AdminThe inaugural STEM4ALL Challenge was concluded recently, as part of a longstanding partnership between Taylor’s University and University of Dundee in Scotland. Open to students from secondary schools and colleges, the competition was initiated to drive STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) interest among the youth.
A total of 17 teams took part from Taylor’s College, Westlake International School, Tenby International School Ipoh, Epsom College, and University of Nottingham Malaysia. The participants competed to propose and present an innovative solution to address a global health or wellbeing issue using Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) technologies. Providing training to develop their ideas was Jessie Chong, the director behind Taylor’s own startup incubator, BizPod.
Ten of the youth teams were then shortlisted and invited to participate in the competition final, held at Taylor’s Lakeside Campus. The judging panel was composed of representatives from both universities as well as Elaine Lee, the Scientific Fellow at Big Idea Ventures, a venture capital firm partly based in Singapore.
STEM4ALL Challenge winning teams
Team ‘Metabolic Masters’ from Tenby International School Ipoh was announced as the top finalist and winner of STEM4ALL. The team consisted of students Samantha Elise Joseph, Austin Loo Jian Chuan, and Ng Zi Jun who ideated and pitched their ‘Anti-Tremor Watch’ prototype – a smartwatch dedicated to sensing and counteracting tremors in individuals with Parkinson’s disease which affects the motor system, especially in older individuals.
“After entering the STEM4ALL Challenge, we were invited to attend a series of online workshops organised by both Taylor’s and Dundee. They really helped to provide background information and guidance on the generation, implementation, and presentation of our proposal,” said Samantha, who is currently undergoing her school’s Cambridge A Level (CAL) programme.
“It feels very fulfilling to see our idea come to fruition and receive recognition from seasoned academics and scientists who have been in the industry for many years. We hope to go further with our Anti-Tremor Watch, applying the knowledge we gained from the competition and making a difference in the health and wellbeing of those suffering from Parkinson’s,” she added.
The second prize and third prizes went to two teams from Taylor’s College: Team Outliers from the CAL programme for their ‘C.C.E. Larvicide’ – proposing Cassia Cinnamon Crude Extract (CCE) as an eco-friendly and inexpensive larvicide extracted from the bark of Cassia cinnamon tree – and Team Starlight from the Foundation in Science programme for their ‘Pain Free Menstruation Made Possible’ prototype.
All of the top three ranked teams were awarded specially designed 3D-printed trophies and cash prizes worth up to USD 2000 and the other seven shortlisted teams received USD 300 each for their participation.
“Our first ever STEM4ALL has been a great success from start to finish and has highlighted the importance of collaborations between universities when it comes to nurturing young minds. It also serves as a platform to unleash the potential of young people in STEM to create innovative and inspiring work that is beneficial for the communities and world around them, aptly capturing the spirit of the competition,” said Associate Professor Dr Phelim Yong, Head of School, School of Biosciences, Taylor’s University.
