A group of 12 participants of the UNIMAS International Summer Programme 2017 visited ISITI as part of their programme. The participants were introduced to the various research initiatives spearheaded by ISITI and were also given a detailed explanation on the impacts that the research conducted by the institute had on the communities involved. The participants were also asked to provide their own insight on the issues of sustainability of developmental projects for rural communities as well as to share their experiences and thoughts on any research projects that they had either participated in or were keen to pursue in the future.

ISITI participated in the flag-off of the UNIMAS-PALAPES team to Long Lamai as not only was this the first time that PALAPES was involved in an ISITI-related activity, but also this was a unique collaboration between UNIMAS and PALAPES in conducting a community project. The UNIMAS-PALAPES team sent construction material and completed the construction of the NBOS project via the UCTC, MoHE to improve the water supply and sanitation system for the Penan community in Long Lamai. The project components consisted of a rainwater harvesting system, biochar reactor and dry composting toilet in effort to enable the sustainable development of Long Lamai in the long term.

ISITI recently launched the first book commemorating the ‘eBorneo Knowledge Fair’ during the opening ceremony of the UNIMAS Silver Jubilee Conference 2017. The book was officially launched by the Malaysian Minister of Higher Education, YB Dato’ Seri Idris bin Jusoh. The ‘eBorneo Knowledge Fair’ book captures the experiences that ISITI has had with the highland communities in Sarawak with regards to the usage of ICTs in ways that are relevant to them, the many milestones that ISITI has achieved over the years of working closely with these communities as well as the journey ahead for ISITI together with these communities.

Kampung Salak: Pada 21 Oktober 2017 Pihak Institut Pengajian Borneo, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak telah menjalankan lawatan penyelidikan akuakultur di komuniti Kampung Salak. Lawatan penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk meninjau dan memantau projek rumah ketam UNIMAS. Setakat ini, rekabentuk rumah penggemukan ‘Srylla Serrata’ telah berjaya membiakkan benih ketam Gred C (RM10-RM15/kg) ke Gred B (RM35-RM45/kg) dengan menggunakan rekabentuk rumah ketam yang direka oleh penyelidik UNIMAS melalui bahagian Keterlibatan Industri dan Transformasi Komuniti (UNIMAS ENGAGE) ataupun UCTC UNIMAS.

Bahagian Keterlibatan Industri dan Transformasi Komuniti (UNIMAS ENGAGE) ataupun UCTC UNIMAS  menggunakan sumber intelektual dan kemudahan di universiti untuk menggalakkan pembangunan keusahawanan dan kebajikan komuniti. Projek ini juga telah mendapat Dana NBOS (National Blue Ocean Strategy) Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi yang menekankan kepada prinsip impak tinggi, kos rendah, pelaksanaan pantas dan mampan dalam program-program pembangunan negara.

Cadangan lanjutan penyelidikan ini juga dikenali sebagai projek ‘Rumah Ketam UNIMAS’ atau ‘RKU’. Ketam Bakau atau nama saintifik ‘Srylla Serrata’ amat berpotensi untuk dimajukan di dalam industri akuakultur bagi penjana sumber ekonomi penduduk miskin terutamanya penduduk di pesisir sungai yang berbakau atau bernipah.

Yang Berbahagia Profesor Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim bin Suaidi telah mengumumkan bahawa kertas cadangan penyelidikan ketam yang bertajuk “Improvisasi Rekabentuk Rumah Penggemukan Scrylla Serrata ...