The air buzzed with anticipation as 22 teams from primary schools to universities converged at Wawasan Open University’s (WOU) main campus for the finale of the inaugural WOU International Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Innovation Competition 2024 (ISIC-WOU24) on 26 June 2024.
Spearheaded by WOU’s School of Technology and Engineering Science (STE), the competition aimed at championing STEM education to nurture future tech talents for the digital era.
More than 7,100 innovators, representing 866 teams, signed up for the competition which kicked off in March. In addition to Malaysian teams, the competition also attracted participation from Indonesia, Thailand, and Botswana across four main categories: Junior Innovator, Young Innovator, Tertiary Innovator, and Professional Innovator.
Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang, YB Jagdeep Singh Deo, who leads the state’s Human Capital Development, Science, and Technology Committee, lauded WOU’s efforts in promoting STEM literacy in the local communities. “Nurturing STEM talent is key to building a robust pipeline of future tech professionals for Penang’s vibrant tech and high-value manufacturing sectors,” he said, emphasising the vital role such competitions play in the state’s strategic vision for sustained economic growth.
WOU Chief Executive and Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Lily Chan, underscored the University’s commitment to STEM education and workforce upskilling and reskilling, with a focus on the manufacturing sector.
“The strength of a nation’s tech industry is directly linked to the quality of its STEM workforce, hence we strategically design unique, interdisciplinary engineering and IT programmes to meet the demands of a high-investment industrial environment,” she said.
Earlier in his welcome speech, Dean of STE, Assoc Prof Ts Dr Sean Tan Koon Tatt, highlighted WOU’s aspiration to inspire a generation of innovators, problem solvers, and leaders.
“STEM competitions challenge participants to apply their knowledge creatively, think critically, and solve real-world problems,” he said.
Competition was intense as finalists demonstrated the effectiveness and functionalities of their prototypes during the evaluation sessions judged by industry experts, senior WOU academics, and representatives from the Technological Association Malaysia (TAM) and Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT).
Among the wide array of innovations were a disaster alert system, washroom occupancy monitoring system, a solar-powered refrigerator, a smart waste detector, radio frequency identification (RFID) vending machine and educational aids. The projects were evaluated on experimental design, scientific accuracy, technical quality, clarity and creativity, originality and innovation, and the impact and relevance of their projects.
In the Junior Innovator category, 12-year-old Jared Tan Jun Hao from SJK (C) Sin Ya Penang won the Diamond Award with his project “Terra Guard”. His solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT) disaster alert system, designed using micro accelerometer functions and temperature sensors, aims to provide early warnings about landslides and forest fires, enabling smoother disaster management.
Students from SMK Damansara Jaya, Selangor emerged champion in the Young Innovator category with their innovation, “AI Trashzilla”, which is designed to address the issue of littering, particularly in night markets and tourist attractions. The team, comprising members Teoh Zhi Syuen, 15; Gabriel Tai Herng, 15; Kok Wen Zheng, 15; Sek How Zhe, 14; and Cheong Hye Yan, 14 impressed the judges with their practical approach to waste management, which detects waste using Raspberry Pi and EV3 Mindstorm Bluetooth connectivity.
In the Tertiary Innovator category, the Diamond Award went to a team from SMJK Heng Ee Penang for their project on “Biodegradable and Sustainable Method of Seedlings Cultivation.” The team of 19-year-olds Esther Chan Yin Hei, Saw Zhen Wei, Joseph Ho Kah Hong, Cindy Kang, and Tan Jie Hui, successfully developed a novel bioplastic derived from eggshells for seedling cultivation, offering an eco-friendly alternative to non-biodegradable seedling bags.
In the Professional Innovator Award, Ezrul Helmi Bin Muhamad Razali’s project, “Multifunctional Card (MFC)”, was named as recipient of the Diamond Award. The 38-year-old professional innovator, from SMK Padang Terap, Kedah impressed judges with his research on using flash cards to improve Form Four students’ understanding of Force and Motion in Physics.
The ISIC-WOU24 is the culmination of the University’s STEM Apprenticeship Programme tailored for primary school students around Penang. Faculty members from STE work alongside teachers to coach student apprentices in Micro:bit, 3D design and printing, bridge building, Scratch programming, and Android app development. As a result of the 10-week training, 26 outstanding apprentices were selected to conduct workshops and demonstrate their prowess in 3D design & printing, Micro:bit, and bridge building on the sidelines of the grand finals at WOU. About 130 students from six schools participated in the sessions.
