corner of Bau's highlands, a classroom without walls came to life at SK Tringgus, where science was learned not through textbooks, but through fruit-powered batteries, vinegar-generated electricity, and student-built water filtration systems.
Over two days, the rural school, nestled within the Sarawak Delta Geopark, hosted a meaningful collaboration between academia and community.
A total of 52 student volunteers from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) brought their high-impact outreach programme, the 'STEM Yellowhippo Squad', to the school.
The initiative, themed 'Tringgus Jak Berami Katik', was more than just a school visit. It was a deliberate intervention aimed at narrowing the learning divide and sparking early interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) among under-resourced communities.
Programme director Mohammad Muzzamil Abdullah, a final-year engineering student, said the team wanted to reimagine how rural children experience science not as something abstract and distant, but as tangible, practical and empowering.
'We believe children in the most remote areas deserve the same opportunities to touch, explore and be inspired by science as those in urban schools.
'STEM isn't about tools or labs, it's about curiosity, problem-solving and confidence. That's what we brought here,' he said in a statement.
Instead of high-tech equipment, the volunteers used everyday materials to create makeshift science labs.
Children lit up LEDs powered by ambarella fruits, explored chemical reactions through vinegar-based batteries, and learned about real-world water purification via electrocoagulation.
These activities weren't just educational — they were designed to connect scientific knowledge to local realities, nurturing both critical thinking and a sense of possibility.
SK Tringgus pupils with Unimas STEM Yellowhippo Squad volunteers after two days of immersive STEM activities under the outreach programme.
Beyond the experiments, pupils took part in STEM-themed physical challenges and performed English-language skits, building their confidence, communication skills and teamwork.
For SK Tringgus headmistress Francisca Sandra Andrew Pero, the programme meant far more than just an extracurricular activity.
'This is the kind of exposure we rarely see in rural schools. Our pupils were excited, engaged, and above all, they felt seen.
'Unimas didn't just teach science, they showed our children what they can aspire to become.' she said.
STEM Yellowhippo Squad advisor Dr Nazeri Abdul Rahman said the initiative was also a powerful platform for student leadership and empowerment.
'Our students planned every detail, raised funds through social entrepreneurship, and implemented this project on the ground. This is community-based innovation in action.
'They are not just engineering students, they are agents of change,' he said.
As Sarawak advances toward a digital and green economy, equitable access to STEM education becomes increasingly critical.
Initiatives like 'Tringgus Jak Berami Katik' may seem small, but they are vital in ensuring rural communities are not left behind.
The programme ended with bright smiles and excited chatter, but the seeds planted in SK Tringgus could grow into the next generation of Sarawakian engineers, innovators and leaders. . STEM Bau Science SK Tringgus Unimas Yellowhippo Squad