STEM Educational Program; Exploring Science Through Experiments.

The Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) recently hosted students and teachers from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tringgus, Bau for a one-day STEM Educational Program on the 22^nd October 2025. The event was organized by the UNIMAS YellowHippo STEM Squad, under the Department of Chemical Engineering and Energy Sustainability. The program objective was to introduce students to the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and also to spark the interest of young learners in pursuing science and engineering.

**Arrival of SK Tringgus students and accompanying teachers at the Faculty of Engineering, UNIMAS.**

**Welcoming speech by Dr Ervina binti Junaidi, The Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Engineering (Student Affairs and Alumni).**

**Opening speech delivered by Mdm Francisca Sandra anak Andrew Pero, the headmistress of SK Tringgus.**

The program began at 9:30 a.m. with the arrival of 40 students accompanied by 7 teachers from SK Tringgus at the Faculty of Engineering. Upon arrival, they were warmly received by the YellowHippo STEM Squad facilitators. A welcoming session was held at the Faculty Meeting Room where Deputy Dean for Student Affairs and Alumni, Dr Ervina binti Junaidi, delivered her opening remarks. She highlighted the importance of exposing school students to STEM learning environments and expressed appreciation to SK Tringgus for their initiative in fostering interest in science and technology among primary students. The headmistress of SK Tringgus, Mdm Francisca Sandra anak Andrew Pero, also conveyed her gratitude to UNIMAS for hosting the event and emphasized that such visits can inspire students to pursue higher education and future careers in science and engineering.

**Students exploring the STEM Laboratory guided by UNIMAS staff.**

**Students conducting the Electrocoagulation Water Treatment Experiment at the Water Treatment Laboratory.**

**Demonstration of acid and alkaline titration by UNIMAS students at the Bioprocess Laboratory.**

After the welcome session, the visitors enjoyed light refreshments provided by the Faculty of Engineering before heading over to the STEM Laboratory for a guided tour and photography session. The tour was then extended to the Chemical Engineering building where the visitors were introduced to the department’s academic programs, laboratories, and ongoing research initiatives.

The students participated and took turns in rotation in the STEM activities that were conducted in different specialized laboratories. The activities were developed to provide hands-on exposure and spark interest in the concept of engineering particularly. The students were separated into four groups, each led by two YellowHippo facilitators. The first activity was on Electrocoagulation Water Treatment Experiment, which took place at the Water Treatment Laboratory and the students were exposed to remove contaminants through the use of electrical current. Secondly, the Acid-alkaline Titration Experiment was conducted in the Bioprocess Laboratory, which gave the students a chance to apply the basic concepts of chemistry.

**Students observing the Bernoulli’s Principle experiment at the Fluid Mechanics Laboratory.**

**Hands-on computer programming and simulation session at the Computer Laboratory.**

After the lunch break, the activities continued with the third and fourth activities of the program. The third activity was conducted at Fluid Mechanics Laboratory where the students were introduced to Bernoulli’s Principle particularly on the effect of fluid flow velocity to fluid pressure head. The fourth activity was implemented at the Computer Laboratory where the students created digital posters using Canva AI and gained insight into the role of artificial intelligence for daily applications.

The program officially ended with a closing by Dr Nazeri Abdul Rahman, who was the programme main advisor. He was amazed by the enthusiasm displayed by SK Tringgus students during the STEM activities and highlighted the contribution of UNIMAS YellowHippo STEM Squad’s towards enhancing the interest of school students from rural communities. Furthermore, The headmistress of the school, Mdm Francisca Sandra anak Andrew Pero, thanked the Faculty of Engineering for organizing a memorable and educational experience, noting that such outreach programs play an essential role in motivating young students to dream beyond their classrooms.

**Closing speech delivered by Dr Nazeri Abdul Rahman, Programme Advisor of the Faculty of Engineering.**

**Closing remarks by the Headmistress of SK Tringgus, Mdm Francisca Sandra anak Andrew Pero.**

At 2.00 p.m., the students started the guided campus tour, which involved visiting PeTARY (UNIMAS Library) and the UNIMAS Sport Centre. The students were particularly excited during this segment, especially when visiting the swimming pool facilities. The students also enjoyed running around the stadium field. Overall, through this tour, students have some insights into the university’s academic and recreational facilities. The STEM Educational Program: Exploring Science Through Experiments not only achieved its objective of cultivating interest in STEM among rural primary school students but also strengthened UNIMAS’ commitment to community engagement and educational outreach through the innovative and passionate involvement of UNIMAS YellowHippo STEM Squad.