MIRI, Nov 25: Team Synex from SMK Kidurong has been crowned the state champion for Shell NXplorers Malaysia 2022 Sarawak final, Shell’s STEM related competition which challenges school students to work in teams and apply NXthinking to design and develop solutions to real-world problems within the nexus of food-water-energy.
Meanwhile, IT Warriors from SMK Bintulu emerged first runner-up in this state challenge.
Both schools will represent Sarawak at the Shell NXplorers Malaysia 2022 National Final, which will take place in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 30.
Shell Malaysia Upstream’s Sarawak Gas general manager Choong Yen Li said science and engineering is at the heart of Shell Malaysia’s business and critical not just to economic and social progress, but also towards a sustainable future.
“We aim to contribute towards increasing the number of STEM graduates and see today’s Malaysian students discover solutions that will address the challenges the world faces.
“We believe that this begins in the classroom, which is why we are investing in our youths, equipping them with the right skills and tools, and developing future innovators and engineers via Shell NXplorers Malaysia,” she said in a media release today.
Team Synex which comprises of twins Rayyan Razif, Rayhana Razif and Nuradriana Maisarah Mohamad Faizsal came up with an invention called T-REC, which was inspired by the call to improve the use of natural resources within the fashion industry.
The T-REC app helps to manage the interactions between those who want to recycle and the parties that can help manage used or old clothing. The App is also connected to and supported by a T-Rec Bin which is essentially a vending machine-like mechanism which rewards the users who send the recycled materials directly to the receivers.
“We are truly thankful to have won the state challenge and want to thank Shell for providing us with a platform to learn on the integration of thinking, problem solving, planning and most importantly, practising the Theory of Change in helping address sustainability related issues.
“We look forward to participating in the national challenge and hope to make our state proud,” shared Team Synex’s teammates who stood tall together when asked about being the state champion.
The first runner up, IT Warriors from SMK Bintulu has Yiek Siew Hao, Sean Lee Jia Roung and Christalyn Siaw Ern Qi in the team.
Their invention, EZ Park is an IoT-based smart parking system and app that helps drivers to find their indoor parking easier and faster. EZ Park app allows drivers to know exactly where to park their car by receiving real-time data from sensors connected to embedded systems (Arduino) using Bluetooth.
Drivers using this app will not only be able to save time but most importantly, minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
Eight schools competed in Shell NXplorers Sarawak and this year’s participating schools were SMK Kidurong, SMK Riam, SMK Bintulu, SMK Pujut, SMK Baru Bintulu, SMK Lutong, SMK Singai and SMK Asyakirin.
With the support of the Ministry of Education, Shell NXplorers Malaysia worked with over 1,000 secondary school students from 26 schools across Malaysia. These students were given the opportunity to gain hands-on STEM learning, with a focus on technology.
In Sarawak, 700 students were selected, while a peer-to-peer coaching was also implemented to share the knowledge with the larger student community of about 12,000 students from all participating schools in Sarawak.
Shell NXplorers is a global education initiative that empowers young people to address complex challenges faced by the world today and become agents of change by providing them with the tools, methodologies and skills needed to tackle real-world problems, through collaboration, innovation and interdisciplinary approaches. — DayakDaily
