RIVER-BASED LEARNING: USM INTEGRATES STEM, LOCAL CULTURE, AND SUSTAINABILITY TO RESTORE SUNGAI PERAI

USM PENANG, 9 December 2025 - The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Industrial Technology has successfully conducted its 9th river stewardship initiative, marking a major milestone in community-based environmental engagement.

Held on 29 November in conjunction with the 'Kampung Kota Perai: Fostering Local Culture and Commerce Programme', the event mobilised more than 100 volunteers, combining boats, bicycles, and tram-based clean-up routes to rejuvenate one of Penang's most culturally and ecologically significant waterways.

The programme received support from Think City, Yayasan Penyelidikan Antartika Sultan Mizan (YPASM), and Polar@USM as the principal funders.

The programme also united collaborators from across public agencies, industry, and civil society, including NL Travel and Tours Sdn. Bhd., PESKAP, PENBUMI, Majlis Bandaraya Seberang Perai (MBSP), Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS), USM Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Koperasi Nelayan Labuh Banting, and Dr. Planet.

Led by Dr. Widad Fadhullah, a lecturer at the USM School of Industrial Technology, the initiative reinforces the university's long-term commitment to plastic waste mitigation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainability-driven civic engagement.

Within two hours, volunteers had traversed a 7.6 km stretch of the Perai River, from Jetty Labuh Banting to Jetty Kampung Terus. They removed 138.23 kg of waste including 67.45 kg of PET bottles alone.

This single event demonstrates a compelling insight: with consistent collective effort, the revitalization of Perai River is not aspirational; it is achievable.

Beyond the cleanup, the programme delivered hands-on environmental education.

Participants engaged in systematic waste auditing, recording plastic types and quantities to generate actionable data.

Interactive learning booths showcased six STEM-driven activities, ranging from microplastic detection under microscopes to recycled material games (jigsaw puzzle, bottle-cap race, flip-the-card), transforming abstract environmental concepts into tangible experiences, particularly for kids, youth and families.

More importantly, the initiative dispels a pervasive misconception: waste is not merely a problem; it is a resource.

Through upcycling demonstrations and knowledge transfer, the programme fostered an ecosystem where researchers, government agencies, NGOs, and local communities co-create solutions, rather than simply participate in one-off cleanups.

This collaborative effort advances core sustainability targets, directly supporting the various SDGs:

• SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13 - Climate Action
• SDG 14 - Life Below Water
• SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

By combining academic expertise, indigenous local knowledge, and real-world community action, USM is building more than environmental awareness; it is cultivating a culture of shared responsibility, empowering people to revive their rivers, safeguarding their ecosystems, and preserving the legacy of Perai for future generations.

Text & Photos: Widad Fadhullah, School of Industrial Technology, USM/ Editing: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin