Over 20 students gathered at Swinburne University of Technology’s Students Hub on Saturday, August 24, to participate in the IEEE Swinburne Sarawak Student Branch’s Sustainable Development Workshop. The event, titled ‘Food Production for Earth, Mars & Beyond,’ was co-managed by the IEEE Sarawak Subsection and fully funded by the IEEE Humanitarian Technology funding.
Participants who are foundation, diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate students were introduced to composting food waste using the Bokashi method. Bokashi composting is a way of fermenting food waste, including dairy and meat, which is considered rapid and less rancid than other traditional composting techniques. This food-recycling process involves special bran mixed with microorganisms to break down food scraps sealed in a container. It eventually produces a liquid known as Bokashi tea, which can be diluted and used as a fertilizer, while the fermented waste may be buried in the soil to finish decomposing.
Each participant received a free Bokashi set, including a Bokashi composting bucket, fresh Bokashi bran, mashers to flatten food scraps, and glass jars to collect Bokashi tea. During activities, each filled their bins with distributed food scraps – notably fruit peels and vegetables – lightly coated with bran, a natural mix of bacteria and yeast.
After a short break with refreshments, students were also invited to register themselves as IEEE Student Members. The students are expected to follow up on the outcome of their composting work as they learn the benefits of the Bokashi method and embrace a more sustainable lifestyle.
Please visit IEEE Swinburne Sarawak Student Branch FB Page for more photos and information
